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 reflects on Right to Farm loss:
Though it received strong support from rural voters, the measure was ultimately struck down by 60.3% of the population. So what comes next for Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers [AgWeb]?
Trump picks eagerly awaited as lawmakers return:
Lawmakers return this week for a lame duck session that will lay the groundwork for the next Congress, while Washington’s attention is riveted on finding out who will get the top jobs in Donald Trump’s administration [Agri-Pulse].
FEDERAL
Revenge of the rural voter:
After years of declining electoral power, driven by hollowed-out towns, economic hardship and a sustained exodus, rural voters turned out in a big way this presidential cycle — and they voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, fueling the real estate mogul’s upset victory [Politico].
Donald Trump is picking his cabinet. Here’s a short list:
Donald J. Trump’s transition team, which was handed over to Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Friday and includes a host of corporate consultants and lobbyists in addition to independent experts, is moving quickly to assemble leaders of the new administration. Here are some possibilities for the cabinet and other key posts [New York Times].
Trump has vowed to kill the Clean Power Plan. Here’s how he might – and might not – succeed:
Donald Trump is preparing to take office with a broad plan to dismantle many of the environmental policies and priorities established under the Obama administration [Washington Post].
Congress returns after election shocker:
This year’s lame-duck session could be one of the lamest in years. That’s because some Republicans will likely be eager to hold off as much as they can until Donald Trump is sworn into office in January [The Hill].
STATE
What Trump’s election could mean for Oklahoma:
Oklahoma Farm Bureau Vice President John Collison said a significant increase in infrastructure investment could have a big impact on Oklahoma’s agricultural producers [Oklahoma Watch].
State questions maps:
View how Oklahoma voted on seven state questions with The Oklahoman’s precinct-by-precinct maps [The Oklahoman].
Elections were reprieve for state GOP members (editorial):
Oklahoma Republicans shouldn’t view the results of Tuesday’s elections as a mandate for more of the same. Instead it’s a reprieve — and they better make the most of it [The Oklahoman].
MISCELLANEOUS
Betting the farm and losing: Banks seek collateral for debts:
The level of debt to income is the highest in three decades, and growers are increasingly unable to make loan payments [Bloomberg].
A giant reservoir that supplies a California county’s drinking water is nearly empty:
Under a sky that hardly ever delivers rain, the lake will only continue to fall, putting nearly a half-million county residents in an ugly situation. As early as January, the depth is expected to be too low to distribute water [Washington Post].
Farmer sheds light on NYT ‘Doubts About the Promised Bounty of GM crops’:
All my GMO corn is Roundup Ready, yet I almost never spray glyphosate on it. What GM traits do for me is put additional tools in my pest management toolbox that will be there if I need them [Forbes].
