Welcome to Heads Up
Wheat in DC, a new member-focused column connecting the work NAWG is doing in Washington with what it means for wheat growers across the country. This column is about advocacy—where we’re leading, where we’re pushing, and how policy decisions affect your farm and the wheat sector.
We begin with important progress. USDA will soon administer the Food for Peace Program, an important priority for wheat growers and a major win for NAWG. NAWG has been leading the charge to move Food for Peace to USDA, where agricultural expertise, supply-chain knowledge, and accountability belong. This did not happen by chance. It happened because wheat growers made their voices heard and NAWG consistently pressed the case.
Food for Peace was built on the simple idea that U.S. agriculture can feed hungry people while supporting American farmers. Under USDA, the program will operate more efficiently, better promote U.S.-grown wheat, and strengthen America’s leadership abroad. NAWG is proud of the role we played in advancing this change, and we will remain engaged as the transition moves forward. But we still need Congress to act and make the move permanent.
At the same time, recent developments around the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans raise concern. The guidelines create confusion for consumers and policymakers alike by sending mixed messages about the role of grain foods in a healthy diet. Wheat, wheat flour, and foods made from wheat have been nutrient-rich and affordable life-sustaining staples for tens of thousands of years and deserve clear, continued support as a central part of our nation’s diet.
As I said when the guidelines were released, clarity matters. Grain foods, including wheat, have long been an important part of balanced, affordable diets. NAWG will continue to engage with the administration and Congress as the guidelines are implemented. Our goal is not politics; it’s accuracy, transparency, and fairness for growers and consumers.
Looking ahead, 2026 will be a consequential year for wheat advocacy. From farm policy and trade to research funding, nutrition, and regulatory certainty; NAWG is preparing for an active agenda focused on improving the farm economy. Our approach will remain collaborative and bipartisan, but always unapologetic in advancing wheat growers’ interests.
That work will be front and center in just two weeks, when we welcome our member states to Washington, DC for NAWG’s 2026 Winter Meeting. There is no substitute for growers engaging directly with decision-makers, and we look forward to advancing our priorities together.Heads Up: Wheat in DC will keep you informed, represented, and prepared as NAWG continues leading for wheat growers in Washington and beyond