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
In debate over Oklahoma state question, attacks on “corporate” farming are misguided:
Regardless of where one stands on SQ 777, those who imply large-scale farming is inherently bad are wrong, as Jayson Lusk, professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University, recently noted in a column in The New York Times. If anything, Lusk says, corporate farming reduces environmental harm [The Oklahoman].
SQ777 is right for Oklahoma families (Letter to the editor):
I don’t make any decisions or cast any votes without first thinking of the future of my children. I know voting yes on State Question 777, Oklahoma’s Right to Farm, is the right choice for me and for them [Stillwater News Press].
FEDERAL
TPP is good for agriculture and America (video):
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would add $4.4 billion in net farm income and an additional 40,000 jobs to our economy. Don’t fail our farmers and ranchers. Don’t fence in our future [American Farm Bureau Federation].
White House initiative aims to diversify ag workforce:
The America the Bountiful project emanates from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. It is designed to narrow the gap between available ag jobs and available ag graduates [Agri-Pulse].
STATE
Treasurer says Oklahoma budget hole assured:
There is no question that Oklahoma will have a big budget hole next year, the only question is how big, state Treasurer Ken Miller said Thursday. The fact that the current budget was put together using one-time revenue, or money that may not be available next year, means that a shortfall is assured, he said in a Capitol news conference [The Oklahoman].
Oklahoma revenue falls in September for 19th straight month:
Oklahoma’s treasurer says state revenue fell again last month, continuing a 19-month decline in the broad measure of the state’s economic activity [AP].
MISCELLANEOUS
As food prices plummet, consumers rejoice, farmers lament:
When consumers shop at their local grocery stores these days, bargains can be had in practically every aisle. That’s because bountiful harvests and cheap energy have pushed prices of many commodities including beef, chicken, corn and soybeans to recent lows [CBS News].
Wind is the new corn for struggling farmers:
As commodity prices threaten to reach decade lows and farmers struggle to meet debt payments, wind has become the newest cash crop, saving family farms across a wide swath of the heartland [Bloomberg].
California tightens rule on popular pesticide, citing health:
The change doesn’t ban the pesticide Telone but creates a uniform rule for its application each year. The rule is drawing criticism from farmers who call it a key way to fight pests and fear the crackdown could lead to rising food prices [Washington Post].
