Agriculture

Soybeans are used in everything from animal feed to soy burgers to the famous salty, brown condiment that bears their name. Now they have the honor of becoming Oklahoma’s latest state symbol.

Gov. Kevin Stitt has vetoed a bill that would have required farmers, ranchers and other commercial irrigators to track how much water they pull from Oklahoma’s aquifers. Lawmakers said House Bill 3194 could help Oklahoma understand and protect its groundwater stores.

A bill that aims to encourage irrigators to accurately report their water use is making its way through the Oklahoma legislature.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is doling out $2 million in grants to Oklahoma rural businesses, municipalities and the Cherokee Nation.

The number of cattle and calves in Oklahoma is up in the new year, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle Survey, but shoppers still might see differences at the grocery store.

Every four years, the U.S. Global Change Research Program must deliver a report to Congress summarizing what scientific data are saying about climate change.

The numbers are alarming -- about 10.2% of American households are food insecure, and about 15.6% Oklahoma households are food insecure.

Purdy is also the host of The Good Clean Nutrition Podcast.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has approved $20 million for the Emergency Drought Relief Fund to help farmers and ranchers who have suffered crop and livestock loss during the drought.

The program, aimed at assisting Type 2 diabetics and now beginning its second year, is set to expand both the number of people it serves and the number of clinics where it's available.