The House Appropriations Committee’s agriculture subcommittee approved its version of the FY2012 funding bill on Tuesday, cutting more than $2.5 billion – 13 percent – from USDA’s reduced FY2011 allocation.

Supporting research and ensuring a farm safety net that addresses disasters were key themes of the first Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee hearing of the 2012 Farm Bill process.

Representatives from major agricultural organizations met this week in Washington to hear about potential interference with GPS systems if a pending waiver is granted.

Members of the Obama Administration said this week that the passage of three pending free trade agreements must be linked with renewal of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a program that helps American workers hurt by trade.

NAWG, U.S. Wheat Associates and more than 120 other members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports wrote leaders of the House Appropriations Committee’s agriculture subcommittee this week, urging them to maintain funding for USDA export promotion programs.

Michigan wheat farmers are preparing to vote this spring on whether or not to establish a state checkoff to fund research and promotional efforts that will benefit their crops and businesses.

Instead of working his fields in northeastern Montana, wheat farmer Gordon Stoner was in Washington, D.C. this week to testify before Congress – twice – on the significance to his business and the U.S. wheat industry of pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

More details emerged this week about the likely schedule for the FY2012 appropriations process.

In its initial 2011/2012 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), UDSA pegged global wheat production at 670 million metric tons (MMT), a 3 percent increase from 2010/2011. Combined with beginning stocks of 182 MMT, global supplies would reach an estimated 852 MMT, up 7.4 MMT from 2010/2011 and just above the previous record of 850 MMT set in 2009/2010.

Four universities have signed onto a materials transfer agreement that should allow them to confidently share germplasm and quicken the wheat research process.

Members of Congress returned to Washington, D.C., this week after a two-week spring recess and quickly began work on a number of priorities.

The Obama Administration said this week it is ready to begin technical discussions with Congressional leaders that will pave the way for consideration of three pending free trade agreements.

A bureaucratic process meant to ensure pesticides will not harm endangered species is broken and in need of reform, witnesses and Members of Congress concluded at a Tuesday hearing.