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.
SEVEN DAYS OF SQ 777
Still have questions about State Question 777, the Right to Farm amendment? Join us as we address key facts and concerns surrounding the measure with our #7Daysof777 series on Facebook LIVE each day this week. Or, find previous segments on our Facebook page.
TOP HEADLINES
Legislators like Renegar are reason for Right to Farm:
But now – late in the SQ 777 campaign – Renegar has decided he opposes Oklahoma’s Right to Farm. Have Drew Edmondson and his cohorts at the Humane Society of the United States managed to buy him off? [OKAgPolicy]
Follow the money – latest contribution and spending numbers on State Question 777:
The latest numbers are now out from the Oklahoma Ethics Commission- as of last night- and while they tell some of the story of who is spending what on State Question 777- the numbers don’t reflect any money transferred in after October first and any media buys placed and paid for after October first [Oklahoma Farm Report].
SQ 777 will embrace agribusiness:
Celebrities and outside sources will continue to put their spin on the subject as they do with other topics. As voters, we need to do our part by doing the research and not just taking emotional advertisements ‘as the truth, and see SQ 777 as a positive for Oklahoma [Chickasha Express Star].
Norman Tea Party meeting tackles state questions:
Samples said American environmental organizations are the big anti-777 contributors, while those who are pro-SQ 777 are primarily farmers and ranchers…“I don’t want somebody to tell me what to do when I do the best that I can to feed you, to keep your mouth full by the cheapest method and protect our livestock,” said a farmer in the audience [Red Dirt Report].
STATE
EPA awards nearly $217k grant to Oklahoma agency:
The grant to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is part of an agreement between the state and federal agencies to support Oklahoma in continuing to administer an effective pesticide regulatory and enforcement program [AP].
More than 200 new laws go into effect in Oklahoma:
More than 200 new laws are set to go into effect in Oklahoma this year, including criminal justice reforms and measures to bring in more tax revenue [AP].
Area cities ride the economic roller coaster:
Oklahoma is the only state in the nation that requires cities to rely on sales tax revenues to fund its operating budget. Most other cities receive a portion of property tax revenues, he said [Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise].
MISCELLANEOUS
New poll suggests farmers are voting for Trump:
With just over a week until the United States elects its next president, a new poll suggests farmers will vote for Donald Trump. An Agri-Pulse Farm and Ranch poll asked approximately 750 farmers across the country who they’re voting for on November 8, and the consensus was for the Republican candidate [Farms.com].
New York Times on GMOs:
What I do know is that the vast majority of corn, soybean, and cotton farmers have continued to buy higher priced biotech seeds. Why? The NYT article makes no attempt to answer this question [Jayson Lusk Blog].
US approves 2 types of genetically engineered potatoes:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved commercial planting of two types of potatoes that are genetically engineered to resist the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine [MagicValley.com].
