OKAgPolicy Today is a morning email containing the day’s top agriculture and policy headlines. The inclusion of a particular story does not equal an endorsement. Subscribe to the email here.
TOP HEADLINES
Oklahoma City Council considers passing resolution to oppose SQ 777 on agriculture:
Tom Buchanan, president of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, said the concerns of many municipalities are unfounded and based on misinformation.Most zoning and municipal ordinances would not change, and any issue relating to water quality would be protected under the measure’s “compelling state interest” clause, Buchanan said [The Oklahoman].
Know your rights – how Oklahoma protects farmers from nuisance lawsuits:
This statute, not to be confused with upcoming State Question 777 which is a proposed constitutional amendment, is an existing law in the state that protects farms and ranches from what Dr. Ferrell refers to as nuisance lawsuits [Oklahoma Farm Report].
ELECTIONS
As Donald Trump repels minority voters, G.O.P fears its future in the West:
Republicans in Western states fear that Donald J. Trump could imperil their party for years to come in the country’s fastest-growing region as he repels a generation of Hispanics, Asians and younger voters who have been altering the electoral map [New York Times].
Trump delivers hard-edged immigration speech at Ernst’s Roast and Ride:
Donald Trump delivered a hard-edged speech on immigration Saturday in Des Moines, capping a week of speculation that he’s softening his previously tough stance. And he also talked about agriculture, the RFS and WOTUS [Des Moines Register].
STATE
Rep. Morrissette endorses special legislative session on budget:
Morrissette believes state lawmakers should re-evaluate their extensive list of draconian budget cuts, and revisit the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax credits, tax rebates and other tax incentives they’ve awards to corporations and to the oil and gas industry [KSWO].
SQ 792 will be the only alcohol question on November ballot:
State Question 792 will be the only measure on the November ballot on modernizing Oklahoma’s alcohol laws.The deadline for the state questions to be approved for the November ballot was 5 p.m. Monday [The Oklahoman].
OKC joins program aiming to drop soda consumption by 20 percent:
While some cities have adopted soda taxes to curb consumption of sugary beverages, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett has joined with two food and beverage industry groups to launch a new initiative called Balance Calories Oklahoma [The Oklahoman].
FEDERAL
Sky’s the (400-foot) limit as new drone rules take effect:
A new era in agriculture opened on Monday as the Federal Aviation Administration new regulations for routine non-recreational use of small unmanned aircraft, or drones, went into effect [Agri-Pulse].
Heidi Heitkamp: How I’m gearing up to fight for a strong Farm Bill:
The Farm Bill is vital for rural America, supporting 16 million American jobs and strengthening rural communities. My statewide tour centered on my top priorities in the next Farm Bill: providing a strong safety net through crop insurance, promoting research, expanding exports and maintaining the sugar program [Grand Forks Herald].
MISCELLANEOUS
Americans love genetically modified mosquitoes much more than other GMOs:
Farmers and seed companies reap most of the benefits. The rest of us get lower food prices — but that benefit is spread so thin that most of us haven’t noticed. Therefore the risks don’t have to be probable, or even plausible, for us to balk [Grist].
Wheat prices take a threshing:
When wheat commodity prices took a dive late Friday, word among producers was that it reflected some sort of political controversy involving Russia and Donald Trump, agriculture economist Kim Anderson said. The truth is far more mundane, he said: The market has too much product. It’s not moving fast enough [Journal Record].
