It's been a busy week in agricultural news. Here are seven agricultural stories you might have missed.

1. President Trump delivered his proposed budget to Congress on Thursday. The proposal slashes USDA spending $7.3 billion. – Farm Futures

The budget has drawn lots of reaction. The budget zeros out the EPA's Chesapeake Bay program annual budget. – Farm Futures

The budget's 21% cut to USDA drew criticism. – Reuters

The rural voters who turned out in droves to vote for Trump would be some of biggest losers under proposed White House budget. – Politico

A breakdown of the winners and losers in Trump's proposed budget. - Fox News Politics

2. He was the last cabinet-level appointee to be announced, and many in agriculture have been awaiting his hearing. News out this week is that the Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on Sonny Perdue on March 23, during National Agriculture Week. – The Virginian-Pilot

3. The second case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed on a Tennessee chicken farm. It was a commercial chicken breeder flock within the existing controlled quarantined zone. – Farm Futures

4. Twenty-three farm-state senators are pushing back at an attempt to change the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Meanwhile, billionaire investor and Trump advisor Carl Icahn is betting against biofuels. – Farm Futures 

5. Wildfires burned thousands of acres, destroying rangeland. Farmers across the country responded and donated hay. Producers impacted are encouraged to come and get hay. Impacted producers are also encouraged to document losses and contact the Farm Service Agency. – Beef Producer

6. The importance of agricultural research was stressed during a March 16 hearing of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Biotechnology , Horticulture and Research. – Farm Futures

7. Former Environmental Protection Agency employee Jess Rowland has become a central figure in more than 20 lawsuits in the U.S. accusing the company of failing to warn consumers of the risks related to Roundup. – Farm Futures

And your bonus:

With the bevy of consolidations and mergers taking place in agriculture, Sens. Chuck Grassley and Debbie Stabenow are calling for top U.S. agriculture and food officials to have permanent representation on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The job of CFIUS is to assess whether or not transactions initiated by foreign entities threaten to impair U.S. national security interests. – Farm Futures