As the agronomic and political impacts of the nation’s growing drought came into clearer focus this week, House Republican leaders shifted course toward possible consideration of a one-year extension of current farm programs.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill Thursday to clarify requirements facing farmers under the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure, or SPCC, rule.

A new coalition of high-profile individuals and science organizations seeking to raise awareness of the needs for investment in agricultural research launched this week.

Congress is working to grant permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status to Russia and Moldova before leaving for August recess.

With just two weeks until the Congressional August recess begins, it remains unclear if the 2012 Farm Bill will come to the House floor this summer.

The Market Access Program (MAP) came under attack again this week in the Senate, with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) attempting to eliminate funding for the export market development program at a Senate Finance Committee meeting.

Despite the worst drought since 1956, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that U.S. wheat farmers will produce a larger crop than last year and will stand ready once again to supply high quality wheat to the world.

The farm bill ball is in House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) court following House Agriculture Committee approval of its version of new farm and food policy legislation early Thursday morning.

Key USDA statistical reports should be released “at a time of day when volume is heaviest and liquidity is deepest” and should be accompanied by both a one-page summary of relevant details and a one-hour pause in trading on major exchanges, NAWG and other grain groups told the Department in comments this week.

A new report demonstrates how six commodity crops including wheat are being produced more efficiently in the U.S. than they were 30 years ago, accompanied by important improvements in farm safety and economic sustainability for producers.

NAWG transmitted a letter Tuesday to leaders of the House Agriculture Committee, outlining priorities for that Committee’s planned mark-up of 2012 Farm Bill language. The letter is available in full here.

Congress was out of session this week for the July 4 holiday. Ag news in Washington and around the country didn’t stop, though! Here’s a quick update on key happenings.