USDA chief Sonny Perdue and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Thursday told a score of lawmakers, mostly from Western states, to prepare for what could be another record-setting wildfire season.

House Republicans prepare to force their new farm bill through the Agriculture Committee this week in what is likely to be a bitter but potentially brief debate, setting up a likely showdown on the House floor in May.

Efforts to exempt ranchers and concentrated animal feeding operations from air emissions reporting requirements took a step forward Wednesday with the introduction of a bill in the House that boasts 85 co-sponsors.