Poultry Rules Violators Fined

Information obtained by Save the Illinois River, Inc. from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry shows that 38 poultry growers and others were fined nearly $12,000 in 2008.

Fines for violations of rules since 1997 amount to $97, 842.52, $22,000 of which was deferred by the department.  Most fines are for $100.

One person in the Illinois River watershed was fined in 2008 it appears.  Many of the fines last year were in southeastern Oklahoma and in the Jay, Oklahoma vicinity.

One grower, Mahard Poultry, has accounted for nearly half of all fines, $47,602.52 since Oct. 1997.  The largest fine imposed, $10,000, was leveled against Mahard Egg Farm, Granite Ranch in Feb. 2005.

The information received by STIR under the Open Records Act does not detail the nature of the infractions.

What are the rules for poultry operations?  See:

http://www.oda.state.ok.us/forms/aems/aemstitle2rpfo.pdf

Poultry Fines Received and Deferred pages 6-7 (2008)

Poultry Fines Received and Deferred pages 4-5 (2007)

Poultry Fines Received and Deferred pages 1-4 (1997-2007)