Weekly Update for
January 26

Earlier this week, NAWG President, Nicole Berg, was in Washington, DC, for a producer leader meeting. National Corn Growers Association President, Tom Haag, invited a group of ag leaders from across the country to our nation’s capital to discuss the industry's challenges and opportunities as we gear up for the next Farm Bill. President Berg outlined NAWG's 2023 Farm Bill priorities, which include protecting crop insurance and getting additional Farm Bill resources to invest in Title I programs, strengthening crop insurance, and increasing federal support for the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development program.

At the Great Lakes Crop Summit, NAWG's Past President, Dave Milligan, was presented with the Michigan Master Farmer award. For 19 years, Michigan Farmer has bestowed the prestigious Master Farmer award on three people who have demonstrated how to farm more effectively, efficiently, environmentally, and economically. Also at the summit was NAWG's Government Relations Representative, Taylor Williamson, who participated in a panel with Wayne Stoskopf from the National Corn Growers Association and Ariel Wiegard from the American Soybean Association. The panelists discussed their organization's priorities and the challenges and opportunities for the next Farm Bill.

Join NAWG in Orlando March 7-11, 2023 for NAWG’s Annual Meeting during Commodity Classic. NAWG will be reviewing policy and issues as we advocate for wheat growers’ interests in the 2023 Farm Bill. The conference will also include the NAWG President/PAC Reception and National Wheat Yield Contest Winners Reception.

Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member John Boozman of the Senate Agriculture Committee announced four upcoming Farm Bill Hearings. The first hearing will be titled “Farm Bill 2023: Trade and Horticulture” and will be on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. “This is the first of many hearings the Committee has planned as we gear up for the 2023 Farm Bill. We are both looking forward to a collaborative process, working with all Senators to deliver a strong Farm Bill.” Stabenow and Boozman said. The witnesses include USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Alexis Taylor, USDA’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and USAID’s Assistant to the Administrator, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, Sarah Charles. Subsequent hearing swill be on: February 9 – Commodity Programs, Crop Insurance and Credit February 16 – Nutrition Programs March 1 – Conservation and Forestry Programs

In the Senate, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) were named to the Senate Agriculture Committee today. These freshmen Senators will join five other Democrats who weren't on the committee when the 2018 Farm Bill was passed. The Senate Republicans have not released their rosters. On the House side, Democratic Leader Jeffries announced the Steering and Policy Committee recommendations for new members of the House Democratic Caucus. The ratios for the 118th Congress' House Agriculture Committee are 28 majority seats and 24 minority seats. The new members who will join the House Agriculture Committee include: Rep. Yadira Caraveo Rep. Andrea Salinas Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Rep. Don Davis Rep. Jill Tokuda Rep. Nikki Budzinski Rep. Eric Sorensen Rep. Gabe Vasquez Rep. Jasmine Crockett Rep. Jonathan Jackson Rep. Greg Casar

On January 24, 2023, President Biden announced his intent to renominate Stacy Dean to serve as Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. President Biden nominated her last congress, but it expired because the full Senate didn’t act on the nomination. Dean currently serves as the agriculture deputy for food, nutrition, and consumer services. In a statement given by Tom Vilsack, he said, “Since the first day of the Biden-Harris Administration, Stacy Dean has been at the forefront of advancing food and nutrition security for all Americans as the Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.”

Today, USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh announced she is leaving the department in the coming weeks. The Senate confirmed the Deputy Secretary in May 2021 after serving as Virginia's Agriculture Director for three years. "She has been an incredible partner over the last two years, and she has been instrumental in helping the department seize opportunity and address a host of challenges," said Secretary Vilsack. "We are all deeply grateful for her service."

In Mexico, Chief Agricultural Negotiator (USTR) Doug McKalip and U.S Department of Agriculture Under Secretary (USDA) Alexis Taylor met with Mexican government officials on Monday. The visit is in response to Mexico’s presidential decree, which would effectively phase out the importation of genetically engineered corn and other products by January 31, 2024. In a joint statement from USDA and USTR, Taylor and McKalip noted ““these changes are not sufficient, and Mexico’s proposed approach, which is not grounded in science, still threatens to disrupt billions of dollars in bilateral agricultural trade, cause serious economic harm to U.S. farmers and Mexican livestock producers, and stifle important innovations needed to help producers respond to pressing climate and food security challenges.”

On January 24, 2023, it was announced that The World Food Prize Foundation would have the former U.S. Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, join the organization as its President. "We are excited to bring on a leader with both global vision and strong roots in agriculture," said Paul Schickler, chair of the World Food Prize Foundation. "Ambassador Branstad, who was serving as Governor of Iowa when John Ruan, Sr., rescued the World Food Prize and moved it to Iowa, has been a champion of our mission from its earliest days.”

The National Wheat Foundation is pleased to host the Wheat 101 reception this year in the Kennedy Caucus Room (SR-325), Russell Senate Office Building, on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Exhibitors from all segments of the wheat industry will be attending. If you signed up for the NAWG winter meeting, you are registered for Wheat 101. Attire is business professional. If you will be in Washington, DC, on February 2 and would like to attend this reception, please email Anne Osborne. (aosborne@wheatworld.org)

Northern Crops Institute hosts cereal innovator webinars on Wednesday mornings. Take a look at some of the upcoming topics and speakers. Northern Crops Institute is a Grade 5 partner in the National Wheat Yield Contest with the in-kind lab analysis work they do for our quality testing of the hard wheat contest winners. Thank you, NCI, for your partnership and support of the Foundation!

Eastman Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in everyday items. Our 14,000 employees in more than 100 countries listen to the needs of society and our partners to develop groundbreaking technologies, leading business models and sustainable materials that help make the world a better place. For crop protection, Eastman offers a varied portfolio of ready-to-use products for specific niche markets and continually invests in expanding to new crops, diseases, and geographies. For the U.S. market, we are now introducing Adjust™ SL, a chlormequat chloride-based plant-growth regulator for cereals. Adjust™ SL plant growth regulator The complexities of maximizing yields in cereals are countless. Growers can choose a promising variety and the level of nitrogen management. However, rain, wind, hail, topography, soil fertility, and other conditions are more difficult to control. In an industry with as many variables and unknowns as agriculture, you can reduce some of the risk with a plant growth regulator (PGR). PGRs increase stem strength and root mass and reduce stem height, preventing lodging and subsequent yield loss. Adjust™ SL plant growth regulator is the ultimate tool in cereal management, working effectively in different weather conditions across early and late crop growth stages. Adjust has a broad application window, giving growers flexibility when making decisions on maximizing field potential. Pending EPA registration, Adjust SL is not yet registered for sale or use in the U.S. Eastman crop protection solutions are manufactured by Taminco US LLC, a subsidiary of Eastman.

To wheat growers, controlling weeds in wheat fields may feel like a war. It requires growers to find their allies and take back control of their acres. FMC developed Ally® Extra SG herbicide with TotalSol® soluble granules to fight back against over 70 broadleaf weeds and provide long residual control. The solution can be applied in the spring, summer or fall when large populations of weeds have emerged. To learn how Ally Extra SG herbicide can save yields, visit the FMC website.