Members of both the House and Senate were in their districts this week for a Presidents Day recess, but intense budget discussions continued in Washington with just a week to go before the law funding the federal government expires.

Wheat growers from around the country are packing their bags for sunny Tampa, Fla., the site of the 2011 Commodity Classic.

NAWG and U.S. Wheat Associates emphasized the importance of trade to the domestic wheat industry and the urgent need for pending free trade agreements to be finalized in a submission sent this week for a House Ways and Means Committee hearing record.

NAWG and other agricultural groups acted quickly this week to counter a budget proposal that would cut 22 percent of discretionary agriculture funding for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year and a series of amendments that could seriously impact priority programs.

Members expressed serious concern about the cost and liability associated with new and duplicative pesticide permitting requirements at a hearing held this week to examine the issue.

USDA reported last week that U.S. farm exports reached an all-time high in 2010, showing again that agriculture is one bright spot in an otherwise middling economy.

Agriculture research is an important priority for federal government spending, but there are likely no programs that will emerge unscathed from anticipated budget cuts.

House Republicans are expected to soon release a budget proposal that cuts $100 billion from federal government spending for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year, which runs until Sept. 30.

Subcommittees of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee are scheduled to meet Wednesday to review legislation that tackles new and duplicative pesticide application permitting requirements set to go into effect on April 9.

The Senate overwhelmingly approved on Wednesday an amendment that would repeal new and onerous 1099 reporting requirements.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said late Friday it is partially deregulating Roundup Ready sugar beets until a larger evaluation of the environmental impact of the crop, known as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), can be completed.

More than 40 wheat researchers, growers and users are heading to Washington, D.C., early next week to educate Members of Congress and the Obama Administration about the importance of publicly-funded wheat research.

Long-time rail reform supporters in the Senate recently reintroduced two bills to reform regulation of America’s railroad industry.