Articles
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Agriculture
Latest federal overreach could harm farmers, ranchers
In a move that could have a major impact on Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a new “waters of the United States” rule under the Clean Water Act.Jayson Lusk | July 23, 2014
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Agriculture
EPA’s Gina McCarthy dismisses citizen concerns, shows why federalism matters
The limits on federal power and the system of states known as federalism exist in the Constitution to protect people.Trent England | July 21, 2014
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Agriculture
Guiding principles for free-market agriculture policy
Earlier this year, the U.S. Congress passed a farm bill projected to cost almost a trillion dollars over the next 10 years. Most of the spending goes toward food and nutrition programs (like food stamps), but more than 15 percent of the total, or $14.6 billion per year, is allocated for farm commodity and crop insurance programs that subsidize farmers’ premiums, deductibles, or both.Jayson Lusk | May 9, 2014
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Agriculture
Give states more power to make their own farm policies
Neither of these proposals is perfect or a cure-all, but they both have some promise in shaking up the status-quo and moving in a more promising direction.Jayson Lusk | April 6, 2014
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Agriculture
Bureaucratic Restraint? Fat Chance
Back in November, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its plan to remove artificial trans fats from its list of ingredients that are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)—essentially banning the ingredient. In a few weeks, the comment period on the proposal will close and the FDA will likely move to implement the policy.Jayson Lusk | March 12, 2014
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Agriculture
Do Food Stamps Boost the Economy?
Farm bill negotiations have resumed in Washington, D.C., and one of the first items of business is to determine the fate of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps.Jayson Lusk | January 13, 2014
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Budget & Tax, Agriculture, Good Government
Do Food Stamps Boost the Economy?
While there is good evidence that SNAP reduces hunger and food insecurity among poor households, there are also legitimate concerns about the program fostering government dependency, reducing the incentive to work, and increasing the government deficit.Jayson Lusk | January 13, 2014
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Agriculture
Toward a Free-Market Farm Policy
OCPA executive vice president Brian Bush recently sat down with economist Jayson Lusk, OCPA’s Samuel Roberts Noble Distinguished Fellow, to discuss agricultural subsidies, crop and livestock insurance, and more.Jayson Lusk | December 13, 2013
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Agriculture
Toward a Free-Market Farm Policy
Surveys suggest that more than 80% of professional economists believe that the United States should eliminate agricultural subsidies. However, only 34 percent of the general public agrees.Jayson Lusk | December 13, 2013
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Agriculture
Misplaced Wrath
With today’s farm bill hanging in the balance, it is instructive to take a brief look back at our nation’s long and complicated history with farm policy.Jayson Lusk | September 6, 2013