More than 225 people gathered for NAWG and U.S. Wheat Associates business meetings held Sunday through Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

The Michigan Wheat Program sought and received membership in the National Association of Wheat Growers during the NAWG Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday.

Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) introduced legislation this week that would eliminate a paperwork-laden redundancy in pesticide application permitting.

Agriculture leaders in Congress vigorously asserted this week their intentions to pursue a 2013 Farm Bill, though formal work in committee is unlikely to start before spring.

The sense of comity that often comes with America’s peaceful transfer of power dissolved quickly this week into reality about the fiscal issues the country is facing.

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) announced this week the diverse group of farmers who will serve as spokespeople for American agriculture, sharing their experiences on a national stage to help answer consumers’ questions about how food is grown and raised to feed our nation.

Statements this week from agriculture leaders reinforced the uncertainty surrounding the agriculture budget and the process for reauthorizing federal farm policy in the 113th Congress.

Nearly a dozen agriculture groups announced on Friday a new Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) to propose and advocate for labor policies that ensure farm operations have access to a stable and skilled workforce.

Resolving to change our habits or reach new goals in a new year is only human. And for humans in many countries, one of the most common resolutions is to lose weight. That’s why the health clubs and fad diet promoters are on the prowl. So-called elimination diets seem to be dominant and, unfortunately for many growers, flour millers and bakers, the call to eliminate wheat from the diet is particularly popular this year.

After a historic New Year’s session and swearing in the 113th Congress, Members were back in their districts this week. The House is slated to return to Washington, D.C., on Monday, Jan. 14, with the Senate back for Inauguration Day on Jan. 21. We hope you find this quick update helpful in the meantime; remember, updates are always available at www.facebook.com/wheatworld and www.twitter.com/wheatworld.

NAWG hopes you had a wonderful holiday season! It was an action packed couple of weeks for the wheat industry in Washington, D.C. Here’s a look at what happened.