Weekly Update for
October 24

This week, wheat, barley, and soybean growers attended The Cotton Foundation’s annual cotton tour in Lubbock, Texas. The NAWG team had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of cotton production and visit with cotton growers, ginners, merchandises, and other elements of the cotton industry. “Thank you to The Cotton Foundation for hosting us and putting on this wonderful event. It’s essential that wheat growers learn more about the production of other kinds of crops,” said NAWG Secretary Nathan Keane. (Pictured: Scott Ruck, Mike Gunderson, Nathan Keane, Steve Sheffles, Jake Westlin)

Last week, NAWG Vice President Pat Clements published an op-ed in the High Plains Journal. Pat’s op-ed focused on how the farm bills’ conservation and research titles are critical to the long-term success of wheat growers. “The farm bill is one of the most impactful pieces of legislation when it comes to making sure wheat farmers can take advantage of voluntary conservation practices and are at the helm of cutting-edge research. Farmers feed the world, and we care for the soil more than anyone. It’s important that lawmakers in Kentucky and Washington D.C. hear our stories. Producers and rural America need a long-term farm bill that works for them to be passed by Congress this year. I won’t stop fighting until we get this done.” Read the entire op-ed below.

This fall, Texas A&M student Kaitlynn Hughes joined the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) as their policy intern. Kaitlynn is from Royse City, Texas, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics with a focus on policy and economic analysis and a certificate in International Trade in Agriculture. “Being an intern during an election and a Farm Bill year is impactful to say the least. Learning about key issues facing the wheat industry, participating in the multi-commodity farmer fly-in, and attending meetings across executive and legislative branches is more than I could have hoped for as a young agricultural policy professional.” said Kaitlynn. “The NAWG staff are the best people I could have found to help me jumpstart my career in agriculture policy. Their dedication to the NAWG mission and its members has guided my experience, and I cannot express my gratitude enough.”

There is no time to waste when getting a farm bill passed this year. While Congress is out until after the election, they must continue to hear from growers about the need to get a robust farm bill passed when they return for the “lame duck” session. We encourage all our producers to check out NAWG’s new 2024 Farm Bill advocacy campaign urging Congress to work to pass a long-term bipartisan farm bill this year. Learn more and get involved below.

On October 3, USDA released export market and policy fact sheets for wheat data 2017 to present. These sheets also include data per crop by state, market development information, and current trade agreements. For the 2023 crop year Mexico was the largest export destination for U.S. wheat at $1.08 billion followed by the Philippines and Japan at $749.63 million and $691.60 million respectively. The U.S. wheat industry supported 1 million jobs and generated $200 billion in economic activity from 2017 to present.

On October 17, the USDA Rural Development agency announced grant applications for the Rural Energy for America Program. The agency provides grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grant and guaranteed loan combinations through the REAP program to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and helps meet the Nation's critical energy needs. The deadline for those applications is September 30, 2027.

On October 17, American Farm Bureau Federation issued a news release regarding the impacts of the Corporate Transparency Act of 2021. Farms which are structed as c-corporations, s-corporations, or LLC with fewer than 20 employees or have under $5 million in cash receipts are required to submit a Beneficial Ownership Information form to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Failure to do so results in up to $10,000 and additional civil penalties of up to $591 per day. This regulation will begin January 1, 2025. Growers are encouraged to discuss their qualifications under this bill with an accountant or attorney.

On October 19, Politico released potential cabinet picks for both the Harris and Trump’s campaigns. The short list for Harris includes, current USDA Undersecretary Xochitl Torres Small, California Agriculture Chief Karen Ross, or USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. Trump’s list includes Texas Commissioner Sid Miller, co-chair of the Farmers and Ranchers for Trump Kip Tom, or CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Ted McKinny.

On October 21, the Agricultural Credit Survey conducted by the Kansas City Fed shared that more agricultural lenders are receiving requests for loan renewals and extensions, a sign that producers are struggling to meet loan interest and principal payments. This can be based off the decreased net farm income USDA projects for 2024 crop year being 6.8% lower than 2023. The rise of interest rates is a large pressure on growers for loan default with 8.83% on the average farm production loan.

On October 22, EPA finalized the cancellation of all products containing the pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This comes from a scientific study showing the pesticide was linked to low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills later in life, some of which may be irreversible. This cancellation includes the prohibition of selling or carrying the product as well as the continued use of existing products on farms.

The USDA is issuing $1.7 billion through Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Transition Incentive Program as well as $447 million in ARC and PLC payments related to 2023 crops. Currently there are 26 million acres enrolled in CRP with Colorado leading at 2.97 million acres.  

Check out these healthy recipes that include our favorite ingredient, wheat. Our friends at the Grain Foods Foundation shared these two delicious recipes with USDA for inclusion in their MyPlate recipe resources.

The National Wheat Foundation is overseen by a 9-member Board of Directors, 5 farmers and 4 industry members. Each week we will highlight one of the directors who volunteer their time to help promote the wheat industry through the education, research, and outreach programs of the NWF. This week, meet Ben Scholz, Lavon Texas. Ben raises wheat, corn and hay currently but has also raised cattle, cotton, soybean and grain sorghum in the past. Ben has held many leadership roles in his community and the nation to include Wylie Jaycees, Wylie Lions Club, City of Wylie Plan & Zoning, Board member Past President Collin County Farm Bureau, Board member Chairman Collin County SWCD, President Cereal Crop Research Institute, Ag Advisory Board Member Texas A&M University Commerce, Ar6a President of Texas Young Farmer Asso., Board member of the National Grain Sorghum Association, Board member & Chairman (2X) Texas Wheat Producers Board, Board member & Past President Texas Wheat Producers Asso., Board member Cotton Growers Warehouse Association, Past President National Association of Wheat Growers. Ben is married to Beth, for 55 years and has 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Ben’s lifelong passion is to have a positive impact to educate/advocate for agriculture including outcomes for future generations. Thanks for your service on the Board of Directors for NWF, Ben!