Washington, D.C. (November 17, 2022) — Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the appointment of Clay Pope, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) board member and Oklahoma wheat farmer, to serve on the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). The FRRCC serves an important role and provides independent policy advice and recommendations to the EPA on a variety of issues that impact farmers across the United States.

“Serving on the FRRCC is an exciting opportunity to help advise the EPA and the administrator by providing a dryland farming perspective, which is outside the traditional corn/soy belt and will contribute different perspectives based on climatic pressures and crop rotations,” said Clay Pope, NAWG board member and Oklahoma wheat farmer. “I am looking forward to working with this committee and playing a role in ensuring the EPA understands the impacts of their policies on wheat farmers and seek solutions that work for all of agriculture.”

“NAWG is excited about having Clay Pope serve on the EPA’s advisory committee, which plays a key role in telling the story about how wheat producers are having a positive impact on the environment and have increased resource-efficient practices in land, water and energy use,” said Nicole Berg, NAWG President and Washington wheat farmer. “Clay has demonstrated his ability to work for growers of different viewpoints on the NAWG Special Climate and Sustainability Committee over the last years, and in his years of working on policy development and program delivery in Oklahoma. This announcement is good news for farmers across the country.”