Weekly Update for
April 16

This week, NAWG Board Member and Oregon farmer Erin Hansel-Heideman joined a panel at the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Food Forum, sharing a farmer’s perspective on how technology and innovation in agriculture can impact nutrient density. Erin talked about her family’s farm and how they use precision agriculture and research to grow high-quality wheat.

This week, NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer met with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. to discuss key priorities for wheat farmers. Kieffer also requested continued dialogue to build address misconceptions and build a more accurate understanding of the practices wheat growers employ.

This week U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Boozman (R-AK), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA.) led a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USCMA) for American farmers ahead of the Agreement’s six-year joint review and urging improved market access and certainty for American producers. “USMCA is essential for U.S. wheat farmers. It keeps key markets open, ensures fair treatment, and gives producers the stability we need to stay competitive. Mexico continues to be the largest buyer of U.S. wheat, highlighting just how important this agreement is to our industry. NAWG thanks Senators Klobuchar, Boozman, and Daines for leading this effort and for continuing to highlight how critical USMCA is for farmers and rural America,” said Jamie Kress, NAWG President and Idaho farmer. Read the full letter below.

This week, NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer joined Agriculture of America (AOA) for an in-depth conversation on key issues facing wheat growers. He discussed the current fertilizer situation, the outlook for the Farm Bill, and other important topics. Listen to the full interview below.

This week, NAWG staff met with senior leadership from the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Public Liaison to discuss the MAHA initiative and crop protection tool issues. The conversations focused on policy considerations, stakeholder engagement, and the role of these tools in supporting agricultural productivity and sustainability.

This week, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry chairman Senator John Boozman (R-AR) announced new additions to the committee’s professional staff, Corey Brown Weber as Deputy Staff Director and Skylar Sowder Policy Director. Senator Boozman said in a press release, “Corey and Skylar have extensive legislative experience and are well-respected within the agriculture policy community. As passionate advocates for farmers, ranchers and producers, they will play instrumental roles in helping our committee advance legislation to strengthen rural America. I am pleased they are brining their deep expertise to these important leadership roles on our team.” Both women have extensive experience within the ag policy space. Corey Weber joined the committee as chief council for Republican staff in August of 2025, she also previously served as legislative director for Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and held roles with the National Prok Producers Council, the National Agricultural Law Center and the North Carolina General Assembly. Skylar Sowder served on the committee as Professional Staff where she oversaw commodity programs, crop insurance and disaster assistance under her policy portfolio. She most recently served as Vice President of Government Affairs at the Farm Credit Council, in addition, she also served as agriculture advisor in Chairman Boozman’s personal office, as well as the House Agriculture Committee.

The Michigan Wheat Program was reauthorized for another five years by a popular vote of Michigan growers and farmers. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development tallied the votes, and 82% voted in favor of the referendum, representing 80% of the production volume among the growers that voted. The program has been renewed until 2031, but the referendum vote goes back all the way to 2011, which was approved by a vote of 54% in the popular vote and production vote. The program must be reauthorized every five years under PA 232, the Agriculture Commodities Marketing Act. “We are very appreciative that on the 15th anniversary of our check-off, even in a challenging marketing environment, that wheat growers have seen the value of our program and have re-authorized it,” said Jeffery Krohn, chairman of the Michigan Wheat Program Board of Directors.  “We thank the growers who took the time to evaluate the program and then vote for its continuation.” Michigan Wheat Programs Executive director Jody Pollok-Newsom said, “We have worked very hard to establish a top-notch, well-respected organization that looks out for the needs of Michigan’s wheat farmers – focusing both on quality and yield…In addition to our robust research agenda, we have brought the British Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) Program to Michigan – the first state in the US to tackle yield and quality enhancement working backwards from the field’s potential to find and break the barriers for the next 5, 10 and 15 bushels. This has many innovative growers fine tuning their wheat production strategies.”

The Trump administration is considering using revenue from tariffs and renegotiated trade deals to strengthen domestic fertilizer production, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told lawmakers during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing. Rollins emphasized the need for increased infrastructure investment and efforts to reshore fertilizer production in the United States. She also noted a recent meeting with executives from major fertilizer companies, along with senior officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, to discuss strategies for stabilizing supply.

