Five agriculture and mineral owner groups announced the formation of the Royalty Owner Coalition of Oklahoma, a non-profit corporation to create a voice for the interests of Oklahoma mineral owners.

Representing approximately 150,000 individual members, the founding organizations of ROCO include the National Association of Royalty Owners of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, American Farmers and Ranchers, Farmers Royalty Company and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association.

ROCO will work with elected officials on legislation impacting mineral owners including royalty payment accuracy and transparency, drilling incentives and long-lateral development, force pooling reforms, surface damages, produced water disposal and recycling, and other issues.

The coalition also plans to develop educational programs to inform its members, state elected officials, state legislators, administrative agencies and the public of the obligations and opportunities of mineral ownership in Oklahoma.

The founding member organizations created ROCO to fill the void in mineral and royalty owner advocacy following the dissolution of the Coalition of Surface and Mineral Owners and retirement of its executive director Terry Stowers.

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau is grateful for the dedication of our friend Terry Stowers who has worked tirelessly to advocate for the interests of small mineral owners for nearly two decades. We’re proud to continue partnering with our fellow agriculture and mineral owner groups to carry on the important work of standing up for the rights of our individual and family mineral owners,” said Rodd Moesel, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president.