Weekly Update for
June 19

On June 18, the NAWG Board of Directors approved a new strategic plan that will guide the organization’s work through 2033 and help shape priorities for the years ahead. The plan includes updated mission and vision statements that reflect NAWG’s commitment to advancing the interests of U.S. wheat farmers in a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape. Vision: A successful and competitive future for U.S. wheat farmers shaped by effective national advocacy. Mission: To lead policy, partnerships, and initiatives that drive progress for U.S. wheat farmers to succeed today and into the future. The updated mission, vision, and strategic framework are the result of months of discussion, evaluation, and planning by NAWG’s Board of Directors. Together, they are designed to ensure the organization remains focused on the opportunities and challenges most important to wheat producers. The strategic plan is built around five key priorities: Policy Leadership & Advocacy Resource Stewardship & Organizational Excellence Communication, Engagement & Leadership Development New Uses & Demand Organizational Alignment & Industry Collaboration Read the full NAWG Strategic Plan below.

This week, the Wheat Marketing Center (WMC) hosted students from the University of Idaho's AgBiz Summer Fellow Program for a week-long wheat export and industry tour as part of a USDA-funded initiative designed to train the next generation of agricultural marketing and policy professionals. The tour gave students an inside look at the wheat value chain, including grain merchandising, export logistics, milling, baking, quality testing, transportation, and international trade. Students visited key industry facilities across the Pacific Northwest, including export terminals, flour mills, the Port of Portland, U.S. Wheat Associates, and the WMC. The program aims to help future industry leaders better understand how U.S. wheat moves from the farm gate to overseas markets and the factors that influence quality, market access, and producer profitability. The tour is part of a five-year collaboration between WMC and the University of Idaho supported by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Nominations are currently being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local USDA FSA County committees. These committees make important decisions about how deferral farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2026 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by August 3, 2026. Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in November 2026. Elections for committee members will be held in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). Producers interested in serving on the FSA county committee can locate their LAA at fsa.usda.gov/coc and determine if their LAA is up for election by contacting their local FSA office. Learn more below.

Nominations are currently being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local USDA FSA County committees. These committees make important decisions about how deferral farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2026 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by August 3, 2026. Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in November 2026. Elections for committee members will be held in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). Producers interested in serving on the FSA county committee can locate their LAA at fsa.usda.gov/coc and determine if their LAA is up for election by contacting their local FSA office. Learn more below.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), or head scab, remains one of the most damaging diseases in wheat production today. The pathogen overwinters in crop residue and spreads through wind and rain, infecting wheat heads during flowering—when the crop is most vulnerable (Figure 1). Figure 1: Fusarium head blight disease life cycle in wheat. Once established, FHB does more than reduce yield. Infected spikelets produce shriveled or empty kernels, directly limiting grain output. Just as importantly, the disease produces mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (D.O.N.), which can contaminate grain and pose serious health concerns. These toxins also reduce marketability—grain exceeding D.O.N. thresholds as low as 1–2 ppm can be discounted or rejected, costing growers up to $0.25–$2.00 per bushel. Environmental conditions make FHB especially challenging to manage. Warm temperatures (75–85°F) combined with humidity or rainfall during flowering create ideal infection conditions, and even brief moisture events can trigger outbreaks. With increased humidity trends and widespread crop residue, the risk of head scab continues to grow across wheat regions. To help protect both yield and grain quality, fungicide application at the correct timing is critical. Sphaerex® fungicide from BASF offers a proven solution, combining two highly effective active ingredients—metconazole and prothioconazole—to deliver strong control of head scab and proven D.O.N. reduction. In addition to disease control, Sphaerex provides operational advantages growers can rely on in unpredictable conditions. With rainfastness in as little as 15 minutes, it helps protect applications from pop-up showers—compared to other products that may require up to two hours. Its low use rate of 7.3 fl oz/A also allows for more acres to be covered per gallon, improving efficiency across the spray season. Applied at early flowering (Feekes 10.5.1), Sphaerex fungicide targets the infection window when anthers are exposed, maximizing protection. Field trials consistently show that Sphaerex not only reduces D.O.N. levels but also preserves yield potential, helping growers maintain both grain quality and profitability. In today’s environment, managing FHB isn’t optional—it’s essential. With the right agronomic approach and a high-performance fungicide like Sphaerex, growers can defend their wheat from disease pressure and protect the value of their crop from field to elevator.