Weekly Update for
May 14

On the April edition of the NAWG podcast we sit down with Congressman GT Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, to discuss the long-awaited farm bill where negotiations currently stand, what’s included in the legislation, and what it could mean for wheat growers across the country. We also speak with Eric Steiner for an update on the Supreme Court case Monsanto v. Durnell and a broader look at the current pesticide regulatory landscape.

This week, NAWG’s VP of Policy & Communications Anthony Peña attended the Wheat Quality Council’s 2026 Hard Red Winter Wheat tour. The tour found generally challenging conditions across Kansas, with drought stress, freeze damage and disease pressure affecting many wheat fields, particularly in western and southern parts of the state. Scouts reported below-average yield potential in many areas, though some fields benefited from timely moisture and showed stronger prospects. Overall, the tour highlighted concerns about reduced yields and possible abandoned acres as producers continue to manage difficult growing conditions. The annual tour brings together farmers, grain industry representatives, millers, exporters and agricultural leaders to evaluate the Kansas winter wheat crop ahead of harvest. It also serves as an educational opportunity for participants to learn more about wheat production, crop development and the challenges facing Kansas wheat growers.

This week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its first outlook for the 2026–2027 crop year in the latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, projecting the smallest U.S. wheat crop in decades. According to the report, total wheat production is expected to decline more than 20% from the 2025–2026 crop year, falling from nearly 2 billion bushels to approximately 1.6 billion bushels while winter wheat production is forecast to drop 25% to just over 1 billion bushels. In response to the report, NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer issued the following statement: “Unfortunately, U.S. wheat growers are not surprised by this report. Across the country, farmers continue to face stubbornly high input costs, ongoing uncertainty in global markets, and the continual challenge of achieving profitability on the farm. As a result, many farmers are making the difficult decision to plant fewer wheat acres. In addition, much of wheat country is experiencing significant drought. That is why it is essential for Congress to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. This legislation would provide much-needed certainty for America’s farmers, expand market opportunities, invest in critical research to combat pests and diseases, and support innovation across the wheat industry. We also call on Congress and the Trump Administration to examine every opportunity to control and reduce rising farm input costs, particularly fertilizer and fuel.” Read the full statement below.

In the latest edition of Wheat in DC, NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer discusses the importance of trade stability ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and what it could mean for U.S. wheat growers. The column highlights ongoing challenges facing agriculture, including high input costs, supply chain disruptions, inflation, and market uncertainty. Kieffer highlights the ongoing work to finish the farm bill to provide farmers with somse sence of certainty with credit, risk management, research, and market development programs. NAWG continues advocating for policies that strengthen the farm economy and improve long-term stability for wheat growers.

On May 14, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, is leading 23 of her colleagues in raising strong concerns about the reorganization of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We write with strong concern regarding the reorganization and restructuring of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),” wrote the Senators. “While we support actions to improve efficiencies and enhance service, this effort will erode the capacity of USDA’s research agencies and threaten their ability to deliver innovation and timely economic data for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. In order to address these concerns, we ask that you provide a detailed description of actions the Department has taken to minimize disruptions to farmers, ranchers, and ag researchers and adhere to recommendations as outlined by GAO regarding agency reorganizations,” the Senators continued. “As strong supporters of USDA’s research agencies, it is our goal to make sure the REE mission functions as Congress intends – focused on helping farmers, ranchers, and rural communities overcome the challenges they face through scientific innovation and complex data analysis.” Read the full letter below.

On May 12, The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that would allow the year-round sale of E15 gasoline, a fuel blend containing 15% ethanol, in a bipartisan 218-203 vote. Supporters say the measure would expand domestic ethanol markets, increase corn demand and provide consumers with lower-cost fuel options at the pump. The bill is strongly backed by corn growers, ethanol producers and many agricultural groups, who say it could strengthen rural economies and improve long-term demand for U.S. corn. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain. While supporters view the bill as a major win for agriculture and renewable fuels, some refinery groups and soybean organizations have raised concerns about potential economic impacts and refinery exemptions included in the legislation.

On May 12, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry held a hearing on May 12 titled “Perspectives on the Fertilizer Industry: Ensuring a Stable and Affordable Supply for American Producers,” focusing on fertilizer costs, supply chain challenges, and domestic production capacity. Chair John Boozman stressed the importance of maintaining a reliable and affordable fertilizer supply, while Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar highlighted the financial pressure high input costs continue to place on farmers. Witnesses from across the fertilizer and agriculture sectors discussed market concentration, price volatility, global supply disruptions, and the nation’s reliance on imported inputs such as potash. Senators and industry leaders emphasized the need to strengthen domestic fertilizer production and improve supply chain resilience. Lawmakers also referenced bipartisan legislation aimed at lowering fertilizer costs through expanded domestic production incentives and greater price transparency. Overall, the hearing reflected bipartisan concern over the impact of persistently high fertilizer prices on farm profitability.

Researchers have developed experimental wheat hybrids with significantly improved resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), one of the most damaging fungal diseases affecting cereal crops worldwide. Scientists identified a new resistance gene in a wild relative of wheat, Elymus repens, and successfully transferred the trait into wheat through hybrid breeding. In greenhouse and field trials, the new hybrids showed substantially lower disease levels compared to conventional wheat varieties. Fusarium head blight can reduce yields and contaminate grain with harmful toxins, creating major economic losses for producers. Researchers say the discovery could help accelerate the development of more disease-resistant, high-yielding wheat varieties and provide breeders with new tools to improve crop resilience in the future.

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a final rule implementing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which restores whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk options in federal Child Nutrition Programs for children and adults ages 2 and older. The change allows schools and child nutrition providers to offer a wider range of milk choices that align with current nutrition guidance and consumer preferences. USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said the rule is intended to give schools greater flexibility while supporting access to nutrient-rich dairy options for students.

WINTER WHEAT Crop condition: An estimated 40% of winter wheat was rated poor to very poor as of May 10, up 22 percentage points from 18% a year ago, according to NASS. Crop development: 61% of winter wheat was headed nationwide as of Sunday. That's 10 percentage points ahead of last year's 51% and 16 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 45%. Top winter-wheat-producer Kansas' crop was 86% headed, 19 points ahead of last year at this time and 37 points ahead of the five-year average. SPRING WHEAT Planting progress: 53% of the crop was planted nationwide as of May 10, 10 percentage points behind last year's pace of 63% and 2 percentage points ahead the five-year average of 51%. Washington is nearly finished at 94% complete, while North Dakota is the furthest behind at 42% planted, lagging last year's pace but still ahead of its five-year average. Crop development: 23% of spring wheat was emerged as of Sunday, 2 percentage points behind last year's pace of 25% and 4 percentage points ahead of the five-year average of 19%.

Brian Walker and Dennis Schoenhals, directors on the National Wheat Foundation Board attended the Wheat Quality Council Winter Wheat tour this week in Kansas and Oklahoma. Both are veterans of the tour and are experts and drive one of the routes.

Get your entries in to www.wheatcontest.org for the National Wheat Yield Contest. The deadline for entries is midnight 12 pm est on May 15th.

Please enjoy this edition of the Field Posts podcast where two contest growers discuss why they enter and how the contest has helped them reach their goals of higher yielding, higher quality wheat. Thanks to our partners, BASF, Dyna-Gro, and WestBred for helping us share the learnings from the contest.