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
Three months out, supporters of Right to Farm have half million dollar war chest:
The latest report shows a total of $586,726 is in the bank, which supporters have ready to use to respond to the expected media blitz to come by opponents of Right to Farm between now and election day [Oklahoma Farm Report].
Other states have issues with ‘Right to Farm’:
Those favoring Right to Farm further contend their disagreement lies mostly with interference by animal rights activism from outside Oklahoma, not with in-state environmental and clean water interests [Tahlequah Daily Press].
STATE
Polls show 53 percent of Oklahomans support Right to Farm:
SQ 777, known as Right to Farm, received 53 percent support with another 25 percent saying they did not know enough about the issue or were undecided, which was the highest level of undecided voters of the state questions polled [The Oklahoman].
Undervalued properties deprive schools of millions in funds:
Below-market property valuations and constitutional caps on tax increases are depriving Oklahoma schools, counties and cities of tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue, according to a recent data study [Oklahoma Watch].
State Treasurer’s Report: Oklahoma’s recession hits the 1-year mark:
The state GDP report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis indicates Oklahoma’s economy has contracted for four straight quarters going back to the spring of 2015. Mining, durable goods manufacturing, transportation, and wholesale trade all contracted by less than a percent during the second quarter. Agriculture grew by 0.83 percent during that time frame [KGOU].
FEDERAL
When it comes to waterway infrastructure, what happened? (video):
The nation’s waterway infrastructure is still being used more than 30 years past its designed lifespan. So how did U.S. river transportation go from the envy of the world to being in need of serious repair? [Agri-Pulse]
Inhofe takes on Obama’s latest global warming order: ‘no authority’:
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe is challenging the White House’s latest order on how federal agencies take global warming into account in reviews of government actions or projects [Daily Caller].
Consumer advocates wary of digitally coded foods:
If nutrition labels require a smartphone app to unlock, will consumers read them? That is the debate dividing healthy-food advocates and some food manufacturers that intend to use so-called QR codes in part to comply with new federal label requirements [Wall Street Journal].
Everything you need to know about the nutrition labeling revisions:
The modifications to the decades-old nutrition label reflect updated scientific information, the most recent dietary recommendations from expert groups, as well as industry and public input submitted in the thousands of comments the agency received [Natural Products Insider].
MISCELLANEOUS
Indian farmers cotton on to new seed, in blow to Monsanto:
Thousands of cotton farmers across the north of India, the world’s biggest producer and second largest exporter of the fiber, have switched to the new local variety, spelling trouble for seed giant Monsanto in its most important cotton market outside the Americas [Reuters].
