Weekly Update for
May 9

On the April podcast we meet the National Association of Wheat Growers’ (NAWG) new Secretary Nathan Keane, chat with NAWG CEO Chandler Goule about the Modern Ag on the mall event that took place in Washington DC, and have a discussion with Jeff Tarsi the Executive Vice President and President of Global Retail of NAWG IPP member Nutrien Ag Solutions about the latest initiatives they are working that impact our wheat growers.

From May 6 to May 8, NAWG participated in the Celebration of Modern Ag on the National Mall in Washington, DC. NAWG shared a booth with the U.S. Wheat Associates, North American Millers Association, and American Bakers Association representing the entire grain supply chain. This year’s theme was the Future of Food and Farming and highlighted the benefits of today’s agricultural equipment technology along with gains achieved by producers, agri-businesses, food processors, and retailers.

NAWG and U.S. Wheat Associates participated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Ag Service’s International Food Aid Showcase. At this event had presentations and panels discussion on the latest food aid initiatives with around 200 agriculture groups in attendance. Staff also talked to USDA officials about wheat growers’ role in feeding those in need around the world.

On May 3, U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, along with Representative Jim Costa (CA-21), Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), led 70 of their colleagues in penning a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, urging him to reverse the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to cancel or discontinue several National Agricultural Statistics Service reports. The reports provide American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers with transparent livestock, grain, and fiber market insights as they position themselves to effectively manage risk and build supply and demand estimates, which help determine commodity sourcing plans to remain operational. 

On May 8, in response to President Biden’s Executive Order 14081, “Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a plan to update, streamline, and clarify their regulations and oversight mechanisms for products of biotechnology.

On May 6, U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released a compilation of reactions to her Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. National Association of Wheat Growers: “It is great to see progress being made on a long-term Farm Bill. We are glad to see legislative summaries being put forward by both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to get a Farm Bill done in the 118th Congress. NAWG will continue reviewing these Farm Bill proposals and remain in contact with committee leaders and staff.”

National Wheat Foundation teamed up with Grain Foods Foundation, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, and Haas Avocado Board to create a resource that is found at the MyPlate website. This Better Sandwich information can be found Build a Better Sandwich with MyPlate (wheatfoundation.org) on the NWF website. Challenge yourself to include more of the food groups in your better sandwich! Send us a picture of your sandwich (aosborne@wheatworld.org) so we can promote better sandwiches on social media.

The National Wheat Foundation and Spates Farm are hosting a farm tour that will give a hands on look at a working wheat farm during harvest time.  Congressional staff, USDA employees, and University of Maryland employees are invited to join the tour.  Interested parties should register soon. The registration is found Farm Tour Registration. This event has been designed to comply with Senate and House ethics rules. 

Make sure to enter the National Wheat Yield Contest, winter wheat entries are due May 15.  You can’t win if you don’t enter!