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
Exclusive News On 6 Poll: State Question 777 ‘Right to Farm’:
Exclusive News On 6/News9 results on where voters stand on State Question 777, otherwise known as “Right to Farm.” The question would give added legal protection to Oklahomans who farm and ranch. The poll found that 49 percent of likely voters support 777 while 36 percent are opposed. And 15 percent of Oklahoma voters remain undecided [News On 6].
Uncertainty surrounds right-to-farm even in states that adopted it years ago:
Oklahoma could become the third state to add a “right-to-farm” amendment to its constitution if voters approve State Question 777 this November. Voters in North Dakota and Missouri already adopted such a measure, but, the effects remain unclear there, even years after passage [StateImpact Oklahoma].
Oklahoma Farmers Care responds to deceiving campaign ads:
As we continue to educate voters on State Question 777, Oklahoma’s Right to Farm, we had hoped that messaging on both sides of the issue would remain truthful. Unfortunately, that is not the case [Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association].
STATE
Federal judge dismisses nuisance case against Oklahoma wind farm:
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed an anticipatory nuisance case brought by a group of landowners worried about the noise and health effects of the Kingfisher wind farm [The Oklahoman].
For SQ 792: Approval would help bring back an Oklahoma industry:
Today, it’s not the weather or poor agricultural practices holding the grape-growing industry back. Oklahoma’s archaic beer and wine laws stunt growth [The Oklahoman].
FEDERAL
Report: More stick, less carrot in 2018 farm bill:
The Environmental Working Group has made its first big splash in the 2018 farm bill debate, releasing a report this morning that argues farmers should be required to adopt water quality practices and other conservation approaches in order to receive commodity and subsidy payments, Pro Agriculture’s Jenny Hopkinson reports [Politico].
ELECTIONS
Agricultural policy in the 2016 election:
In the midst of debates and with Election Day quickly approaching, the importance of agricultural policy is even more pressing. In fact, everyone has a stake in American agriculture and protecting our farmers and ranchers’ ability to produce. Agricultural policy issues hit home for all Americans, both on and off the farm [American Farm Bureau Federation].
Polling 101:
In this election season, I thought it might be worthwhile to share a few of the things I discuss in the course so that you might more intelligibly interpret some of survey research results being continuously reported in the newspapers and on the nightly news [Jayson Lusk Blog].
MISCELLANEOUS
What Michael Pollan gets wrong about Big Ag:
But his latest piece in the New York Times Magazine reads like a script for a black and white Western, with food companies, agribusiness and commodity producers cast in the role of Bad Guy and local organic farmers and vegans cast as the Men in White Hats [Environmental Defense Fund].
