Weekly Update for
June 6

Check out the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) CEO Chandler Goule on this week’s Agri-Pulse Open Mic. Chandler discusses the latest on the Farm Bill and how we can keep the wheat industry competitive with other commodities and ensure the long term success of wheat growers. Listen to the full interview below.

On May 6, NAWG VP of Policy and Communications Jake Westlin joined the Montana Grain Growers Association board meeting. Jake gave their members an update on the latest on Capitol Hill, the Farm Bill, and NAWG’s 2024 Farm Bill advocacy campaign. 

Don’t forget about NAWG’s 2024 Farm Bill Farm Bill advocacy campaign. The purpose of this campaign is to urge members of Congress to include NAWG priorities in the Farm Bill. Learn more and get involved below:

The Congressional Budget Office will publish An Update to the Budget and Economic Outlook: 2024 to 2034 on Tuesday, June 18 at 2 p.m. EDT. The report will provide an updated 10-year projections of the federal budget and the U.S. economy: CBO last published its budget and economic projections in February 2024. On June 27 at 2 p.m., CBO will publish An Analysis of the Discretionary Spending Proposals in the President’s 2025 Budget. That report will provide an analysis of how the discretionary spending proposals in the President’s 2025 budget compare with CBO’s updated baseline projections.

On June 4, the Senate Agricultural Committee held a hearing titled “Pathways to Farming: Helping the Next Generation of Farmers.” In the Chairwoman’s press release, she noted the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act makes significant investments in the next generation of agricultural professionals – whether they are on the farm, in the lab, or in the boardroom. It provides new opportunities for training and education, opens pathways to getting started, and ensures that risk management tools meet the needs of new and beginning farmers. The bill continues mandatory funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP), and it invests in land-grant universities to support education and training to prepare the next generation to feed, clothe, and fuel the world. For most beginning farmers, access to credit is the first step to starting their own operation. The bill makes several improvements to lower barriers to credit and help beginning farmers get started. The bill targets resources in the farm safety net to beginning farmers, ensuring that risk management tools meet their needs. It creates new opportunities to access the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs and cuts red-tape and paperwork to make crop insurance and disaster programs more accessible and responsive for new and beginning farmers.

On June 5, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a series of actions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Biden-Harris Administration to strengthen Tribal sovereignty and fulfill long-standing Tribal requests for USDA to better partner with Tribal Nations, and make our overall food system more resilient. “USDA has worked hand-in-hand with Tribal Nations to ensure our programs incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. As part of our commitment to Tribes, we are making good on our promises and investing in projects that advance food sovereignty and self-determination for Tribal Nations,” Secretary Vilsack said. “These investments create economic opportunities in Tribal communities, enhance co-stewardship of precious forests and grasslands, and ensure Indigenous foods are available to Tribal students participating in school meal programs, all while furthering USDA’s goal of creating a more resilient food system.”

How can soil health practices improve profitability and resilience on small grain farms? Join the Soil Health Institute for a webinar presenting the findings of their study, in partnership with General Mills, examining the economic and on-farm benefits of soil health management systems on 15 farms in the United States and Canada. Participants will receive fact sheets detailing the findings. Registration is free sign up below.

Wheat Quality Council’s annual Hard Spring Wheat and Durum tour is happening July 22 to 25. These tours are a great way to both see this year’s wheat crop firsthand and get training in the fields to learn about yield, insects and disease problems that may affect the crop. Registration and the agenda can be found below.