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TOP HEADLINES
Uncertainty surrounds Trump regulation-cutting order:
During much of the Obama administration, it was one of the worst kept secrets in farm country that many saw regulations as agriculture’s longest four-letter word. Action taken today by President Donald Trump might address some of that concern [Agri-Pulse].
Farm Bureau backs Oklahoma AG Pruitt for EPA:
Scott Pruitt will ensure the EPA follows the law, instead of creating laws, said Tom Buchanan, OKFB president. “We believe that we need protection for the environment, but not at the expense of small businessmen, family farmers and ranchers, and landowners,” Buchanan said. “Pruitt is exactly the breath of fresh air that we need to pull back the regulatory environment that has really choked America’s farmers and ranchers.” [OKAgPolicy]
WHITE HOUSE
Supreme Court nomination will come Tuesday, Trump says:
President Trump plans to announce his nominee for the Supreme Court on Tuesday, moving to fill a seat held vacant for nearly a year by Senate Republicans and touching off what is expected to be a furious ideological showdown early in his administration [New York Times].
Trump team plans big cuts at EPA:
The Trump administration’s transition team for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning major budget cuts, as well as regulatory and scientific overhauls at the agency, according to a new report [The Hill].
Trump rolls out two-for-one regulatory reform order (audio):
President Donald Trump is making good on a campaign promise to address regulatory reform, rolling out his plans in a new executive order on Monday [Agri-Pulse].
CONGRESS
No fast track for 2018 farm bill:
Approving a new Farm Bill in 2017 would be “a heavy lift” and even doing so in 2018 could be “a long shot,” according to Krysta Harden, who was chief of staff for Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack during the Barack Obama administration [Wisconsin State Farmer].
Make American agriculture great again Let’s start with our diets (op-ed):
As change rapidly manifests in the White House, I hope we’ll see the same momentum churn when the United States Department of Agriculture reauthorizes the 53-year-old Farm Bill. The bulk of this budget, $84 billion, goes to the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, a program that works beautifully to fight hunger, but takes an ugly turn when it comes to nutrition [Morning Consult].
STATE
HB 1013 offers solution to rural health care crisis:
Each year, rural Americans have fewer and fewer choices for their health care, wait longer for appointments and drive farther for the care they do receive. House Bill 1013, by Rep. Josh Cockroft, is a step toward changing that [Grove Sun].
Activists threaten to block Oklahoma pipeline construction:
Native American and environmental activists have vowed to block a planned crude oil pipeline, hinting at a standoff in Oklahoma reminiscent to the monthslong Dakota Access Pipeline protest [The Oklahoman].
