Weekly Update for
August 20

This week, NAWG Vice President of Policy and Communications Anthony and Policy Manager Ross joined the Washington Association of Wheat Growers for its annual Congressional Staff Tour of the Lower Snake River system. Ahead of the staff tour, Anthony and Ross visited Washington State University’s Western Wheat Quality Laboratory in Pullman to learn how researchers evaluate wheat varieties for milling, baking, and other end-use quality characteristics, before joining a family farm near Colton during spring wheat harvest to see combines in the field and grain hauled to the local elevator. The following day, they joined congressional staff for a tour of Lower Granite Dam, where U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff highlighted the project’s various mission areas and facilities supporting fish passage and fisheries research, hydropower generation, and commercial navigation. Throughout the day, representatives from agriculture, ports, navigation, and public power discussed the critical role the Lower Snake River dams play in supporting the regional and national economy, providing reliable energy, and maintaining a vital agricultural supply chain.

This week, NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer traveled to Illinois to meet with industry leaders at McDonald’s and ADM. At McDonald’s headquarters in Chicago, Sam joined Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin, representatives from the Grain Foods Foundation, millers, and Bayer Crop Science for discussions focused on the health benefits and nutritional density of wheat, the sustainability successes of modern wheat farming, and ongoing research related to wheat production and quality. Sam also visited ADM’s North American headquarters in Decatur, Illinois, where he met with company leadership and toured its research and development center, as well as its milling and bakery lab. During the visit, Sam provided an update on the state of the wheat industry and highlighted NAWG’s advocacy efforts on behalf of wheat growers.

Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans are exploring options to advance a new farm bill after the committee’s farm bill proposal failed to advance earlier this month on a 10-11 vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the preferred path would be to hold another vote after the August recess, with Senator Mitch McConnell present. Both Senators McConnell and Tommy Tuberville were absent for the previous vote. Thune also said the farm bill could potentially advance on another legislative vehicle, mentioning the National Defense Authorization Act. A key sticking point remains the proposed changes to SNAP cost-sharing requirements, with Senate Democrats seeking a two-year delay and Republicans supporting a one-year delay. Thune said Republicans view the one-year delay as a compromise supported by the White House and indicated that a longer delay would not be acceptable. 

If you have participated in one of the Wheat Quality Council’s wheat tours, you know how many different people you meet on the tour. The wheat segment is well represented on the tours, and you might ride with people from ingredient companies, non-profits supporting wheat (like the NWF), government employees, millers, wheat breeders, bakers and more. On the Spring wheat tour this year, NWF Executive Director  Anne Osborne was fortunate to have Julie Hess, research nutritionist with the USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center ride with her. Julie is the lead scientist on an interesting project that will compare the impact of meals with different types of wheat. The study will examine how wheat foods such as cooked wheat berries, shredded wheat, wheat flakes and extruded wheat will impact satiety, eating rate, food palatability, acceptance, consumer perception, postprandial glucose levels and oral processing behaviors. We are very interested to learn about the findings of Julie’s research. In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact Julie at her USDA email: Julie.hess@usda.gov.

The Foundation is currently working with Emily Lehning, Roots and Legacies, to carry out a strategic plan.  It has been over 5 years since we did strategic work on projects, and more than that since a full strategic plan has been undertaken. Emily has done a great job for several other wheat organizations, and if you are not already following her on LinkedIn, you should take a look; she is posting Friday Facilitation Hacks that are very practical and helpful. Thank you for providing input to Emily regarding the National Wheat Foundation if she reaches out to you. We appreciate feedback.