Weekly Update for
April 2

On the March podcast, we sit down with Dr. Christina Hagerty to discuss the National Wheat Improvement Committee’s annual fly-in and the key policy priorities shaping the future of wheat research, We’re also joined by Veronica Nigh, Senior Economist at The Fertilizer Institute, who offers insight into the current state of the fertilizer industry, the economic pressures farmers are facing, and what to watch as the season moves forward. Stay with us for an informative conversation on the issues impacting agriculture today—and what they could mean for the road ahead. Listen below.

On March 31st, NAWG urged the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) to revoke countervailing duty (CVD) orders on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia, citing significant economic harm to U.S. wheat farmers. In a letter to ITC Secretary Lisa R. Barton, NAWG emphasized that maintaining these duties would continue to impose unnecessary costs to farmers already facing a challenging economic environment. “Phosphate fertilizer is a critical and necessary component in growing wheat, and the current countervailing duties have placed an unsustainable financial burden on America’s farmers who raise wheat,” said NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer. “Revoking these orders would provide immediate and meaningful relief to growers and strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. agriculture.” Fertilizer accounts for roughly 38 percent of wheat operating costs, accordioning to USDA projections., Research from Texas A&M University estimates the duties added $6.9 billion in fertilizer costs for U.S. producers between 2021 and 2025, with wheat farmers bearing nearl7y $1 billion. NAWG analysis estimates wheat farmers alone incurred approximately nearly $1 billion in added costs over that period.

This week, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) staff traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, and Fort Collins, Colorado to strengthen partnerships and advocate on behalf of wheat producers nationwide. NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer met with leadership from the Colorado Association of Wheat Growers and the Colorado Wheat Administrative Committee Board of Directors. During these discussions, he provided an in-depth organizational update, outlining current projects, national policy priorities, and key initiatives designed to support U.S. wheat growers. The meetings underscored NAWG’s continued commitment to close collaboration with state wheat organizations and growers. Meanwhile, NAWG Vice President of Policy Anthony Peña participated in the spring meeting of the BNSF Agricultural Rail Busisness Council in Fort Worth. There, he joined other national commodity groups, agricultural stakeholders, and BNSF officials to discuss critical issues facing the agriculture and transportation industry, as well as opportunities to enhance the efficient movement of wheat and other commodities across the country. Together, these engagements highlight NAWG’s proactive approach to advocacy, its dedication to strong industry partnerships, and its focus on delivering meaningful results for wheat growers nationwide.

Last week, NAWG joined fellow agricultural leaders as part of PepsiCo’s Food & Farm Council to engage in key policy discussions with federal leaders in Washington, D.C. The council composed of major commodity and farm organization representatives, provides a unified voice on critical issues impacting U.S. agriculture. During meetings in the West Wing of the White House with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Adam Donaho, NAWG and council members addressed a range of pressing concerns. Discussions focused on rising input costs, particularly amid geopolitical tensions, current farm economic conditions, domestic demand, tariff pressures, access to crop protection tools, and the importance of programs like Food for Peace. Participants also emphasized farmers’ commitment to soil health and raised concerns about non-science-based rhetoric surrounding food and agriculture. The group also met with Senators Roger Marshall (KS) and Amy Klobuchar (MN), where they reinforced many of the same priorities, including the need to support a strong farm economy, maintain market access, and ensure sound, science-based agricultural policies.

On March 30th, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Raking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are leading the 10 democrats in the Senate Ag Committee to raise concerns to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the reliability of their data reports. A recent survey found that 73% of ag producers and 78% of ag retailers are less confident in USDA reports than in the past. The senators wrote in a letter to the USDA, “We write to express our concerns regarding the reliability of data reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture… farmers need reliable USDA data to make critical decisions on what to plant, how to manage risks. And when to market their agricultural products. Given the importance of reliable USDA data to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, it is critical that USDA maintain the quality and integrity of its data,”. Bedsides Senators Klobuchar and Shaheen, the letter was signed by Senators Michale Bennet (D-CO), Tina Smith(D-MN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Raphel Warnock (D-GA), Pete Welch (D-VA), Jon Fetterman (D-PA), Adman Schiff (D-CA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

On March 31st, Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) and members of the House Ag Committee urges to USDA to immediately take steps to stabilize fertilizer prices during severe global supply disruptions stemming from the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Blocked shipments of urea and ammonia, port blockages, and shutdowns at regional production facilities, causing for higher input costs for U.S. farmers as planting season commences. The lawmakers wrote in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, “It has become increasingly clear that the Administration decided to initiate hostilities without considering the obviously foreseeable consequences this would have upon American agriculture… farmers will be forced to ether pay higher prices for fertilizer that they need or go with less an risk low productions yields; either way their tight margins- already in the red for many farmers- will only worsen,”. The letter also acknowledges that while the Iranian regime has retaliated and spread the conflict to Gulf States, facilities essential to fertilizer production have come under direct attack, foreshadowing longer-term consequences for American farmers even if the war were to end soon. “Even if the Strait reopens, it will take weeks to begin the plats back online and get them running efficiently. Plants that are damaged will need to be repaired. Ports will have to catch up on loading ships, leading to backlog and prolonged supply chain slowdown. It could be months before supply chains normalize,” said Ranking member Craig and other members of the House Ag Committee.

