USDA said Thursday it is granting deregulated status to Roundup Ready alfalfa, meaning growers won’t face isolation distances and other restrictions on planting of the genetically modified crop.

President Barack Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address to Congress and the nation on Tuesday. Below are some themes of importance to the agriculture industry, in order of their appearance in the speech and with notes on NAWG’s related policy.

President Barack Obama took his State of the Union address Tuesday as an opportunity to again highlight his Administration’s new efforts to reexamine federal regulations and ease their burden where possible.

Nearly 200 wheat growers, state wheat organization staff and other wheat industry stakeholders gathered in Washington, D.C., this week for the 2011 Wheat Industry Winter Conference. Here’s a recap of key happenings.

Colombia’s Ambassador to the United States Gabriel Silva presented to a standing-room crowd on Tuesday at the NAWG and U.S. Wheat Associates Joint International Trade Policy Committee meeting, emphasizing the importance of quick passage of a pending free trade agreement with that country.

The House Agriculture Committee held a public forum Thursday to hear testimony and question Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack about his Department’s process for approving Roundup Ready alfalfa and the implications it could have on future biotech approvals.

Incoming Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) touched on everything from farm bill programs to the regulatory system in a speech Tuesday, billed as her first in her new leadership role.

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced this week a new and significant investment of public funds in wheat research work.

Congress largely paused legislative business and partisan rancor this week following the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and 19 other people on Jan. 8.

The 112th Congress was called into session this week, bringing with it new leadership at the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over agriculture-related policies and programs.

NAWG and five other farm groups wrote the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology this week to express their deep concerns about how USDA’s process to deregulate Roundup Ready alfalfa could threatened to undermine the U.S. government’s science-based regulatory system.

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced Thursday a proposed rule that would establish a program to refund part of crop insurance premiums to producers who have had minimal losses in recent years.

Thirteen growers will travel to Washington, D.C. a bit early next week to undergo training as part of the 2011 Wheat Organization Leaders of the Future (WOLF) program.

Early registration prices for the 2011 Commodity Classic expire in just a few short days, on Jan. 20.