Weekly Update for
February 22

We hope to see you next week at the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) Annual Meetings and Commodity Classic Tradeshow! Come see the NAWG booth on the third floor of the tradeshow, at booth #7705, on Wednesday from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and Friday from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Find the Annual Conference agenda below. To get to the tradeshow from the NAWG hotel, bus route 2 will be running throughout the day from the Aloft Houston Hotel on Fannin Street (across the street from the JW Marriot).

Skip the line and register early for the WheatPAC auction at Commodity Classic! The auction will take place on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in Houston, Texas, at the Downtown JW Marriott, directly following the NAWG President's Reception. Ticket sales and auction items go directly to support WheatPAC. WheatPAC serves to advance the policy interests of wheat growers before Members of Congress through helping to elect pro-wheat, pro-agriculture candidates. The WheatPAC accomplishes this by being nonpartisan and supporting candidates for Congress that will be champions for wheat on Capitol Hill. We look forward to bringing in the new President with style and would love your support and participation in this year’s Auction and Reception.

On February 27, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a listening session where agricultural stakeholders have the option to provide verbal input on the amended “Revised Definition of Waters of the United States” ruling. Attendees can register on Zoom to speak for up to three minutes. For reference, the ruling revised the definition of clean air and water to be under the jurisdiction of the EPA and the Department of the Army Corps to hold “polluters of the environment accountable for damage from exposure to dangerous chemicals and pesticides.” This means that despite the measures in place, the Corps and the EPA have the right to fine or hold violators accountable.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden announced on February 21 that the USDA is funding 216 projects across 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands to bring internet, clean water, infrastructure, and economic growth to rural communities for President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The new projects total $772 million in investments and will benefit more than 1 million residents living in remote areas of the country. The investments come after the Rural America at a Glance report, linked here, show that rural population is growing after a decade of loss.

On February 14, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s updated Equity Action Plan. The plan aims to advance equity and improve access to USDA programs and services for all stakeholders and communities. The first Equity Action Plan that was released in April 2022 described a subset of actions the USDA is taking to make an impact on ranchers, families, children, and rural communities. The 2024 plan builds off the 2022 foundation but continuing to prioritize outreach, listening sessions about potential programs, tribal consultations, outreach events, and regional advisory committees to oversee programs. Some of the program’s goals include directing USDA programs to stakeholders who need them the most, reducing barriers in the process for stakeholders to participate, partnering with technical assistance providers to ensure underserved producers are able to access USDA programs, and operating transparently and accountably by providing information to Congress, stakeholders, and the general public to incorporate feedback.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced on February 14 that the current administration is investing $20 million to support federal recognized Tribes and Alaska Native corporations and villages as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding comes from a section of the administration’s Inflation Reduction Act funds which aims to have 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal climate, clean energy, and other covered investments flow to disadvantaged communities – which includes all Federally Recognized Tribes and Tribal entities. Proposals for the grant opportunity may be submitted up to August 21, 2024.

On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the NWF will hold our annual meeting at the JW Marriott, 806 Main St, in Houston, TX. We will cover projects such as the National Wheat Yield Contest, Build a Better Sandwich campaign, and Farm Tour. We will also elect officers for the next year. Please join us if you are in Houston for the Commodity Classic; all are welcome!

The National Wheat Foundation will be hosting its Winner’s Reception at Commodity Classic on Wednesday, February 28, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. This will be at the JW Marriott, 806 Main St, Houston, TX and all wheat growers and industry are invited. Thank you to our partners in the NWYC for making this fun event possible. Please email National Wheat Foundation Project Manager, Anne Osborne (aosborne@wheatworld.org), with any questions.

Commodity Classic is on the horizon. If you're fixin' to go, stop by the FMC booth #3809 from February 28 through March 2 in Houston, Texas. Technical and sales staff will be available to discuss fungicide, herbicide and insecticide options from FMC to manage the toughest diseases, weeds and pests on wheat acres. See ya'll in the Lone Star State!