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
Oklahoma lawmakers say 777 needed for future attacks on agriculture:
With the November General Election now two months away, there is one thing that is certain about the 2016 ballot that Oklahoma voters will consider. It will be loaded with State Questions- and they are likely to provide much of the drama leading up to election day at the state level [Oklahoma Farm Report].
SQ 777 contentious among ag, environmental advocates:
Though there is a bit of an east-west divide on SQ 777, it is not monolithic. Tonya Teaney, chair for the Republican Party of Cherokee County, based her support of SQ 777 on the need for free markets [Tahlequah Daily Press].
STATE
Oklahoma State University Division of Agriculture releases SQ 777 fact sheet:
In response, the Oklahoma Legislature proposed a ballot question for the 2016 fall general election that would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to limit the ability of the legislature to restrict agricultural practices [OSU DASNR].
Hofmeister: ‘Low, uncompetitive’ teacher pay should have been addressed by lawmakers, not ballot petitioners:
State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister on Wednesday said she “regrets” that lawmakers didn’t tackle the issue of teacher compensation before the matter ended up on a ballot initiative she believes is less than ideal [Tulsa World].
FEDERAL
Senate advances waterways bill with aid to Flint:
The Senate agreed to advance a $9.4 billion waterways bill on Wednesday that provides emergency funding for lead-contaminated communities like Flint, Mich [The Hill].
Hunger problem in US eased in 2015, USDA report shows:
The number of U.S. households where people don’t get enough to eat dropped significantly last year, but the level of food insecurity still remains higher than before the 2008 recession, according to a USDA report [Agri-Pulse].
MISCELLANEOUS
USDA data show organics average 67% of yield of non-organics:
Worded otherwise, 1.5 acres of land in organic production is needed, on average, to produce as much food as 1 acre of non-organic land, according to the USDA survey [Terry Daynard Blog].