Congress is facing multiple important priorities, between the passage of the Farm Bill, authorization of year-round E-15 use, and $15 billion in direct aid; however, lawmakers are lacking a clear path to pass legislation despite the bipartisan effort and backing from important leaders. At a meeting on Tuesday April 14th, members of North American Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ) organizations with chair and ranking member of the senate ag committee, Senator John Boozman and Senator Amy Klobuchar, as well as Congressman Frank Lucas and Congresswoman Shontel Brown. The lawmakers in attendance presented strong bipartisan support for aiding farmers, but there was a minimal consensus on how to move legislative priorities forward. The majority share of the commodity title, crop insurance and funding for conservation were cleared in the One Big Beautiful Bill. USDA programs such as the credit title and rural development are operating on the latest extension passed by congress; whereas credit specifically is seen as an important area for expansion to help farmers manage financial stress. But the passage of a full farm bill is uncertain. Representative Frank Lucas said that despite support from President Trump, the senate majority leader, and speaker of the house the narrow majorities in both chambers make it difficult to pass legislation. Representative Brown said that beyond tariffs, input costs and trade wars, farmers also face broader pressures like other American families.

On Monday April 13th, President Donald Trump officially enforced a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and has triggered one of the worst energy shocks in history. The blockade was to ensure vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports, including the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf, according to the United States Central Command in a statement. The cost of crude oil has caused investors to scramble to price in a further squeeze on Persian Gulf Supply. Prior to the beginning of the war, one-fifth of the world’s oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz. That flow was stifled, upending supply chains for oil, fertilizers, apparel and industrial goods. Analysts have warned that clearing the backlog could take weeks even after a peace deal is reached. “Taking more oil off the market, particularly the only oil is now getting out from the Persian Gulf, will drive oil prices up…[to] around $15o a barrel,” said Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Ben Emons, managing director at Fed Watch Advisors said that besides crude, commodity price for helium and fertilizer, critical inputs for food production and semiconductor manufacturing are like to continue climbing fanning inflation that is already accelerating. The IMF and World Bank warn that emerging markets would be hit harder; therefor they would be downgrading global growth forecasts and raise inflation projections. The month-long upheaval in the Strait of Hormuz has sparked warning of an energy shortage worse than the 1970s oil crisis. Head of the International Energy Agency head Faith Birol called the disruption the worst energy shock that world has ever seen, more severe that the oil crises of the Ukraine war and 1970s combined.

The World Food Prize Foundation named Huub Lelieveld, the scientist who established the Global Harmonization Initiative, was named as its 2026 laureate. GHI, a retirement project that Lelieveld “spearheaded the creation of an international alert and whistleblowing network that enables experts in more than 100 countries to detect and respond to emerging food safety threat within 48 hours, helping protect consumers before isolated incidents escalate into broader crisis… in the aftermath of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China, he mobilized GHI to develop a food safety manual for disaster zones, shaping emergency response protocols used in multiple regions,” said the foundation. The World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogues this coming October will focus on global food safety, especially in times of war, rather than on food production. Following this announcement, Tom Vilsack CEO of World Food Prize Foundation, said that when agronomist Norman Borlaug established the prize 40 years ago, increasing food production was all-important, but today the situation is more complicated. While today the world raises a lot of food, however supply chains that have been disrupted by the wars in Ukraine and Iran, “have fundamental geopolitical implications,” Vilsack said. In his years in Washington, Vilsack said he learned that foreign affairs and defense specialists do not appreciate “the sophistication” of agriculture and “think farming is fairly simple” while farm leaders do not recognize the role of food in global security. Vilsack claimed it was difficult to convince the officials in charge of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a federal interagency committee proctored by the Treasury Department that reviews foreign investments in U.S. business, that someone from USDA should be included on decisions on agribusiness and farmland are made.

The Northern Crop Institute still has space available for their Summer Ag Academy at North Dakota State University. This weeklong event between June 22-26th still has spots available for high school students grades nine through eleven in several specialized areas. From the food science track, the animal science track, to international trade track, students can pick which specialized area within the ag sector to learn more about. Participants will meet with industry professionals, connect with peers who share the same interest in the ag space, and tour world class facilities. Lodging, transportation and meals are all provided through NCI generous sponsors. Spots are filled completely for the ag technology track, but if you know a high school student interested, slots are filling up soon. To register, please visit: