Weekly Update for
November 21

NAWG is looking for a new full-time Policy Manager position. The Policy Manager role would be responsible for leading a diverse policy portfolio focusing on environmental policy related to wheat farming and the wheat industry. The policy portfolio could include issues like farm bill conservation policy, USDA NRCS conservation practices, environmental regulations including the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, sustainability, climate smart/regenerative agriculture, biofuels/renewable fuels, innovation and crop protection. Qualified applicants should email their cover letter and resume to (NAWGDC@gmail.com) with “Policy Manager” in the subject line by December 13, 2024. NAWG is also looking for a part-time Communications Intern. The NAWG Communications Intern’s main role is to assist the Director of Communications and Partnerships in implementing organizational communications and marketing strategies. The Communications Intern will work independently and in a team to fulfill organizational goals and initiatives related to programming and events. This role will be virtual or in-person and starts in January 2025. Qualified applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Elizabeth Rivera (NAWGDC@gmail.com) with “Communications Internship” in the subject line by December 13, 2024.

The 2025 NAWG/USW Winter Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 13 through Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Washington, D.C., at The Westin Washington, DC Downtown. A preliminary schedule of events can be found online. But highlights of the winter meeting includes a Joint Plenary Session with US Wheat Associates, Presidents Reception and NAWG 75th Anniversary Celebration, the National Wheat Foundations annual Wheat 101, and Capitol Hill visits. You will find everything you need on our NAWG/USW Winter Conference website page.

Last week, NAWG growers and state staff met in Phoenix, AZ. Growers heard from an excellent group of speakers on the latest issues affecting the wheat industry and set policy priorities for 2025. Texas A&M and Colorado State researchers gave an in-depth overview of the long-awaited Wheat Life Cycle Assessment and USW Vice Chairman Jim Pellman gave the USW update. The NAWG team looks forward to having everyone back together in January for the NAWG/USW 2025 Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The Monarch butterfly is under consideration by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for placement on the threatened or endangered species list. In 2020, the USFWS indicated the listing was warranted but precluded by other higher priority listing actions. A new decision from USFWS is now expected in early December 2024 and will include an opportunity for stakeholder input. The listing of a migratory insect on the threatened or endangered species list could have a significant impact across the United States and especially for production agriculture. NAWG is a member of the Farmers for Monarchs coalition, and the coalition has put together background information on the listing process and actions on the Monarch butterfly.  NAWG will be engaged in the public comment process and working with the NAWG Environment and Research Committee for additional input.

On November 18, Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) introduced Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act (S. 5335). According to Chairwoman Stabenow’s press release, the bill would provide $20 billion “to strengthen the farm safety net to support all of agriculture and establishes a permanent structure for disaster assistance so emergency relief reaches farmers faster,” $8.5 billion “to help families make ends meet, put food on the table, and improve access to nutrition assistance,” and $4.3 billion “to improve quality of life in the rural communities that millions of Americans call home." “The foundation of every successful Farm Bill is built on holding together the broad, bipartisan Farm Bill coalition. This is a strong bill that invests in all of agriculture, helps families put food on the table, supports rural prosperity, and holds that coalition together,” said Chairwoman Stabenow.

On November 18, the White House submitted a supplemental funding request to Congress for disaster assistance – $100 billion in emergency funding. The request includes $ 40 billion for FEMA, $24 billion for farmers, and $12 billion for HUD community block grants. In a letter to the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Secretary Vilsack noted that “Due to the level of devastation resulting from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Department will likely need additional tools to comprehensively address the challenges producers and rural communities are facing. For instance, without additional funding for Emergency Watershed Protection, assistance to local communities to clear debris and restore culverts bridges and other infrastructure will be delayed. In recent disasters, Congress provided additional funding to support farmers and ranchers with crop losses; without this funding, uninsured producers will not get any assistance.”

On November 18, Corteva announced a new non-GMO hybrid technology that would increase yields by 10 percent, has demonstrated more resistance to drought, and accelerate the speed to market of new elite germplasm by increasing the scale of parent seed production over competitors’ technology. Corteva’s all-new proprietary technology has been shown in trials to work in 100 percent of wheat germplasm, enabling more rapid genetic gains and seed delivery at a commercial scale. Corteva plans to launch hybrid Hard Red Winter wheat in North America as early as 2027, adding to its portfolio over time.

On November 8, the USDA released the monthly WASDE report. Global wheat supplies are up 5 million bushels totaling 120 million for Hard Red Spring wheat. Exports are stable since the last report at 825 million bushels. Ending stocks for the 2024/2025 growing season are up 17 percent from last year at 815 million bushels. The season-average market price is at $5.60, which is ten cents down from the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) prices reported to date. Global supplies and consumption are up from a record season by Kazakhstan at 18 million bushels. Ending stocks for the world are down 0.1 million tons to 257.6 million by year's end.

On November 9, the US and Mexico agreed on water sharing, as reflected in the 1944 U.S.-Mexico water treaty. The treaty requires Mexico to use water in the Rio Grande for four years and then pay back the US with water in year five. This agreement has led Mexico to not deliver its water payments, having only paid 425,000 acre-feet of the required 1.75 million acre-feet of water. The agreements made on Saturday, November 9, require Mexico to deliver its water payments to the US earlier than the last year of the five-year cycle.

Since being the second president ever to be elected to serve non-consecutive terms in the White House, President-elect Trump has been quick to name key cabinet-level appointments. One of the first ones out of the gate was the announcement of former Representative Lee Zeldin (R-NY) to serve as EPA Administrator in his administration. Since then, President-elect Trump has gone on to name Rober F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which has jurisdiction over the Food and Drug Administration. For the Department of Interior, he has tapped Governor Doug Burgum (D-ND) to head up that agency. Lastly, he has named Chris Write to serve as Secretary of Energy and Howard Lutnick to serve as Commerce Secretary. At this time, he has yet to name his pick for Secretary of the USDA.

Gary has farmed near Rapelje, Montana since 1978, raising wheat, barley, pulse crops, safflower and livestock and is actively involved in his church and community. He has an extensive record of public service in Montana, serving as President of Montana Grain Growers Association in 1998 and President of the National Association of Wheat Growers in 2002. Gary is married to his best friend, Sue, and they are proud grandparents of sixteen wonderful young men and women.   Gary is passionate about involvement and service to the wheat industry for the greater overall good of others.  Thank you, Gary, for your many years of service and leadership!

Thank you, Pam Smith and Jason Jenkins for your excellent work sharing the stories of the NWYC winners. Check out their stories about the bin busters below.

Thanks to Bayer, 12 wheat advocates are receiving training to be more effective spokespersons for the industry. The participants come from six different states and will participate in a phase 2 training in January in Washington, DC. Participants enjoyed learning about the legislative process, presenting your self with confidence and credibility and enjoyed getting to know each other. Thank you, Bayer, for your partnership in this important educational event!