Weekly Update for
January 8

This week, NAWG CEO, Sam Kieffer, laid out a compelling case for why the Food for Peace program should be moved to USDA, where it can better support American farmers and strengthen global food security. Read Sam’s full opinion below:

On January 7, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. “NAWG supports the Trump administration’s efforts to improve health outcomes in our nation while standing with American farmers. We appreciate the continued recognition of whole grains as an essential part of Americans’ diets. However, we are concerned that some portions of the new guidelines around grains and wheat are unintentionally confusing. Wheat, wheat flour, and foods made from wheat have been nutrient-rich, life-sustaining staples for tens of thousands of years and deserve clear, continued support as a central part of our nation’s diet. We look forward to working with Secretaries Rollins and Kennedy to ensure nutritious, affordable grains remain accessible to all Americans,” said Sam Kieffer, CEO of NAWG.

NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer joined AgriTalk this week to share insights on the upcoming 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Listen to the full interview below.

This week, NAWG welcomed a new interagency agreement between USDA and the U.S. Department of State that allows USDA to operate the Food for Peace program. The Food for Peace has long delivered critical food aid globally while supporting U.S. farmers and agricultural markets at home. Placing the program under USDA management strengthens its long-term stability and protects in-kind food aid made with American-grown crops. The agreement provides important near-term certainty for farmers and humanitarian partners alike. NAWG continues to urge Congress to pass H.R. 1207 and S. 525 to permanently transfer Food for Peace to USDA. An official announcement is expected to be made public next week.

On January 5, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) introduced the Roll-Over Prevention and Safety (ROPS) Act, which would create a cost-share grant program at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist farmers in retrofitting tractors with rollover protection structures (ROPS). “The National Association of Wheat Growers commends Reps. Feenstra and Riley for introducing the Roll-Over Prevention and Safety Act and strongly supports this bipartisan, practical solution that helps farmers retrofit equipment to improve farm safety and save lives,” said Sam Kieffer, NAWG CEO.

On December 31, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the per-acre payment rates for the one-time Farmer Bridge Assistance Program (FBA). “Wheat growers are closing the books on a difficult year marked by extremely high input costs and stubbornly low wheat prices. NAWG appreciates the Trump administration’s response to the market challenges facing farm families and its efforts to deliver much-needed assistance. While the rates announced today do not come close to making wheat farmers whole for the per-acre losses experienced in 2025, the $39.35 per-acre payment for planted wheat will help lighten the blow of a challenging year,” said Pat Clements, NAWG President. “As we look ahead to 2026, NAWG is eager to work with Congress and the administration to build a policy environment that provides regulatory certainty, allows wheat growers to achieve positive returns on their crops, supports robust trade policies that keep U.S. wheat competitive in global markets, and helps farmers begin paying down debt incurred after years of market adversity.”

On January 7, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement today on the release of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: "The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans are a step in the right direction, and I applaud Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy for their refocus on real, whole, nutrient-dense foods that fuel our families. I am particularly encouraged to see whole milk and other full-fat dairy products brought back into the recommended diets of Americans, as these wholesome foods play an important role in Making America Healthy Again and have been pushed to the side of nutrition guidelines for too long. These new guidelines will empower Americans to choose the healthy foods that work best for them, whether fresh, frozen, dried, or canned. When our Dietary Guidelines emphasize putting wholesome, healthy foods on dinner tables, we all win—producers and consumers alike."

On January 7, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new dietary guidelines: “These updates provide easy to understand nutritional information for school meals and other federal nutrition programs and helps Americans make healthy, informed choices. I appreciate the work of the Advisory Committee and the efforts of USDA and HHS to develop guidance to improve public health. Ensuring that nutrition recommendations remain balanced, practical and firmly rooted in evidence-based science is critical. Recognizing the role of nutrient-dense foods, including meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, in a well-balanced diet will help us meet our nutritional needs while promoting overall health.”

On January 7, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) and Vice Ranking Member Shontel Brown (OH-11) sent a letter urging House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson to conduct rigorous examination of the most pressing issues facing farm country and hardworking Americans and calling for oversight of Trump administration actions affecting American agriculture as the 119th Congress begins its second session. “The legislative actions and inactions of the Republican majority in Congress have led to real world consequences for rural America that the majority appear unwilling to examine. Whether it’s cutting food assistance to hungry children, seniors and veterans, making health care either inaccessible or unaffordable or cutting off new markets for farmers by imposing hemp restrictions, the majority has turned a blind eye to the challenges facing rural Americans resulting from Republican legislative priorities,” wrote the lawmakers. Read the full letter below.

