Weekly Update for
August 7

On August 4, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) applauded the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Luke Lindberg as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). NAWG President Pat Clements released the following statement: “We congratulate Luke Lindberg on his confirmation and look forward to working closely with him to strengthen international markets for U.S. wheat. His deep understanding of trade policy and strong commitment to American agriculture make him well-suited to advance U.S. wheat growers’ priorities on the global stage. We also thank the U.S. Senate for moving swiftly to confirm this critical role. Expanding market access and reducing trade barriers are essential to the long-term success of producers, and we’re encouraged to see leadership in place to advance those efforts.”

Wheat growers across the country have faced significant economic and emotional challenges over the past few years. Tragically, NAWG members have reported several instances of producers taking their own lives. Many of these individuals are younger growers without the financial resources to withstand these hardships. In response we have put together a collection of suggested social media posts and mental health resources. We encourage you to share these materials within your organizations and extended networks. Our goal is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide support to those who may be struggling. Social media posts and resources can be found below.

Spread the word! The Farm Family Wellness Alliance is hosting a powerful webinar on Tuesday, August 26 at 2 PM ET. This session will address the often-unspoken fears that many farmers and ranchers quietly carry—questions like What if funding dries up? What if my best isn’t enough? You’ll gain tools to name the weight you’re carrying, find ways to lighten the load, and know when it’s time to reach out for support. Featured speakers include Monica McConkey, a rural mental health specialist, and Adrienne DeSutter, a member of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Can’t attend live? No problem—the recording will be shared afterward. Learn more and register below.

On August 1, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced today the opening of a 30-day public comment period for stakeholders to provide feedback on the Department’s reorganization plan, as outlined in the Secretary’s memorandum (PDF, 2.6 MB) issued on July 24, 2025. “As committed, we are continuing to hear stakeholder feedback on the USDA Reorganization. All stakeholders – including Capitol Hill offices, USDA employees, and members of the agricultural community – are encouraged to share their input during the open comment period. We value your perspective as we work to ensure that USDA is best positioned to serve America’s farmers, ranchers, producers, and rural communities,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins.

On August 2, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) applauded Senate confirmation of Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. “I congratulate Luke Lindberg on his confirmation. He will be a tireless advocate for restoring American agriculture’s global competitiveness and delivering results for producers across the country. I look forward to working with Under Secretary Lindberg as we continue to support the success of rural America and strengthen our agricultural economy,” Chairman Boozman said.

On July 31, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) released the following statement after President Trump announced sweeping new import taxes that will be paid by American consumers and companies as part of his worldwide trade war. “Despite promising to lower costs for American families, President Trump’s chaotic tariff policy has made life more expensive. The cost of groceries is up. Farmers continue to face retaliatory tariffs on their exports and are losing export market share to our competitors. Working families continue to face financial challenges, and the response of the Republican Party has been to start worldwide trade wars, add $3 trillion to the federal deficit and make health care and food more expensive by cutting the heart out of Medicaid and SNAP. The few hastily negotiated deals the administration has announced are more show than substance and make promises that may not be kept. If the president were serious about ushering in a new ‘Golden Age’ in America, he would be protecting basic needs programs, working with our trade partners to increase market access for our farmers and delivering on his promise to lower costs for working families.”

On July 31, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) released the following statement following the release of the White House’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets Report: “The vision outlined in the Working Group’s report is another reminder of President Trump’s steadfast commitment to positioning the United States as a leader in the global crypto economy. This is another step in rejecting the failed approach of regulation through litigation and instead building a comprehensive set of policies to spur innovation and protect consumers. In that regard, I commend the Working Group’s principles on digital asset market structure legislation and its embrace of the CLARITY Act in particular. I look forward to working with our Senate colleagues and the Administration to carry out this vision. Timely confirmation of the President’s nominees for relevant departments and agencies is vital to our success.”

All the National Winners in the contest will ship in a 10 lb sample of wheat for further quality testing. The soft wheat samples are shipped to the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, Oregon.  There, the center will test grain, dough, and final baked products for quality. Test Weight, moisture, protein, falling number, thousand kernel weight, flour extraction, alveograph and solvent retention capacity are some of the tests that are run. Soft white wheat is baked into a sponge cake, and soft red is baked into a sugar cookie, using the same approved methods that U.S. Wheat Associates uses in their wheat quality surveys. With the quality component of the contest, we are learning that even at very high yield levels, wheat farmers are able to maintain excellent quality if they have the right varieties, production practices and environment. We encourage everyone to select varieties that will achieve both high yield and high quality. 

There are 95 Spring Wheat entries, the vast majority are from North Dakota. Minnesota and Idaho are tied for second. Digital Yield, the pilot category has 30 total entries, both winter and spring -from selected states. Contestants in winter wheat categories have been entering their yield data. They are saving a 10 lb sample of wheat and will be instructed on where to ship that (only if they are a national winner) in early November. The deadline for yield data to be fully submitted online is October 1. Stats from 2016-2025 can be found below.