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
ERDA votes to support Right to Farm:
The Enid Regional Development Alliance voted today to support State Question 777, also known as “Right to Farm.” The ERDA voted to show support for the agricultural industry in Enid and Northwest Oklahoma, according to a press release from the ERDA [Enid News & Eagle].
Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe putting water agreement on congressional agenda:
Sen. Jim Inhofe has put a historic Oklahoma water agreement on a fast track to congres- sional approval, tacking it on to legislation that could clear the Senate as early as next week [The Oklahoman].
STATE
Farm lending grows as prices wilt:
When farm revenue starts to decline, Tommy Sleeper typically sees many of his bank customers tap into the value of their land instead. The Beaver First Security Bank president said that’s not the case this year, however, because oil and gas prices are down also. Sleeper said agricultural lending is up and the community doesn’t feel markets are ready to turn around [Journal Record].
Oklahoma sets a new earthquake record as aftershocks jolt residents, researchers and regulators:
The U.S. Geological Survey is upgrading the strength of an earthquake that shook the state on Sept. 3 to 5.8 magnitude. That change makes the Labor Day weekend temblor the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Oklahoma [StateImpact Oklahoma].
FEDERAL
Emergency protections sought for imperiled lesser prairie chicken:
Today’s petition prompts the Service to reinstate federal protections for the entire species; it seeks emergency protections for the most imperiled isolated populations, in Colorado and western Kansas and along the Texas-New Mexico border [KRWG].
Floor time for Flint-aiding WRDA bill:
Floor debate may just be starting, but Environment and Public Works Committee aides are already celebrating. They saw proceeding to the bill as the biggest hurdle, and now they are confident the popular bill has enough votes behind it to overcome any obstacles [Politico].
MISCELLANEOUS
What is a factory farm?:
Instead of seeing “factory farms”, I see…FARMS. Just farms. Yes, we have lots of hog farms in rural Minnesota, especially in my county. And who manages and owns these farms? Big Ag? Money hungry corporations? No. These farms are owned by my neighbors, my friends, fellow church members, parents of my children’s friends and people in my community. People and their families run the farms, NOT Big Ag [American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture].
