Weekly Update for
June 27

The June podcast focuses on the farm bill fly-in NAWG hosted in Washington, D.C. and the National Wheat Foundation’s annual wheat farm tour. This podcast includes discussions with NAWG President Keeff Felty, NAWG Treasurer Jamie Kress, NAWG Secretary Nathan Keane, Maryland farmer Eric Spates, Kentucky farmer and NWF Chairman Bernard Peterson, and NAWG Vice President Pat Clements. Tune in:

On June 26, The National Association of Wheat Growers’ (NAWG) President Keeff Felty provided written testimony for the record for the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources during the “Hearing on the High Plains: Combating Drought with Innovation” field hearing in Burlington, CO. “NAWG appreciates the opportunity to submit written testimony for the record expressing the concerns of wheat growers within the High Plains and Western regions. It is vital that we collectively come together to discuss innovation and methods to combat drought and maintain a strong and successful agriculture industry.”

On June 27, NAWG President Keeff Felty joined the Agriculture of America radio show with host Jesse Allen. They discussed how wheat harvest is going in Oklahoma, NAWG's June fly-in, and the farm bill. Listen to the full interview below.

On June 25, NAWG joined 158 other organizations in signing a letter to President Biden encouraging the administration to work with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to resume labor contract negotiations. This labor contract covers all maritime ports along the East and Gulf coasts and is set to expire on September 30, 2024. Negotiations were set to begin again on the master contract the week of June 10. Unfortunately, the ILA issued a press release on June 10 stating they would not return to the bargaining table because of a local issue. In addition, the ILA has threatened a coastwide strike if a new deal is not reached before the current contract expires. We encourage the administration to provide any and all support to the parties in their negotiations so they can reach a final agreement before the current contract expires.

On June 25, Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow released a statement outlining her concerns with the farm bill process. "The only path to passing a bipartisan Farm Bill is holding together the broad farm and food coalition that has formed the foundation of every successful bill for decades. However, recent attempts to fracture that coalition through misleading statistics and an inaccurate portrayal of how the Farm Bill works has stalled progress on negotiations and risks forcing an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill at the end of the 118th Congress." On June 27, Ranking Member John Boozman released an op-ed calling on Congress to continue moving the GOP farm bill proposals forward. "No matter the state, the request has been the same: Put more farm in the Farm Bill. We answer that call in the GOP plan. The House Agriculture Committee passed a bipartisan Farm Bill just before Memorial Day. I'm committed to building on this momentum in the Senate. Our framework offers a path to a bipartisan Farm Bill that delivers real solutions that our farmers, ranchers and agriculture communities desperately need."

In partnership with the National Grange, Rural Minds is very pleased to be presenting a webinar on July 11, at 2:00 pm ET, 1:00 pm CT, 12:00 pm MT, 11:00 am PT that will unpack some important benefits and consequences of Medicare prescription drug coverage changes under the Inflation Reduction Act. A brief recap of insurance updates and action items will be provided by Joel White, President of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage. Learn more about the webinar and register below.

On June 26, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they are seeking information from the public on procedures for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the effect of climate-smart farming practices on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with U.S.-grown biofuel feedstock crops. The input is being collected through a Request for Information to establish voluntary standards for biofuel feedstocks grown with practices that mitigate GHG emissions and/or sequester soil carbon. “By creating opportunities for biofuels policies to reflect climate-smart farming practices, we are enabling new markets for American producers and incentivizing more greenhouse gas emissions reductions,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This request for information lays the foundation for policies that would bring economic benefits to rural and farm communities while also helping in the fight against climate change.” NAWG will be working with membership to develop comments focused on winter wheat rotations and the consideration of cover crops and conservation crop rotations for biofuel feedstocks.

On June 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) Food Price Outlook (FPO) was released. The Food Price Outlook provides food price data and forecasts changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) for food. On a monthly basis, ERS forecasts the annual percentage change in food prices for the current year and, beginning in July each year, for the following year. The all-items CPI measures the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a representative market basket of consumer goods and services. The CPI for food is the component of the all-items CPI measuring the changes in retail food prices. USDA, ERS also analyzes and forecasts the PPI for farm-level agricultural and wholesale food markets. Like the CPI, the PPI measures price changes over time; however, instead of changes in retail prices, the PPI measures the average change in prices paid to domestic producers for their output. The PPI represents data for nearly every industry in the goods-producing sector of the economy.

On June 24, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA and Reinvestment Fund are launching a new program under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) to increase access to healthy foods in communities underserved by grocery stores. Funding for the new Food Access and Retail Expansion Fund (FARE Fund) is made possible by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. “People across this country deserve fresh, healthy and affordable foods,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Through this program, the Biden-Harris Administration is partnering with food retailers to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, delicious foods while also supporting local farmers and ranchers. We are revitalizing the food systems in this country and increasing access for those that need it.”

On June 26, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), legislation that authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works Program for projects to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure. WRDA (H.R. 8812) was introduced in the House by T&I Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), T&I Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (R-NC), and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Grace Napolitano (D-CA).

On June 25, the National Wheat Foundation and Maryland wheat grower Eric Spates, hosted a wheat farm tour for congressional staff and USDA employees. The attendees had the opportunity to explore the farm, witness the wheat harvesting process, and listen to speakers who specialize in the agriculture industry. The discussions centered around crucial topics such as risk management, conservation, pesticide programs, environmental issues, and what happens to the wheat when it leaves Eric’s farm. “Wheat harvest is an exciting time. Being here on the Spates’ farm to see first-hand the fields and combine running is always a memorable experience. Wheat accounts for 20% of the calories consumed worldwide, so it is a vital food crop. It’s essential that everyone understands the complex issues that impact farmers daily and how that can affect our food supply. One of the Foundation’s main goals is educating people about wheat and farming. We are thankful to Eric Spates for having a real farm serve as a classroom during wheat harvest,” said Bernard Peterson, Chairman of the National Wheat Foundation and a Kentucky farmer. Special thank you to the North American Millers Association for helping educate attendees about what happens to the wheat when it leaves Eric’s farm.

Spring wheat entries wanted! Please visit the new website www.wheatcontest.org as soon as possible. Remember, there is a new Pilot Digital Yield category for growers in ND, SD, MN and MT. Thank you to everyone who helped develop this new category, especially John Deere, WestBred, Climate, and Bushel.