Weekly Update for
January 15

This week, the National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Sam Kieffer issued the following statement in response to news of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reaching an interagency agreement allowing USDA to operate the Food for Peace program. “For decades, the Food for Peace program has embodied the best of American leadership—delivering life-sustaining food around the world while supporting U.S. farmers at home. NAWG is thrilled to see this agreement between USDA and the State Department and thanks the Trump Administration for initiating this common-sense move. Having USDA manage Food for Peace strengthens the program’s stability, ensures continued market opportunities for American grown crops, and safeguards in-kind food aid for the people around the world who need it most. While this agreement provides near-term certainty, we call on Congress to pass H.R. 1207 and S. 525 to permanently transfer Food for Peace to USDA.”

This week, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) is pleased to announce that Anthony Peña has been promoted to Vice President of Policy and Communications. Anthony joined the NAWG team in March 2025 as Policy Manager, where he has played a key role in advancing the association’s policy priorities and strengthening engagement on behalf of U.S. wheat farmers. In his new role, Anthony will lead NAWG’s policy and communications strategy as the organization continues to advocate for a brighter future for wheat farmers and rural America. Prior to joining NAWG, Anthony served as Government Relations Manager at the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA). He also previously worked for U.S. Senator Patty Murray, serving as a Regional District Director and Representative. A native of Vancouver, Washington, Anthony earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Washington University. Read the entire release below.

On January 14, President Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in the Oval Office alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., USDA National Nutrition Advisor Dr. Ben Carson, dairy farmers, moms, and members of Congress. This legislation modifies the requirements for milk provided by schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, released last week. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, whole milk is back – and it’s the right move for kids, for parents, and for America’s dairy farmers,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “This bipartisan solution to school meals alongside the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans reinforces what families already know: nutrient dense foods like whole milk are an important part of a healthy diet.”

On January 14, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement after watching President Trump sign the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law: “Today is a milestone for the health and well-being of children nationwide. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act ensures whole and reduced-fat milk choices return to school lunch programs alongside low-fat and fat-free options. I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation through the Senate and into law. By restoring these healthy, nutritious milk beverages to school cafeterias, we are helping fuel young people’s success in the classroom and supporting America’s outstanding dairy producers.” The Senate passed the bill November 21, 2025 following unanimous committee approval earlier in the year.

On January 15, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) unveiled the framework of the Farm and Family Relief Act with Democratic members of the House Agriculture Committee at a press conference on Capitol Hill. “Americans know that life is simply more expensive today than when President Trump took office last year. Family farmers have been bankrupted by Trump’s ill-conceived trade wars and state governments are facing the terrifying reality that they may need to let millions of residents go hungry because of his heartless cuts to food assistance. The Farm and Family Relief Act doesn’t pick winners and losers. It helps all Americans by reigning in the tariffs that have increased our cost of living, giving states breathing room to adapt to shifting SNAP rules and providing an economic lifeline to farmers so they can continue to feed our nation and the world. Unlike the Trump administration, which loves to pick winners and losers, the Farm and Family Relief Act has provisions that help all Americans – and only as a package can we deliver true relief to the American people,” said Ranking Member Craig. Read more about the Farm and Family Relief Act below.

On January 9, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety, led 10 of their colleagues in pressing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to expedite and increase payouts in disaster and economic assistance programs in the face of trade uncertainty, rising input costs, and natural disasters. “As farmers face continued trade uncertainty, rising input costs, and natural disasters, we encourage you to expedite economic and disaster assistance that will benefit all farmers, including specialty crop growers,” wrote the Senators. “While significant assistance flowed quickly to farmers in the summer and fall, payments were limited to 35 percent of approved applications. As a result, less than $6 billion out of the $16 billion available has been paid out to farmers more than a year after Congress provided the funds and nearly three years after some farmers faced losses,” the Senators continued. “Farmers are talking to their lenders right now to make plans. Adjusting the factor and making additional top-up payments now will expedite assistance now when farmers need it most.”

On January 12, USDA released their World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report regarding the relationship between crops, their market shares, production, imports, domestic feed, exports, and ending stocks. With trends in fiscal year 2023/2024 beginning stocks rose from 15.50 to 18.95 for the United States. While in fiscal year 2024/2025, the beginning stock rose again from 18.95 to 23.26 for the United States. The report includes information and projections for market behavior for the 2026 fiscal year for the United States and other countries. A projection for January of 2026 expects there to be 45.3 million acres of wheat planted, and 37.2 million wheat crops harvested.  

This week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins published an opinion piece in about the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, released last week. “Better health begins on your plate — the Dietary Guidelines for Americans offer a flexible, affordable, and attainable framework meant to guide better choices, not dictate exact meals or drain a budget. These guidelines are meant to support cultural traditions, personal preferences and different lifestyles, all while reinforcing one thing: eat real food,” said Secretary Rollins. “Soon, the Department of Agriculture will finalize our stocking standards for SNAP retailers. The more than 250,000 retailers approved to accept SNAP benefits will be mandated to offer more than twice as much of the nutrient-dense foods for America’s SNAP households. This means healthier options will be in reach for all American families, regardless of circumstance, at levels never seen before.” Read the full piece below.

You are invited to the 2025 National Wheat Yield Contest Top Quality awards! Please join us on Wednesday January 21, 2026, from 9:30 to 11:30 CT to learn more about wheat quality, the “wheat weather” of 2025, and which growers will receive Top-Quality Awards for the 2025 National Wheat Yield Contest. During this session, you will hear what quality tests were conducted on the 28 national winners’ wheat samples and why each of these analyses matters fir milling baking and end-use performance. Participants will also be able to choose a breakout room for their specific wheat class, where they can dive deeper into results and ask questions directly to a wheat quality expert for that class. With featured speakers like Erica Oakley, Vice President of Programs U.S, Wheat Associates and Eric Snodgrass, Senior Science Fellow Nutrient Agronomy. We hope to see you there.  

You are invited to attend the National Wheat Foundation’s annual Wheat 101 reception on January 28 from 5:00–7:00 pm in the Kennedy Caucus Room (SR-325). Now in its tenth year, Wheat 101 brings together Members of Congress, staff, and leaders from across the wheat value chain to highlight wheat’s vital role in the U.S. economy and food supply. As the third most important U.S. crop by revenue, acreage, and production, wheat connects seed breeders, growers, millers, bakers, and grocers in a single, powerful industry. Attendees will learn how wheat moves from seed to loaf of bread, including insights into domestic production, sales, and export processes. Register below.