Weekly Update for
May 24

On May 23, the House Committee on Agriculture passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (H.R. 8472) on a bipartisan vote of 33-21. In response, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President Keeff Felty made the following statement: “NAWG commends Chairman Thompson for moving the process forward and urges a bipartisan and bicameral process to enact a highly effective Farm Bill. Ultimately, for a Farm Bill to get signed into law, it will have to pass both chambers and be bipartisan. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to help get a farm bill signed into law that provides certainty and a strong safety net for producers. The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 recognizes the needs of wheat growers and includes several priorities that NAWG has advocated for over the past two years. We appreciate that the committee passed bill protects and enhances crop insurance, provides a meaningful increase in the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, prioritizes U.S. commodities in the Food for Peace Program, and doubles funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program. Additionally, we would like to thank Congressman Mann (R-KS-1) for offering an amendment encouraging the Risk Management Agency to allow farmers to insure wheat enterprise units by fallow and continuous, which was adopted.”

On May 21, NAWG sent a letter to Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15), Ranking Member David Scott (GA-13), and members of the House Committee on Agriculture. The letter outlines NAWG’s policy priorities contained within the Farm, Food, and Natural Security Act of 2024. 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:

Stay up to date on the Farm Bill actions. The House Committee on Agriculture is regularly updating their website with additional details on the 2024 Farm Bill as they become available. Learn more below.

On May 24, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott made the following statement after Chairman GT Thompson advanced partisan legislation out of Committee. “For over a year, Democrats have engaged with the Chairman, striving for a genuinely bipartisan farm bill that meets the needs of our farmers and the families they feed. This partisan farm bill fails that test by pitting farmers against the families they feed. Instead of working with House Democrats to write a truly bipartisan bill, House Republicans spent the last year waging a relentless campaign against the very farm bill titles that would garner our support. This partisan farm bill makes the largest cut to SNAP in nearly 30 years. This partisan farm bill undermines historic climate investments secured by House Democrats in the Inflation Reduction Act. This partisan farm bill eliminates a crucial tool used by Democratic and Republican administrations to aid our farmers during emergencies."

On May 24, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Friday released the following statement on the House markup of the 2024 Farm Bill. “I’m glad that Chairman Thompson is working to move the process forward so that we can complete our work on the 2024 Farm Bill this year. Despite areas of common ground, it is now clear that key parts of the House bill split the Farm Bill coalition in a way that makes it impossible to achieve the votes to become law.  And it is also clear that we do not have time to waste on proposals that cannot meet that goal."

On May 24, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement after the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture approved the “Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024” and moved the farm bill one step closer to completion. “I commend Chairman GT Thompson and his team for putting in the hard work to draft a farm bill that embraces bipartisan priorities and ushering it through committee approval. Chairman Thompson’s bill incorporates stakeholder input in a manner that mirrors much of what Senate Republicans are seeking to accomplish with our framework."

On May 21, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating $300 million to 66 U.S. organizations, under the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), to build demand for American food and farm exports in high-potential markets around the globe.

On May 21, The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced launched the “SUN Programs: USDA’s Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids,” to help improve nutrition security during the summer months. Through the suite of SUN Programs, families now have more choices and convenient ways to get summer nutrition support for their children and teens with new SUN Bucks, SUN Meals, and previously launched SUN Meals To-Go. Collectively, these programs continue the work of the Biden-Harris Administration in promoting food and nutrition security.”

On May 22, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee, along with U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Chairman of the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ranking Member of the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, today celebrated unanimous committee passage of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA 2024). The bill was advanced by a 19-0 vote.

On May 23, Ardent Mills announced that its board of directors has appointed Sheryl Wallace as its new chief executive officer, effective July 8. Sheryl, who has served on Ardent Mills’ board since 2020 and most recently serves as the president of U.S. origination and grain at Cargill, brings nearly 30 years of experience and a successful track record of leadership in business growth, strategy, commercial, trading and risk management in the food and agriculture industries.

Partnered with Bayer Crop Science, this annual program provides advanced leadership training for state wheat grower leaders who will soon become part of the NAWG Board of Directors or want to be more involved in their grower associations. The program focuses on the responsibilities of Board members, governance, media relations and lobbying. It includes sessions on leadership styles and communication; major policy and economic issues facing the agricultural industry; and effectively engaging the public through new and traditional media outlets.