Published: November 09, 2009 09:04 am      

Legislator to handle Chaplain of Day program

As your state representative, I’d like to update you on some news from around the district.

I was recently honored by the Speaker of the House, Chris Benge, asking me to take over the Chaplain of the Day program for the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Every day of session starts with a prayer or a devotional, and the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I am proud to serve in a state that still honors God and country in such a way.

During the last legislative session, two preachers in District 47 served in this capacity, David Treadaway, pastor of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Pocasset, and Chuck Utsler, the Director of Missions for Grady Baptist Association. If you know either one of these gentlemen, you will know they did an excellent job and were well received.

Biofuels Day

I recently attended the Biofuels Day at the Oklahoma State University research station in Chickasha. If you have driven past the Chickasha research facility you have probably noticed the switch grass in the field, ready to be harvested. The wet weather has delayed harvest, but we still learned about the process involved in harvesting and utilizing the sorghum juice that is extracted as a biofuel.

The Environmental Protection Agency projects that 85 percent of the switch grass grown for ethanol production will take place in Oklahoma by 2022, because of our longer growing season and relatively inexpensive land.

OSU is one of Oklahoma’s two research universities and is doing a lot of work in the field of alternative energy sources that involve production agriculture. As the United States focuses on alternative energy sources such as biofuels and wind energy, I believe that Oklahoma can be on the forefront, just as they are in the traditional energy areas of oil and gas.

Energy and agriculture will always be the backbone of the Oklahoma economy and we must ensure that we work to keep them viable industries for our state.

Ag Committee

The House agriculture committee met last week for a study over the growing threat of the eastern red cedars that are invading our land. These fast growing trees are an extreme fire danger, and can overtake the land in a very short amount of time.

The only two viable methods of removal are prescribed burns and mechanical removal. Chemicals will work when the trees are very young, but are expensive and can also harm other types of trees, such as elms.

Another downside of red cedars is the amount of water they take from our landscape, up to thirty gallons a day per tree. The biggest problem seems to be in land that is not in agricultural production, often with absentee landlords.

Incentives to remove the trees are needed, and we discussed working with rural fire departments and prescribed burn associations.

If you have a problem with red cedars on your property you can contact the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Chickasha or El-Reno for technical assistance.

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Leslie Osborn serves District 47 of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She can be reached by phone at (405) 557-7333 or via e-mail at leslie.osborn@okhouse.gov.