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’s economy shrinks again in fourth quarter:
Oklahoma’s economy continued to slide in the fourth quarter of last year as the slumping energy industry left the state 48th in economic growth, according to data issued Tuesday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis [NewsOK].
Economic growth slowed in most states last year:
Economic growth slowed in more than half of the states in the U.S. last year, underscoring the mixed fortunes across much of the country as commodity prices crashed while other sectors gained steam [Wall Street Journal].
House panel approves EPA/Interior spending bill:
The House Appropriations Committee today voted 31 to 18 to approve a $32.1 billion spending bill to fund the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and the Forest Service in fiscal year 2017. The bill includes a provision that would block the EPA from implementing its controversial Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule [Agri-Pulse].
WOTUS legal battle likely to last into 2017:
The national stay on the waters of the United States rule likely will remain in place and the legal challenge to the rule will continue well into 2017, under a court order Tuesday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati [KRVN].
USCA optimistic following US Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc decision:
The recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc. signals a significant shift in the conversation on the EPA’s Clean Water Rule [High Plains Journal].
Wheat genome data released to scientific community:
Wheat breeders around the world now have access to the whole genome assembly for bread wheat, courtesy of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium [Agri-Pulse].
