"WASHINGTON -- Leaders of the House and Senate agriculture committees are optimistic that the long-overdue U.S. farm bill will pass, although the House of Representatives vote set for Wednesday could be the more difficult hurdle."

"During President Obama’s speech tonight, he announced many different ways he would use the executive branch to pursue strong action on climate change. For longtime readers, this is old hat by now; I’ve been over how the EPA can use its pollution authority to cut back on carbon emissions several times. The policy framework hasn’t changed."

"When Velma Johnston almost single-handedly persuaded Congress to pass the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, her goal was to protect an icon of the American West that had been slaughtered, poisoned and abused and was quickly disappearing."

"The agency has needed Congress to approve extra disaster relief funds every year over roughly the past decade to handle mounting climate-related damage."

"WASHINGTON — From climate change to natural gas, energy issues have figured prominently in all of President Barack Obama’s annual State of the Union addresses. Expect the same on Tuesday night, when Obama goes before a joint session of Congress and a nationally televised audience to deliver his assessment of the United States’ health and pitch his policy priorities for the nation."

"Negotiators agreed Monday evening on a new five-year Farm Bill that slashes about $23 billion in federal spending by ending direct payments to farmers, consolidating dozens of Agriculture Department programs and by cutting about $8 billion in food stamp assistance."

"Pope Francis is drafting an encyclical on the environment."

"SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In conservative politics, solar power is often dismissed as an affectation, part of a liberal agenda to funnel money to 'solar cronies' of the Obama administration and further the 'global warming hoax.' So one would not expect to see Barry Goldwater Jr., the very picture of modern conservatism and son of the 1964 Republican nominee for president, arguing passionately on behalf of solar energy customers."

"The Volokh Conspiracy, a blog of climate conspiracy theorists, is now part of the Washington Post."