Weekly Update for
November 16

Last week, the National Association of Wheat Growers Fall Conference wrapped up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Growers were able to listen to a range of speakers and come together to discuss policy updates. A highlight for many was the Siemer Milling Company Tour put on by the National Wheat Foundation. Thank you to everyone who traveled to this event and gave valuable input from your state and operations. Registration for the NAWG Winter Conference is now live! Winter Conference will be held in Washington D.C. on January 23-26, 2024. Both the NAWG registration and hotel reservation block will close on January 2. Key events will be the NAWG committee and board meetings, Hill visits, and Wheat 101, an educational event put on by the National Wheat Foundation. We look forward to hosting you in D.C.!

This week the NAWG staff are across the U.S., as V.P. of Policy and Communications, Jake Westlin, travels to Kansas City for the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Trade Talk Conference. There, he will give comments on 2023 Farm Bill Outlook and NAWG's Farm Bill Priorities, Ag Research and Appropriations and Food Aid. Government Relations Representative, Jack Long, Environmental Policy Advisor, Keira Franz, and NAWG Vice President Keeff Felty are currently at the Tri-State Grain Growers Convention in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, giving NAWG and policy updates to Idaho, Oregon, and Washington wheat growers. Back in D.C., NAWG CEO Chandler Goule met with Bayer CEO Bill Anderson at the Bayer Reception this Wednesday. Thank you, Bayer, for your support of NAWG and the wheat industry.

Earlier this week, Congress passed a stopgap appropriations bill to avert a government shutdown, which could have taken place on Friday, November 17. The Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 5860) creates two new appropriations deadlines: January 19, 2024, and February 2, 2024. Ahead of those deadlines, Congress will need to work to enact an agricultural appropriations bill and other appropriations bills to fund the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year 2024. Also included in the legislative package is a 1-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, which expired on September 30, 2023. “NAWG continues to advocate for Congress to enact a full five-year Farm Bill in a timely manner,” said NAWG Vice President of Policy and Communications Jake Westlin. “While the short-term extension will provide much-needed certainty for wheat growers, we must remain focused on delivering long-term improvements.”

NAWG is thrilled to see the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit permanent injunction that prohibits California’s Proposition 65 warning requirement related to glyphosate. On November 7, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s permanent injunction enjoining Proposition 65 warning requirement for glyphosate. “NAWG members knew we had a strong case and the decisions were based on the facts and science surrounding the safety of the product,” said NAWG President and Oregon wheat farmer, Brent Cheyne, “NAWG has been engaged in this legal battle as lead plaintiff challenging the California requirement for six years. California’s Proposition 65 requirement threatened the use of glyphosate by requiring false and misleading labels on products that may contain glyphosate. We are pleased to see this action taken today by the court.”

The National Association of Wheat Growers applauds the Eighth Federal Circuit Court of Appeals decision earlier this month, to reject the Environmental Protection Agency’s ban of the insecticide, chlorpyrifos. The EPA’s decision to ban chlorpyrifos in 2021 took a highly used insecticide out of the hands of agriculture producers nationwide. This led to higher costs of production for producers of a variety of crops. NAWG was among the 20 national and state commodity organizations to petition the court to review and vacate its order. The petition stated that chlorpyrifos was the most used insecticide in 2017. Before the ban, the EPA had limitations outlined for safe use of the chemical for hundreds of crops.

On November 12, the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees released a joint statement on a Farm Bill extension. “As negotiations on funding the government progress, we were able to come together to avoid a lapse in funding for critical agricultural programs and provide certainty to producers. This extension is in no way a substitute for passing a 5-year Farm Bill and we remain committed to working together to get it done next year.” If enacted, the extension would provide authorization through September 30, 2024. The House Republican CR uses the “laddered concept” that tees up a series of funding cliffs in the new year that begin on January 19 and end on February 2. If an extension is not passed, some agricultural products will reach a price well above market value.

