With Thanksgiving approaching, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has made a public plea to Attorney General Gentner Drummond, pushing for a revised strategy in the longstanding legal battle against Tyson Foods, Inc. As families prepare to gather around their tables, Stitt highlights the peril facing the future of local food producers. In a letter obtained by the Office of Governor, the Governor implored that the lawsuit has mired poultry producers, family farmers, and landowners in "locked in uncertainty" for the past two decades, with the chilling effect felt across the Oklahoma countryside.
Stitt's letter detailed his concern over the litigation's fallout, with reports indicating that the Illinois River Watershed could see a significant shift, which, if chicken-growing leases are left unrenewed, poses a "five-alarm fire" to Eastern Oklahoma communities. "As we approach Thanksgiving, Oklahomans are reminded not only of our shared blessings but also of the rising cost of food and the importance of safeguarding our domestic food supply," Stitt wrote, signaling the critical importance of this season to the state.
The current proposal under scrutiny sought by the Attorney General doesn't sit well with Stitt. Labeling it as both "unworkable" and "patently unreasonable" for Oklahoma families, the proposal includes over $100 million in fines and penalties and demands measures that Stitt believes would decimate the local agricultural sector. Such demands as the prohibition of poultry litter application as a natural fertilizer threaten to disrupt a longstanding farming practice. "Put simply, your proposal threatens the livelihoods of countless families in eastern Oklahoma and places Oklahoma’s ability to locally produce food at risk," the Governor contended when describing the state of affairs, as stated in the Office of Governor.
Additionally, the Governor expressed disappointment that his attempt to mediate in the case was rebuffed by the Attorney General. Stitt accused, "I am concerned, based on your actions to date, that you are prioritizing the interests of out-of-state trial lawyers or ‘winning’ in a lawsuit over what is best for our fellow Oklahomans—those who grow our food and those who face ever-rising prices at the grocery store." As stated in the Office of Governor, he emphasizes his viewpoint that the state's interests are not being given due priority. Stitt's vision for resolution seeks an alternative approach, promoting a feasible amount of litter removal and enforcement measures that would preserve family-owned businesses.
Structured monetary recovery, with legislative coordination, is among the remedies Stitt pitches, aiming to maintain an equilibrium between "protection of our natural environment, as well as protection of Oklahoma farmers and consumers." Stitt wrapped up by reaffirming his willingness to foster a solution and calling for Drummond to re-engage in negotiations. "Oklahomans deserve certainty in their livelihoods and affordable, locally grown food and an agreement that offers both environmental security and economic stability for generations to come," he urged, reinforcing his stance on the matter at hand, according to the Office of Governor.
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