Weekly Update for
August 6

Following Thursday’s Senate Agriculture Committee markup, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) called on committee leaders to quickly resume bipartisan negotiations and reconvene to advance a comprehensive farm bill. The legislation failed to advance on a 10–11 vote amid continued disagreement over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provisions, and Chairman John Boozman recessed the committee without setting a date to resume consideration.  Before the final vote, the committee adopted several important agricultural priorities, including language permanently transferring the Food for Peace program to USDA. NAWG appreciates the work undertaken by committee members and urges lawmakers to build on that progress. Wheat growers need the certainty of an updated farm safety net, along with additional economic and disaster assistance, as producers continue to face significant financial pressure.

On August 5, NAWG and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) joined organizations representing wheat, rice, and sorghum, alongside USDA officials, and the World Food Programme (WFP) to celebrate the latest Food for Peace shipment departing from New Orleans. The U.S.-flagged Liberty Grace will carry 19,980 metric tons of U.S. hard red winter wheat, along with 28,429 MT of Louisiana rice, to the Port of Mombasa in Kenya to help feed more than one million people facing hunger for an entire year. The event also recognized USDA’s new leadership of the Food for Peace program.

On August 6, the Senate Agriculture Committee considered the Agricultural Act of 2026 but did not advance the legislation following a 10–11 vote. Committee Democrats opposed the package amid disagreement over when states would be required to begin sharing the cost of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Chairman John Boozman subsequently recessed the committee, allowing members to return and resume consideration of the bill in September, potentially following the August recess.  During the markup, senators adopted dozens of amendments, including a provision permanently transferring the Food for Peace program to USDA—an important priority for NAWG and wheat growers. The committee also considered provisions addressing agricultural research, risk management, trade promotion, international food assistance, year-round E15 sales and other farm and nutrition priorities. NAWG will continue working with lawmakers to encourage a bipartisan agreement and completion of a comprehensive, five-year farm bill. 

Northern Crops Institute in Fargo is dedicated to supporting agriculture through educational programs and technical services that expand markets for northern-grown crops. They hosted a group of millers from Nisshin, parent company of Miller Milling, this week and Anne Osborne, National Wheat Foundation Executive Director spoke with the group about the wheat industry organizations. She thanked them for Miller Milling’s partnership with the National Wheat Yield Contest and described the contest in detail, especially the quality component. Brian Sorenson, Executive Director of Minnesota Wheat, also spoke with the group.

Over 220 farmers entered the National Wheat Yield Contest this year. Entry numbers were down from the past couple of years, as were wheat acres. The drought negatively affected the entry numbers. Contestants are now putting in their harvest data, which is due October 1, 2026, by midnight eastern time. If contestants need help or need to change anything once they submit their entry, they need to contact the contest director, Anne Osborne (asoborne@wheatworld.org). A big thank you to all the trusted advisors who helped the contestants! Many seed salespeople, crop consultants, extension personnel, and agronomists help the contestants get their entries in.