On November 15, USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced a $27.9 million investment in 45 organizations that train beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as U.S. Veterans who enter into agriculture careers and start farming businesses. The USDA Deputy Secretary stated, “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is providing our newest producers with the support they need to succeed and the educational resources to guide their operations on the path toward long-term sustainability and profitability.” A wide range of professional development activities, such as managing capital, managing and acquiring land, and learning effective farming practices will be provided to new farmers and ranchers through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

November 15 marked two years since President Joe Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that has been instrumental in transforming the livelihoods of farmers, ranchers, and small businesses across the United States. Through this legislation, the USDA has been able to provide economic opportunity to rural America with investments in high-speed internet, making communities more resilient against wildfires by investing in the wildland fire workforce, and supporting resolutions to the environmental, social, and economic issues communities face. $918 million has been provided to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for projects improving watershed infrastructure. Over the first two years, $616 million was allotted to restoring watersheds through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program and rehabilitating damaged or aging dams through the Watershed Rehabilitation Program. NRCS also invested in improving community drinking and wasteway systems and made approximately $30 million available to 16 western states to improve water conservation and drought resilience.

On November 8, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the USDA’s progress on addressing competition issues facing the agriculture industry. The USDA plans to promote fair competition and innovation in seeds to help level the playing field for small to medium-sized farms. Multiple letters were issued to seed companies by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to reiterate their duty to comply with the Federal Seed Act’s labeling requirements. To hold seed companies accountable, AMS is requesting the companies provide variety transparency to the farmers at the time of the sale.

On November 7, select tables from the USDA Agricultural Projections to 2033 report were released. These tables are composed of 10-year projections for the main U.S. crops and livestock products and take into account major factors such as current conditions, existing laws, and weather patterns. These projections utilize information from the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and other macroeconomic forecasts that have been recently developed. You can find these projections on the Economic Research Service’s (ERS) Baseline database.

On November 14, the Senate Agricultural Committee held a hearing on “Innovation in American Agriculture: Leveraging Technology and Artificial Intelligence.” A panel of experts went before the committee to educate and discuss the potential of using artificial intelligence (AI) within the agricultural industry. A member of the panel advocating for this technological approach stated, “Precision agriculture powered by artificial intelligence holds promise for American agriculture. From targeted fertilizer and pesticide applications guided by dozens of high-resolution cameras to irrigation systems that can sense the source of leaks before crop losses. AI has the potential to dramatically increase efficiency, and minimize waste, resulting in improved yields and profitability.” However, much skepticism was raised, during the hearing, such as the need for new regulations to ensure safety, if this new technology is utilized.

On November 7, Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR-01) and Don Davis (D-NC-01), co-chairs of the Agricultural Labor Working Group, released an interim report on the Working Group’s activities and agricultural issues that have been identified over the past four months. The interim report describes many challenges facing the agriculture industry including labor and the H-2A visa program and how these two factors could affect U.S. food supply. Rep. Crawford stated, “Based on the information available, it is becoming clear that our agricultural visa policies are in desperate need of reforms. I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Davis and the rest of the Working Group to develop a final report with commonsense, bipartisan solutions.”

On November 2, Glenn “GT” Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, gave the following statement regarding the Eight Circuit ruling, “The Biden Administration put political science before sound science to curry favor with activist groups when issuing a final rule to revoke all tolerances for chlorpyrifos. Today’s ruling from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is a victory for American farmers and rightfully returns a critical crop protection tool back into their toolbox. I applaud the Eighth Circuit for this decision and look forward to working with the EPA to ensure producers maintain access to all of their vital crop protection tools moving forward.” In the case, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association et al. v. Regan, the Eight Circuit ruled in favor of growers, reinstating the use of Chlorpyrifos for growers nationwide.

The National Wheat Foundation thanks everyone who attended both the Siemer Mill Tour and our Fall Board Meeting. The tour would not have been possible without the hospitality of the Siemer Milling Company and Carl Schwinke, who also donated our lunch. Thank you, Ron Suppes from the Wheat Foods Council, and Erin Ball from the Grain Foods Foundation, for your educational presentations on the bus ride to the mill. Marianne Smith-Edge and Dr. Romulo Lollato gave excellent presentations during the NWF Fall Board meeting. Thank you very much for giving us your time and expertise!