On January 6, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has revised the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee voting period, and eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country should receive ballots this week. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for these committee members who make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. Producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or have their ballots postmarked by Feb. 2, 2026, for those ballots to be counted. Newly elected members will take office on March 2, 2026.   

On December 30, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, signed a Secretary’s Memorandum that puts forth a focused effort to establish new priorities for future research and development activities funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen national security, protect U.S. agriculture, and support American farmers and consumer. “When he created the People’s Department and the land-grant university system in 1862, President Lincoln had a vision for American agriculture rooted in agricultural innovation and education. Since that time, research coming from USDA and our colleges of agriculture have successfully helped American farmers and ranchers address countless challenges,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “The priorities we are announcing today further reiterates President Trump’s commitment to put Farmers First and provides our agricultural researchers with a strategic roadmap to help keep our producers at the forefront of productivity.”

On December 30, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a series of coordinated actions aimed at strengthening American agricultural research and innovation, including updates to AFIDA modernization and the BioPreferred eligibility process. “Strengthening national security starts with knowing who owns our farmland and where federal dollars are flowing,” said Secretary Rollins. “These actions close long-standing gaps in oversight and enforcement by improving transparency around foreign land ownership and ensuring USDA programs support American farmers and manufacturers, while prioritizing domestic supply chains – not foreign adversaries.” Read more about this announcement below.

On December 31, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Farmer Bridge Assistance program payment rates: “This represents an important step by USDA delivering critical short-term funding to family farmers facing multiple years of rising input costs, economic uncertainty and market disruptions. These bridge payments will help producers manage financial pressures until farm safety net enhancements approved in the One Big Beautiful Bill are realized in the fall. I look forward to returning to Washington next week and working with my colleagues to ensure our producers have the resources they need to keep farming.”

On December 22, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General on staffing levels at USDA. Klobuchar requested this report in March. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture is the front door for America’s farmers and ranchers, who are facing more uncertainty than ever. Rural Americans need a Department that is ready and capable of serving them. Particularly shocking is that the agencies responsible for assisting farmers and small towns lost a third of employees; the Forest Service lost nearly 6,000 employees; and the agency responsible for managing animal disease outbreaks lost nearly a quarter of employees. Losing nearly twenty percent of all USDA staff weakens the Department’s ability to respond to challenges facing our farmers, leaves our food supply chains more vulnerable to threats like New World Screwworm and avian flu, and undermines efforts to drive the rural economy forward.”

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.

Wheat growers know margins are earned through efficiency—strong roots, balanced nutrition, and crops that can handle stress from emergence to grain fill. That’s where AgXplore fits: a plant nutrition company focused on helping wheat perform consistently under real field conditions. Founded in the Midwest and built alongside farmers and agronomists, AgXplore takes a practical, field-first approach to plant nutrition. The company was named 2024 Plant Nutrition Company of the Year, recognition earned through in-field performance, agronomic education, and consistent results across diverse growing environments. AgXplore works with growers and retailers to improve how nutrients are taken up and utilized by the plant—especially in wheat systems where early-season efficiency, root development, and stress tolerance often determine yield potential. The goal isn’t more inputs, but better use of what’s already applied. A core principle at AgXplore is proof before promotion. Products are evaluated through side-by-side trials, replicated plots, and on-farm testing across multiple regions. If a product doesn’t deliver measurable agronomic value or economic return, it doesn’t remain in the lineup. Beyond products, AgXplore emphasizes education and partnership. Agronomists collaborate directly with growers to build nutrition strategies tailored to soil conditions, management styles, and regional challenges. The focus stays on fundamentals—root health, nutrient balance, and crop resilience—so wheat can finish strong even in unpredictable seasons. AgXplore exists for growers who expect accountability, value efficiency, and make decisions with profitability in mind. Farmer Sidebar AgXplore at a Glance What they do: Plant nutrition focused on nutrient efficiency and root health Primary focus: Field-proven solutions that fit existing wheat programs How products are validated: Side-by-side trials, replicated plots, on-farm testing What they avoid: One-size-fits-all recommendations and unproven claims Who they work with: Growers, agronomists, and retail partners Recognition: 2024 Plant Nutrition Company of the Year End goal: Consistent performance, stress resilience, and ROI at harvest

We think you will enjoy this podcast done by Taylor Brown and Northern Ag Network highlighting the national winner from Montana.