The House GOP plans to bring up a stopgap continuing budget resolution as soon as next week to finish out the fiscal year. But uncertainty surrounding the federal budget and across-the-board cuts is confounding farm bill writers. It’s almost March and work still hasn’t started on a new farm bill. Top House Ag Democrat Collin Peterson told panel colleagues this week - and he and chair Frank Lucas agree - Congress needs to clear up the budget and sequester mess first.

National Farmers Union Chief Roger Johnson and others also met with Peterson - who recently met with Speaker John Boehner. Johnson…