TOP HEADLINES
A conversation with Oklahoma’s long-time water boss:
StateImpact talked to Strong in his new office to talk about the water challenges that remain and the issues facing wildlife conservation that are now his problem [StateImpact Oklahoma].
Oklahoma land office makes record amount of money:
The payments that ranchers like Clay Burtrum make, go to the agency that manages the land, the Commissioners of the Land Office. When asked how much of Clay’s money goes to education, Secretary of the Land Office Harry Birdwell said, “All of it. 100%” [News on 6].
FEDERAL
GOP opts for short-term spending bill:
Lawmakers decided during a closed-door meeting to back a path toward a short-term spending bill instead of a broad, year-end package. Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) personally made the case for the short-term bill, pitching it as the preference of President-elect Donald Trump, according to multiple lawmakers [The Hill].
Cotton industry to push for action in next farm bill:
After efforts to add cotton to certain farm bill programs fell short earlier this year, the industry is still looking for ways to get through some tough times [Agri-Pulse].
Trump could change US trade policy; some farm groups approve, some don’t:
Donald Trump won the presidency by pledging to make America great again, pledging to revitalize the groups that elevated him, including rural Americans. Yet he never offered many clues as to how that greatness would be achieved [High Plains Journal].
Trump-size idea for a new president: Build something inspiring:
Repealing Obamacare, lowering taxes for businesses and mostly wealthy people, overhauling the immigration system and privatizing Medicare — what congressional Republicans have cited as their top legislative priorities — would be divisive in a nation bitterly split along partisan and geographic lines. But nearly everyone agrees that America has grossly neglected its infrastructure even as the rest of the world, notably China, has raced ahead [New York Times].
MISCELLANEOUS
With an eye on hunger, scientists see promise in genetic tinkering of plants:
Their plan is to try the same alterations in food crops, and one of the leaders of the work believes production gains of 50 percent or more may ultimately be achievable. If that prediction is borne out in further research — it could take a decade, if not longer, to know for sure — the result might be nothing less than a transformation of global agriculture [New York Times].
Americans can be grateful for lower prices this Thanksgiving, Farm Bureau says:
Americans have one more thing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving – their holiday meal will be less expensive than a year ago [Agri-Pulse].
