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
Division of facts concerning both sides of SQ777:
You would think an organization called Oklahomans for Food, Farm and Family would have some farm families or family farmers as supportive members or even spokesmen. But apparently that isn’t the case [Lawton Constitution].
FEDERAL
USDA rulemaking on GMO bill could take longer than expected (audio):
Now that the GMO labeling bill has passed through Congress and looks to be headed for presidential approval, attention now shifts to the Department of Agriculture [Agri-Pulse].
Platforms could hurt ag trade:
International trade is so important to agriculture, yet, for some reason, it has become a political flash point in the platforms of both political parties this year [Herald & Review].
New drone rules could make monitoring crops:
The Federal Aviation Administration new rules on commercial drones change the way farmers monitor the health and water needs of their crops [Daily Yonder].
STATE
More than $140M available to return to Oklahoma agencies:
Mid-year budget cuts ordered for Oklahoma agencies amid a revenue downturn earlier this year were deeper than necessary, resulting in $140.8 million in additional revenue that could be returned to state agencies or used to help fund a teacher pay raise, state finance officials announced on Wednesday [AP].
Oklahoma economy slides again in first quarter:
Led by losses in the energy and manufacturing sectors, Oklahoma’s gross domestic product contracted by 0.5 percent in the first quarter. But among sectors in Oklahoma, first-quarter economic growth came in agriculture,construction, retail trade, information and health care [The Oklahoman].
Watch: Environmental agencies struggling with tens of millions in state funding cuts:
Oklahoma’s four primary environmental agencies have lost more than $15 million in state appropriations and tens of millions of dollars in legislatively directed reductions to revolving funds, OETA reports [StateImpact Oklahoma].
Trump’s fundraising in Okla. eclipses Clinton’s for first time:
Federal Election Commission filings released recently show that June was the first time the Republican presidential nominee has raised more money in the state than his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton [Oklahoma Watch].
MISCELLANEOUS
Factory farmer? No, I’m a family farmer:
Today I was called a “factory farmer” because I use vaccines and antibiotics in my cattle herd and genetically engineered crop varieties in our fields. While I didn’t take it as the insult it was meant to be, it betrayed an inherent flaw in the way the public sees farmers and food in our country. Somehow, large = bad, technology = dangerous, science = scary, and efficient = evil [Forbes].
How GMOs can help protect our habitats and ecosystems:
Despite the myths that are abound in our food culture, GMOs play a meaningful role in protecting our land, habitats, water and air [Forbes].
This is the most surprising thing Monsanto is working on – and it’s already changing the way you eat:
The agriculture giant made a big investment in data science with its purchase of Climate Corporation a few years ago, and perhaps more surprisingly to most people, it’s also leaning heavily on traditional breeding — that is, non-GMO crops [TechInsider].
Meet the leaders of Trump’s ag team (video):
Charles Herbster and Dave Heineman are taking a leadership role in the agriculture and rural issues advisory team for Republican candidate Donald Trump. The Nebraska duo talks with Agri-Pulse about what they see ahead for the committee and the campaign [Agri-Pulse].
