Okla. Stat. tit. 2, § 2-5-502: Legislative findings

The Legislature finds the following:

1. Oklahoma is one of the leading agricultural-producing states

in the nation. By being involved in such a diverse and highly

mechanized industry, the more than one hundred thirty-five thousand

agricultural workers in Oklahoma are susceptible to any one of a

number of work-related injuries and chronic health problems that

limit the ability of an individual to safely continue farming;

2. Available estimates indicate that each year in Oklahoma more

farm workers sustain fatal injuries than any other work group and

often have nonfatal injuries which result in permanent physical

disabilities affecting their future income;

3. It is estimated that nationwide more than two hundred

thousand farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural workers

experience injuries that result in lost work time. Of these

injuries, five percent (5%) have serious or permanent results;

4. According to recent survey data, approximately seventeen

thousand Oklahoma farmers have permanent disabilities as a result of

accidents, health-related ailments, and age.

5. Farm operators and workers are typically highly skilled

individuals and the loss of these individuals to a disability

negatively impacts the Oklahoma farm economy. The AgrAbility

Project established by the United States Department of Agriculture

has been successful in helping agricultural workers with a disbility

to continue to farm. A similar program established by the state,

working as part of the existing Oklahoma AgrAbility Project, will

assist even more Oklahoma citizens in receiving the necessary

assistance and will benefit the state agriculture industry.