The NAWG staff and officer team are headed to Chicago for business meetings over the weekend. The Washington, D.C., office will be closed Thursday, March 29, and Friday, March 30, with staff available periodically by e-mail and cell phones. In the meantime, here’s a quick update on actions and activities this week.

Wheat growers are concerned about increased rail rates because of an acquisition premium paid by Berkshire Hathaway when it purchased the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad, NAWG Immediate Past President Wayne Hurst told members of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Thursday.

Agriculture leaders denounced this week a Republican budget proposal that instructs the House Agriculture Committee to cut a total of $180 billion from programs administered by USDA, including more than $30 billion from farm safety net programs and crop insurance.

Negotiators should work toward a comprehensive United States-European Union free trade agreement that addresses agricultural barriers, NAWG, U.S. Wheat Associates and nearly 40 other agriculture groups wrote this week in an open letter.

NAWG President Erik Younggren called on Congress Thursday to approve new farm policy legislation before the 2008 Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30.

Agricultural research projects around the country will feel the spill-over effects of scheduled lab closings as USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) cuts from other projects the $40 million needed to move personnel and unwind real estate commitments.

When was the last time you baked something – from scratch or from a mix – for a friend or neighbor?

Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Tim Holden (D-Pa.) reintroduced on Wednesday legislation to restructure water quality efforts in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Farmers and agriculture industry representatives attending the 2012 Commodity Classic had the chance to ask questions of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) top agricultural advisor at a learning center session sponsored by the NAWG Foundation.

A record 6,014 people attended the 2012 Commodity Classic last week in Nashville, Tenn., to discuss farm policy, learn about important issues facing the ag community and see the latest equipment and technologies in the Classic trade show.

Upwards of 5,500 wheat, corn, soybean and sorghum growers are in Nashville, Tenn., through the weekend for the 2012 Commodity Classic. Since we are busy with meetings, receptions, educational sessions and a rockin’ trade show booth, we offer you a quick update this week.