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Oklahoma Subpoenas Farmers For Soil Testing
John L. Moore of the The Morning News reports on the subpoenas issued by the Oklahoma Attorney General's office. More are expected to be issued in the next few days. Poultry Partners who request legal help in this issue may contact 918-422-4030.
Oklahoma Subpoenas Farmers For Soil Testing
Move part of state lawsuit against eight poultry companies
By John L. Moore
The Morning News
Ten farmers in Oklahoma got news today that they will have their farms tested for pollution in Oklahoma's lawsuit against eight poultry companies.
Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson sued the poultry companies in June over pollution of the Illinois River watershed.
Some of the subpoenas asking farmers to submit to the tests were sent to the attorneys representing Poultry Partners, a group of 400 farmers, said Bev Saunders, a spokeswoman for the group.
"I am again discouraged at the hardships and costs that the Oklahoma Attorney General's actions are causing the individual family farmers. He says he's not out to hurt the small farmers, but that's hard to believe when we keep getting hit with more and more legal actions coming directly from his office," Saunders said.
Saunders did not say whether the farmers or Poultry Partner attorneys would fight the subpoenas.
Samples of soil, poultry litter and groundwater are to be taken on the farms and tested for various pollutants and pathogens as evidence for the lawsuit.
Charlie Price, a spokesman for Edmondson, confirmed the office has begun issuing subpoenas and plans to perform the soil tests soon.
A copy of one subpoena received by The Morning News indicates at least one farm will be tested on May 5. Price said the next legal step will come if farmers try to fight the subpoenas. Otherwise, the tests will go forward as planned.
This is the second time Edmondson has tried to gain access to family farms for soil tests. The first time he made an agreement with Terry Peach, head of Oklahoma's Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to request the soil tests.
The agriculture department issued four administrative search warrants last year to have an independent lab test soil on four farms, but farmers disputed the right for the agency to test soil using different methods and laboratories than are used under the state's nutrient management laws.