Weekly Update for
July 25

Earlier this week, NAWG President Keeff Felty and CEO Chandler Goule traveled to St. Louis, MO, to attend the Bayer Grower Advisory Committee meetings where stakeholders met to discuss issues facing agriculture – trade challenges, international regulatory approvals, the political environment, and sustainability efforts. The council was also briefed on business operations, ongoing litigation, and the company’s pipeline. Also, this week, NAWG Director Eric Spates, VP Jake Westlin, and Communications Director Elizabeth Rivera attended Maryland Commodity Classic. This event included a trade show showcasing producers from across Maryland. NAWG staff also received important updates on Maryland commodities and participated in meaningful discussions about the future of Maryland farming.

This summer, Texas A&M student Laney Ferrell joined the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) as their policy intern. Laney is from Seguin, Texas, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness with a certificate in International Trade in Agriculture and a minor in Financial Planning. Growing up, she was active in her local FFA chapter and county 4-H club, where her passion for the U.S. agricultural industry was kindled through raising and showing cattle and swine, along with engaging in numerous leadership and public speaking activities. While at Texas A&M, her coursework and involvement in student organizations have deepened her understanding and commitment to agriculture and contributed to a growing interest in federal agricultural policy. “My internship experience with NAWG this summer in D.C. has been incredible. I have gained valuable insight into the policy-making process, and learned so much about the diverse policy issues that are crucial to the success of U.S. wheat farmers,” said Laney. “I could not be more grateful to the staff at NAWG. They have been instrumental in helping me make the most of my summer, learn as much as I can, and build meaningful connections that I could not have gotten elsewhere.” “Laney has been an instrumental part of the team as we continue to advocate for our nation’s wheat farmers. Everyone at NAWG has appreciated Laney’s contributions and is excited to see where she goes after graduation,” said NAWG CEO Chandler Goule.

On Monday, NAWG joined over 530 organizations in a letter to Congressional leadership urging bipartisan action to get a farm bill done in 2024. The letter notes the “significant legislative, and possibly administrative, duties of a new Congress including the seating of new leadership and committees, Senate nominations, and other essential actions during the first months of the 119th Congress, we have concerns that it may not be logistically or politically feasible to advance a new farm bill early in the next Congress.” Since outlining our farm bill priorities in 2022, NAWG has continued to advocate for a farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net, bolsters trade promotion programs, expands conservation practice adoption, and supports farmers.

On July 22, NAWG joined more than 300 agricultural groups, in calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to work with stakeholders to reform its Endangered Species Act processes for pesticides. In a letter signed by over 300 organizations representing hundreds of thousands of farmers, the groups contend farmers and other pesticide users will face significant and costly restrictions without reforms. Further, the EPA may not be meeting its own legal obligations in determining credible risks to those endangered species. Read the full letter below.

On July 23, 2024, the House Committee on Agriculture held a full Committee hearing regarding the financial conditions in farm country. The witnesses shared their insights and personal experiences on the financial conditions facing producers and the agricultural supply chain. In opening remarks, the House Agriculture Committee Chairman and Ranking Member each stated the importance of passing a strong farm bill to address these conditions. Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA-13), said “our hearing today is focused on farm financial conditions, the well-being of farmers, and the health of our rural communities. Over the past few years, we have heard the cry for a stronger farm safety net. Commodity prices are not keeping up with higher input and credit costs. It is clear that we need to come together – Republicans and Democrats – on a farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net. I remain committed to enacting a truly bipartisan farm bill this Congress that enhances the safety net for farmers and protects the safety net for hungry families.” Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) stated, “I hope that after listening to our guests today everyone in this room and watching across the country will understand the urgency by which we must act. For the first time in a long time, this committee has the chance to be proactive instead of reactive, to prevent disaster for our producers rather than picking up the pieces afterward with ineffective and inefficient ad hoc support, and to establish a foundation for the future of the farm economy. Let’s not waste that opportunity.” Read Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson and Ranking Member David Scott’s full statements below.

On July 23, 2024, Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) issued a press release outlining the importance of passing a strong, effective 5-year Farm Bill that addresses the diverse needs and priorities of farmers and rural communities across the United States. The Chairwoman stressed the significance of respecting the needs of farmers in every region and every state and claims The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act offers a fair and realistic way to achieve this. In the release, the Chairowman noted “From crop insurance and specialty crop support to commodity programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and market development, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act takes an all of agriculture approach to the farm safety net. And the investments include a creative approach taken outside of the farm bill to address requests from the agriculture community, like effectively doubling international market development investments with help from Secretary Vilsack using the Commodity Credit Corporation. The bill also invests in the communities that farmers call home by improving health care, child care, and education all while creating good paying jobs in the community. This is a balanced approach that Chairwoman Stabenow has seen work in the six Farm Bills she has been a part of since being elected to Congress.”

On July 23, 2024, The Biden-Harris administration announced it is taking additional steps to safeguard western communities in the face of increasingly dangerous and intense wildland fires by building advanced wildfire detection capabilities using satellite technology. The Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Forest Service have signed an agreement with the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to use the NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite — R series (GOES-R) data to rapidly detect and report wildfire starts. Supported by a $20 million investment from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—$10 million each from Interior and Agriculture— this new agreement will use advanced remote sensing capabilities to improve the speed and accuracy of wildfire detection. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is bringing much-needed assistance to communities across the country by deploying innovative tools to tackle wildfires, increasing the resilience of lands facing the threat of wildland fires, and better supporting federal wildland firefighters. The law includes $5 billion for these Departments over five years to invest in preparedness, fuels management, post-fire restoration, and fire science.

This week, NWF board member Biran Walker and Project Manager Anne Osborne attended the Wheat Quality Council’s 2024 Spring Wheat Tour in Fargo, North Dakota. This tour gave attendees a first-hand experience and understanding of the quality of this year's spring wheat crop before harvest. The Wheat Quality Council’s tours are a great way to get hands on training in the fields to learn about yield, insects and disease problems that may affect the crop.

Entering the National Wheat Yield Contest is easier than ever on the new contest website. Register for an account at www.wheatcontest.org then put in your entries. We select winners in irrigated, dryland yield and dryland yield- % over county.  This year, we also have a new pilot category; Digital Yield. We will select 2 National winners in digital yield- dryland yield and dryland % over county. Give it a try! You might win and you are sure to learn something! Any questions, contact Anne Osborne (aosborne@wheatworld.org).