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TOP HEADLINES
SQ 777 contentious among ag, environmental advocates:
The in-state opposition to SQ 777 seemed to surprise supporters of the measure, who have stated the purpose of the question is to frustrate interference in farming practices by animal rights groups, not give farmers a free hand to pollute the environment [Tahlequah Daily Press].
Senate aiming for early action on water infrastructure, Flint aid:
The WRDA bill is a bipartisan measure from Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)…The core of the bill comprises a suite of provisions relating to municipal water infrastructure and authorizations for more than two dozen lock, dam, levee and ports projects across the country [Politico].
STATE
Oklahoma ag groups host sporting clays shoot to support the SQ777 vote yes campaign:
Oklahoma agriculture groups are hosting a sporting clays shoot to help support the Vote Yes campaign for SQ777, known as, Oklahoma’s Right to Farm. The sporting clays shoot will take place Oct. 13 at Silverleaf Shooting Sports located near Guthrie, Oklahoma [High Plains Journal].
Shut down of injection wells to impact OK economy:
In a few days, 37 injection wells near Pawnee will be shut down indefinitely. This was ordered by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission after the 5.6 magnitude earthquake on Saturday [News 9].
Oklahoma Transportation Department to share in returned funds:
Flummoxed state transportation officials got the relief they were looking for Tuesday. State finance officials reversed course and said the Transportation Department is entitled to get back $11.35 million, after all. The money will be used to improve roads and bridges [The Oklahoman].
Oklahoma tax receipts continued to decline for 18th straight month:
These receipts, which provide a broad view of state economic activity, were down by 4 percent in August compared to the same month last year [The Oklahoman].
ELECTIONS
Players and money behind penny sales tax campaigns:
Polling shows a large majority of voters have chosen sides on State Question 779, the proposed 1 percent sales tax increase for education. But millions of dollars will be spent in the coming months in an effort to lock up their votes [Oklahoma Watch].
Another group that loses if Trump wins? Animals:
This will be especially devastating if Donald Trump replaces him — not only because of his sons’ lust for hunting exotic game but also because his recently announced agriculture advisory committee includes several active opponents of animal protection policies [Washington Post].
In every state, pessimism about Trump, Clinton and the impact of the election:
The presidential campaign has intensified long-standing political divisions, but there is one area of broad agreement among voters in both red states and blue states — a pervasive pessimism that no matter the outcome, the election will do little to unify the country, according to a Washington Post-SurveyMonkey survey of all 50 states [Washington Post].
MISCELLANEOUS
When industrial-scale farming is the sustainable path:
Justin Knopf farms 4,500 acres in central Kansas, producing wheat, soy, sorghum and alfalfa for national and global markets, using synthetic pesticides, fertilizer and GMOs. In some quarters, those facts would suffice to condemn him as a villain of “Big Ag.” But Justin is a conservation hero [PBS].
Beef is when the government makes you pay for your factory-farm competition’s advertising:
There was a significant development last week in a lawsuit that is seeking to eradicate a major source of funds used to prop up factory farming of meat. The lawsuit is centered around the checkoff program, a system that requires ranchers and farmers to contribute money from every animal sold to promote industry advertisements such as “Beef: It’s What’s For Dinner” and “Pork. The Other White Meat” [Village Voice].
