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
USDA rolls out final GIPSA rule, sparking furious reaction from meat groups:
The rollout included one interim final rule and two proposed rules, all intended to level the playing field for contract growers and the companies with which they work [Agri-Pulse].
Fallin predicts $500M-$600M hole in upcoming Oklahoma budget:
Gov. Mary Fallin says early projections are that Oklahoma will have a hole in next year’s state budget of as much as $600 million, or nearly 10 percent of state spending on the current year’s budget [The Oklahoman].
TRUMP TRANSITION
Are Trump’s cabinet picks really ag-friendly?:
It’s no secret that President-elect Donald Trump is choosing big oil supporters and business-savvy individuals to lead important parts of his administration, but do these people hold the same beliefs that Trump campaigned on to farmers and ranchers across the U.S.? [Successful Farming]
Trump’s unorthodox cabinet:
Donald Trump is putting together an unorthodox team — and that’s just fine with many conservatives [The Hill].
Questions remain on Pruitt and the RFS:
President-elect Donald Trump got the attention of renewable fuels advocates when he nominated Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency [Agri-Pulse].
Did Fallin have bad interview with Trump? Governor says she was told that’s ‘not true’:
Gov. Mary Fallin on Wednesday responded to media reports that her interview with President-elect Donald Trump did not go well [The Oklahoman].
Vilsack has concerns about Trump tactics:
Agriculture’s top government official says he has some concerns about the incoming Trump administration [Agri-Pulse].
FEDERAL
USDA wants ‘best if used by’ to replace ‘use by’ date on food labels:
FSIS says it’s changing its guidance because research shows that the phrase “Best if Used by” is easily understood by consumers as an indicator of quality, rather than safety [Agri-Pulse].
Final wind-turbine rule permits thousands of eagle deaths:
The Obama administration on Wednesday finalized a rule that lets wind-energy companies operate high-speed turbines for up to 30 years — even if it means killing or injuring thousands of federally protected bald and golden eagles [AP].
NOTE: In honor of the Christmas holiday, OKAgPolicy Today will take a break next week and will resume Tuesday, Dec. 27.
