Poultry growers, producers lobby Oklahoma lawmakers

Tuesday, February 28th 2006, 9:08 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Poultry growers and producers flocked to the state Capitol Tuesday to lobby lawmakers and urge an end to a federal lawsuit over pollution in Oklahoma watersheds.

Poultry industry officials met with lawmakers and treated them to a lunch of chicken, beef and pork products as they spread the message that the lawsuit jeopardizes the industry's future.

The lawsuit alleges state and federal laws are being violated by improper disposal of chicken litter containing dangerous metals, bacteria and high levels of nutrients.

Attorney General Drew Edmondson -- who sued Arkansas-based poultry growers in federal court in June -- says the industry has made no overtures to him about resuming failed negotiations to reach an out-of-court solution.

Peterson Farms vice president Janet Wilkerson says neither Peterson nor other poultry producers have broken state law in the application of chicken litter as fertilizer on pastures and fields.