Weekly Update for
December 19

While the pathway to passing economic assistance for farmers and a continuing resolution that averts a government shutdown remains in flux, it is imperative that before Congress heads home for the holiday break, they provide economic assistance to bridge the gap until we can get to a new farm bill. If lawmakers require additional time to find a pathway forward to fund the government, they should pass the farm and disaster relief components that were included in Tuesday’s agreement to help farmers who are suffering. In response to the details for $10 billion economic assistance for producers, NAWG President, Keeff Felty, provided the following statement: “On behalf of NAWG and wheat growers throughout the country, I would like to thank our leaders in the House and Senate for listening to farmers and coming together to secure much-needed economic assistance and disaster relief for producers across the country. We urge that Congress pass this legislation package, which includes economic assistance and another one-year extension, and remain committed in the 119th Congress to pass a farm bill that strengthens the farm safety net and provides long-term certainty for farmers and rural America. As president, I have traveled to state producer meetings with our Texas, Montana, and Minnesota members in recent weeks. At every conference, I talked to experienced producers facing the realities of this downturn in the ag economy, and they feared they would not be able to secure operating credit in 2025 without some form of economic assistance. This legislation provides farmers with a bridge heading into next year. However, it is imperative that when lawmakers return for a busy 2025, enacting a robust, long-term farm bill remains a top priority."

Last week, NAWG President Keeff Felty, NAWG VP of Policy and Communications Jake Westin, and NWF Project Manager Anne Osborne attended the Prairie Grains Conference in Grand Forks, North Dakota. While there, NAWG staff and officers heard directly from North Dakota and Minnesota wheat growers about their operations and policy priorities. NAWG President Keeff Felty gave attendees an update on the latest advocacy initiatives and events at NAWG. NAWG staff and officers also networked with North Dakota and Minnesota wheat growers and Ag industry professionals and had several interviews with Ag media outlets.

2025 Commodity Classic registration is open! When you register make sure to mark the National Association of Wheat Growers as one of your associations. The early registration discount ends on January 15. Please encourage any wheat grower in your state to attend the largest agriculture trade show in the country!

The 2025 NAWG/USW Winter Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 13 through Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Washington, D.C., at The Westin Washington, DC Downtown. A preliminary schedule of events can be found online. But highlights of the winter meeting includes a Joint Plenary Session with US Wheat Associates, Presidents Reception and NAWG 75th Anniversary Celebration, the National Wheat Foundations annual Wheat 101, and Capitol Hill visits. Register and get your hotel room by Friday December 20.

On December 17, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, Monday released the following statement on Farm Bill and agriculture provisions in the Continuing Resolution: “I am so pleased that we were able to secure much needed economic and natural disaster assistance for farmers across the country and that we did it without pitting one part of the Farm Bill against another. Unfortunately, there is one critically-important part that did not get into this package. I believe that it is political malpractice not to increase the funds available in the conservation title of the Farm Bill by bringing conservation and rural energy funding from the Inflation Reduction Act into the Farm Bill. Moving those resources would have made a permanent and lasting investment in popular conservation and energy programs while adding nearly $20 billion to the Farm Bill baseline and creating an additional $10 billion offset. This could have been used to increase economic assistance, as Democrats proposed, or it could have been invested in other Farm Bill needs. This idea had bipartisan support among the Committee leaders and would have greatly helped Congress write a new Farm Bill next year. Let me be clear. The $10 billion investment in economic disaster assistance that we agreed to is being paid for by increasing the deficit. It could have been fully paid for by using the $10 billion in savings from moving the conservation dollars into the farm bill baseline. While I am relieved that we reached an agreement, it’s shocking that Republican leadership failed to support such a common sense and bipartisan proposal.” On December 17, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the continued resolution: “Farmers, agricultural lenders, and rural community leaders clearly communicated the need for emergency assistance to survive current market conditions. The consequences of ignoring the stark realities facing rural America would be devastating to farm families, American agriculture, and our nation’s food security. An updated Farm Bill with an improved safety net would have minimized the need for emergency economic assistance. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to even consider a new Farm Bill this year. We must redouble our efforts and pass a bipartisan five-year Farm Bill. I look forward to working with House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson to accomplish this shared goal.”

