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
Trump adds Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to transition team in Washington:
According to a statement from the Trump organization, Fallin is one of seven vice-chairs being added to the transition team [AP].
Fallin in line at Interior:
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin is emerging as the leading contender for Interior secretary in the Trump administration, a trio of sources close to the Trump transition told Pro Energy’s Andrew Restuccia [Politico].
Feds to consider renewed protections for bird species:
Federal officials are formally considering whether to reinstate protections for the lesser prairie-chicken. The Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the decision Tuesday, reigniting a high-profile debate over Endangered Species Act protections [The Hill].
FEDERAL
WRDA almost done:
Congress is racing to finish a major water infrastructure bill and send promised aid to Flint, Mich., and other communities facing drinking water problems — and all sides are optimistic a deal will come together this week [Politico].
Top Republican urges regulators to back off:
In letters to the Labor Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said there is no point to enforcing rules that Trump plans to overturn with the help of Congress [The Hill].
Trump picks Elaine Chao for Transportation Secretary:
His transportation secretary is likely to be one of the more essential players. Mr. Trump, a real estate magnate, has said that infrastructure redevelopment will be a priority of his first 100 days in office [New York Times].
If Trump goes hard on immigration, who will grow, process and serve our food?:
We know that farmers overwhelmingly supported President-Elect Donald Trump in this election. But how does that support square with how his immigration policy could impact the agricultural workforce? [Civil Eats]
STATE
Dan Boren decides not to run for governor in 2018:
Dan Boren, a former four-term Democratic congressman from one of Oklahoma’s most well-known political families, has decided not to run for the state’s open governor seat in 2018 [The Oklahoman].
Economist: Recovering oil industry and national economy helping Oklahoma:
A slowing U.S. economy early this year added to the challenges Oklahoma has faced with two years of lower oil and natural gas prices, Oklahoma City University economist Russell Evans said Tuesday. “We’re in a situation where national factors are more important than they normally are because of where we’re at in the oil and gas price cycle,” Evans said [The Oklahoman].
MISCELLANEOUS
California targets dairy cows to combat global warming:
Dairy farmers say the new regulations will drive up costs when they’re already struggling with five years of drought, low milk prices and rising labor costs [ABC News].
North America’s grasslands are slowly disappearing – and no one’s paying attention:
The Great Plains lost more grassland to agriculture in 2014 than the Brazilian Amazon lost to deforestation, says a recent report from the World Wildlife Fund. And it argues that the continued expansion of cropland in the region may be threatening birds, pollinators and even drinking water, while releasing millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year [Washington Post].
