(a) The Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, Stillwater, Oklahoma, and the Extension Division of the Oklahoma State University of Agriculture and Applied Science are hereby authorized to establish and promote a pasture program to be known as "Northeastern Oklahoma Pasture Improvement Program": to be located within the various counties of Northeastern Oklahoma and to be designated by the Director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Extension Division. Monies hereinafter authorized and appropriated to carry out the purpose of this section shall be available for the purchase of machinery, equipment, supplies and to cover rentals or any other necessary costs of operation of the program herein authorized.

In order to control the development of said pasture program the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges are authorized to enter into lease agreements with land owners for such period of time as may be necessary to establish a completed program, provided, however, any lease payment to any individual land owner shall not exceed One Dollar ($1.00) per acre per year for tract so leased.

The Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges are authorized hereby to request and receive cooperation and assistance of the United States and any of its agencies, and of agencies of this state, in carrying out the work to reach the objectives of the program and to accept donations, grants, gifts, and contributions, in money, land, services or otherwise, from the United States and any of its agencies, or from the state or any of its agencies, and to accept contributions from nongovernmental organizations or persons in order to carry out the purposes of this section.

Said pasture program shall be operated under the direction and supervision of the Oklahoma State University of Agriculture and Applied Science and the programs carried on shall be designed to determine the most practical means of restoring the desirable physical properties of pasture land, to the end of reclaiming and putting into profitable production said pasture land of Northeastern Oklahoma, giving special attention to the various types of grasses and legumes.

(b) The Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges and the Experiment Station is authorized and directed to make extensive and intensive research to discover treatment or agent to immunize and/or to prevent anaplasmosis.

In order to carry out the purpose and provisions of this section, contributions from persons, firms and corporations may be accepted to carry on research and purchase equipment and materials for this needed purpose. The Board is authorized to employ personnel and to purchase equipment and materials necessary to make whatever research the Board deems advisable to accomplish the purposes of this act.

Laws 1965, c. 396, § 417.