Weekly Update for
May 7

This week, NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer joined the Agri-Pulse Open Mic podcast to discuss the current challenges and opportunities facing U.S. wheat producers. During the interview, Kieffer highlighted wheat growers’ support for the House-passed farm bill, including several key provisions important to the wheat industry. He also emphasized the financial pressures producers continue to face due to high input costs and uncertain market conditions, warning that without additional support from Congress, more growers could be forced out of business. Kieffer also discussed emerging opportunities for wheat markets and stressed the importance of increased federal investment in agricultural research. Listen to the full interview below.

This week, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced the committee hearing “Perspectives on the Fertilizer Industry: Ensuring a Stable and Affordable Supply for American Producers.” The hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 12, at 3:00 p.m. ET in 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Witnesses include Andy Green, Principal and Senior Advisor at Center Market Strategies; Trent Kubic, Vice President of the South Dakota Corn Growers Association; Eddie Melton, President of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation; Corey Rosenbusch, President and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute; and Joshua Westling, CEO of J. Westling & Co., LLC. Tune in below.

This week, Corteva announced that its planned advanced seed and genetics spinoff will be named Vylor, Inc., with the separation expected to be completed in late 2026. Built on a century-long legacy of agricultural innovation, Vylor will focus on advancing seed genetics and biotechnology to help farmers meet growing food and energy demands. The company will launch a strong portfolio that includes leading germplasm and biotechnology patents, as well as innovations in hybrid wheat, gene editing, disease-resistant corn, and next-generation biofuels. The Vylor name reflects both the company’s agricultural heritage and its ambition to drive future innovation in global agriculture.

On April 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to reorganize its Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services mission area by establishing the Food and Nutrition Administration. The restructuring includes relocating some leadership and staff positions from Washington, D.C., to regional hub and program compliance offices across the country. According to USDA, the changes are intended to improve customer service and strengthen coordination with state, tribal, territorial, and local partners that administer federal nutrition programs. USDA stated that the reorganization is not expected to disrupt the operation of its 16 nutrition assistance programs and will continue efforts aimed at reducing fraud, waste, and abuse. Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said the changes are part of a broader effort to improve program delivery and support families who rely on federal nutrition assistance.

The recipe is simple and makes delicious tortillas from scratch. The hardest part I found was rolling them out into nice round shapes versus them looking like a map of Greenland.

A huge thank you to our yield contest farmers, Greg and Alec, for their participation in the podcast, as well as to our partners BASF, Dyna-Gro, and WestBred. Thanks also to Jason Jenkins with Progressive Farmer for leading the discussion. Listen below.

Please make sure to enter and complete your entries by May 15. Let Anne know if you need help at aosborne@wheatworld.org.