On March 27th, President Donald Trump hosted hundreds of farmers at the White House for National Ag Week. During this event, the President urged congress to pass a new farm bill and expressed his support for the year-round sale of E-15. The President said on the South Lawn, “I’m also asking Congress to quickly pass the new farm bill, and today I’m promising to request additional farm relief for our great patriots in the next funding bill, so we have you taken care if in both instances.” While the President did not specific the amount or what funding bill additional farm aid should be moved in, however lawmakers ae eyeing a war supplemental spending bill to move the measure.

On March 27th, while Trump was hosting farmers on the South Lawn of the White House, Trump announced a new online platform called “Only Farms” to showcase agricultural policies, and financial relief measure. The platform also included a map that allows users to select their state and view estimated savings linked to the administration’s policies. This launch comes at a time when farmers are facing higher costs of fuel and fertilizer, and trade policies have added pressure to the agriculture sector. The website is meant to act as a liaison for farmers to directly sale to consumers through finding farms in your local area. “Connecting local farms with local tables across America,” is displayed on the front page on the website. If you would like to learn more about the website, please visit “OnlyFans.gov”.

Leaders associated with the MAHA movement want the USAD to improve quality of school lunch meals, including sourcing of meat and dairy.  This marks a significant turn for these MAHA groups, whereas what they are asking for will likely come with significant government costs. A letter from “MAHA-aligned moms, livestock producers and nutrition and agriculture organizations” to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to call on USDA to improve the quality of food served in schools before making any changes to protein requirements. The Trump administration released new dietary guidelines to prioritize the intake of meat, eggs, beans and nuts and to reduce the consumption of processed foods such as pasta, white-bread, white rice and other packaged baked goods. The USDA is expected to take the new dietary guidelines and apply them to its nutrition programs, most notably, the National School Lunch Program. These changes to nutrition programs could be costly for the government.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued guidance to diesel equipment manufactures saying they no longer need to use urea quality sensors to meet emissions control system parameters, however, can instead turn into nitrogen oxides sensors and other alternate methods in the hopes of reducing diesel exhaust fluid system failures. Manufactures are allowed to meet emissions control parameters using alternative way to urea quality sensors, which have been identified by the Truck and engine Manufacturers Association, whom are amongst the highest failure rate of any” selective catalytic components. The Truck and Engine Manufactures Association Executive Vice President Timothy Blubaugh called the guidance “evidence of EPA’s continued willingness to find solutions that will improve the real-world operation of diesel engines with [Selective Catalytic Reduction] aftertreatment systems,” said in a statement. In a statement from John Deere Vice President for Global Government Affairs Kyle Gilley said the company “applauds the EPA’s leadership to provide as much flexibility through agency guidance as possible to limit the frequency of false DEF-quality inducements,”. He continued by saying “Today’s announcement builds upon EPA guidance from February 2026, requested by John Deere, to provide farmers additional tools to complete emissions-related repairs… these announcements are a win for farmer and their ability to keep modern equipment operating in the field.”

On March 31st, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and the U.S. Secretary of Interior Doug Burghum today announced new incentives aimed at boosting the supply of American raised and harvested beef by supporting American ranchers through signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will increase coordination, slash red tape and deliver immediate tangible support for America’s ranchers and farmers whom rely on public lands. The agreement solidifies collaboration between the USDA, Forests Services (FS), and the Bureau of Land management (BLM) to ensure more efficient, transparent and responsive grazing management across federal lands. The agreement will assist in maintaining grazing capacity, wildfire coordination and response, expanding practical land management tools, enhancing transparency and data access, ranch immersion, programs for federal employees, and cutting red tape to improve efficiency. Secretary Brooke Rollins said “today’s signing sends a clear message: the Trump Administration is putting America’s farmers and ranchers first… building on our action plan for American ranchers announced in the fall, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are already delivering. This is another example of President Trump eliminating costly bureaucracy in order to lower consumer prices. Our public lands are there for the people, and this action demonstrates the commitment at USDA and the Department of the Interior to improve our services so farmers and ranchers who use public lands can run more efficient operations,”. Secretary Burgum said “By working closely with American ranchers, we are enhancing communication, investing in innovation, and modernizing our approach to land management practices to deliver real results for the people who feed and sustain this country. In coordination with the Department of Agriculture, the Trump administration is advancing actions designed to support farmers and Rachers securing a more resilient future for grazing on public lands and protecting America’s ranching heritage for generations to com.”

You may not think you have a national yield winning crop right now, but there are still many good reasons to enter the contest. Hopefully, conditions will improve and your wheat will do better than expected.  When you enter the contest, it forces you to examine every input into your wheat crop.  Many times, this process leads to new insights and information. On your best fields- or contest entered fields you might try a new biological product, new timing for a fungicide pass, new variety, different row spacing, additional pass with fertilizer.  Our great contest partners are available to help you decide how to maximize your investment on your own farm.  By entering the contest, and completing your entry, it helps us learn about the practices that lead to high yields and high quality.  Winter wheat entries are due May 15.  The contest has categories in dryland that reward increases over county averages.  The contest names state winners.  So, even if you don’t think you can win a national award with your wheat, you never know if you don’t enter and give it a shot! 

We are looking for a college student who is interested in a paid internship 10-20 hours per week.  The right candidate will be located in the Northern Plains to facilitate regular in person meetings with the executive director of the Foundation.  The job description is on Handshake and can be found National Wheat Foundation Internship | National Wheat Foundation | Handshake.  Please encourage college students you know to apply by the end of April. If you have any questions, please contact NWF Executive Director Anne Osborne at aosborne@wheatworld.org.