On December 17, following the release of the Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement: “The bill released this evening provides much needed relief for agriculture, including $10B in emergency economic aid, which will help address the significant losses incurred due to both weather and market related issues. This addition of economic support is an important financial bridge, one that will help mitigate the severe downturn in the agricultural economy. Looking ahead to the 119th Congress, I hope to move quickly to enact a five-year farm bill that aligns the farm safety net with the needs of producers, among many other policies, to minimize the need for annual economic aid. I appreciate the partnership of incoming-Chairman Boozman, as well as Members and stakeholders, all who quickly and effectively highlighted the needs in farm country. These tireless efforts will lessen much of the stress for the men and women who fight to produce the food, fiber, and fuel that sustains our great nation."

On December 17, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN-2) was elected by the Democratic Caucus to serve as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture. She released the following statement: “I am honored to have earned the support of my colleagues across the Democratic Caucus for Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture for the 119th Congress. I just won my D+1 district by nearly 14 points because my farmers and rural constituents know that I’ll meet them where they’re at, I’ll listen to their concerns and I’ll work with whoever I can to improve their lives. I look forward to leading my Democratic colleagues in the spirit of Minnesota’s Second District: that means not defaulting to the status quo of Washington, DC. It means working to find compromise where we can, but fighting for our values where we must. My focus will be on improving people’s lives – not scoring political points. We can lower food and energy costs for consumers. We can strengthen the farm safety net and open the doors of opportunity to new and beginning farmers. And we can ensure that nutrition assistance programs are available for the Americans who need them. As the granddaughter of an Arkansas farm foreman, as someone who grew up relying on nutrition assistance – someone who knows firsthand how critical good ag policy is – I could not be more proud to lead our Caucus as Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee.

On December 17, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) announced the Committee roster for the 119th Congress. “I’m excited to welcome this strong and diverse group of legislators to the House Committee on Agriculture for the 119th Congress. This is a pivotal time for our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, so we’ll hit the ground running with rigorous hearings and oversight, all to ensure we deliver legislative victories for rural America and the farm families that guarantee our nation’s food security," Returning Members Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15), Chairman Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03) Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08) Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-01) Rep. Michael Bost (IL-12) Rep. Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) Rep. David Rouzer (NC-07) Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01) Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD) Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04) Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01) Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04) Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15) Rep. Barry Moore (AL-02) Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03) Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01) Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13) Rep. John Rose (TN-06) Rep. Zach Nunn (IA-03) Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) New Members for the 119th Congress Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) Rep. Tony Wied (WI-08) Rep. Rob Bresnahan (PA-08) Rep. Mark Harris (NC-08) Rep. Mark Messmer (IN-08) Rep. David Taylor (OH-02)

Please encourage any college students pursuing a career in agriculture to apply by the end of December for the scholarships. The National Wheat Foundation, in partnership with BASF provides 2 $2500 scholarships to a college student who is pursuing a career in agriculture. Find the application on the NWF website.

Ken Wood lives on a farm near Chapman, KS where they raise wheat, corn, soybeans and grain sorghum both dryland and irrigated acres. Ken has served as a director for the National Wheat Foundation since 2023. Ken’s leadership experience both in Kansas and on the National level is extensive. He was president of Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Chairman of Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership and also served in leadership roles with NAWG. He and his wife, Deb like to travel and are interested in history and genealogy. They overcame a tremendous challenge in 2016 when an EF4 tornado destroyed their farm and home. Since that time, they have done several interviews and a podcast about their experience. Ken’s involvement with the National Wheat Foundation board brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the board, thank you, Ken, for your willingness to serve.