Weekly Update for
November 30

The NAWG Winter Conference registration is live! Winter Conference will be held in Washington D.C. on January 23-26, 2024. Both the NAWG registration and hotel reservations need to be completed by 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.! 

Earlier this week, NAWG Vice President Keeff Felty provided a NAWG report at the Texas Wheat Producers Board Quarterly Meeting in Amarillo, Texas. NAWG President Brent Cheyne and National Wheat Foundation Project Manager Anne Osborne traveled to Great Falls, Montana, for the Montana Grain Growers Association Annual Convention and Trade Show. President Cheyne participated in Fireside Chat with other leaders of national associations. Additionally, CEO Chandler Goule, and Environmental Policy Advisor Keira Franz visited PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America headquarters in Plano, Texas, to discuss supply chain and sustainability issues.

The National Association of Wheat Growers, along with the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA), met with lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill this week to discuss the American Farmers Feed the World Act. NAWG Secretary Jamie Kress and NAWG Vice President of Policy and Communications Jake Westlin met with over 15 Congressional offices and the UN World Food Program alongside USW and NAMA representatives to advocate for using American-grown commodities food aid.

On November 17, NAWG joined a coalition letter to the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging the USDA to revise the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. Organizations are concerned about two newly introduced ERP provisions: progressive payment factors used to prorate payments; and the method used to incorporate producer-paid insurance premiums. The progressive payment factor does not align the amount of loss incurred with the amount of support a grower receives, resulting in the most affected producers receiving the least payments. The groups are asking for a single, uniform factor to be used instead, as the USDA has done in previous years. The producer-paid insurance premiums will disqualify some producers from receiving any assistance, creating an unfair distribution of payments among growers. NAWG joined 20 national commodity organizations and over 100 state organizations in sending this joint letter.

On November 29, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the opening of applications for the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) and $300 million in funds for the first year of the program. RAPP was established last month using $1.2 million of Commodity Credit Corporation funds, to allow American exporters to enter new markets and expand their current trade share. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “It takes significant investment to open and develop new export markets and this new fund will be dedicated to helping provide that start-up capital so that American exporters can diversify their markets and create new opportunities,” said Secretary Vilsack. “There are many regions of the world – in South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa – where the middle class is growing and the desire for high quality products is increasing. In order to capture those markets from our competitors we need to have a presence, address barriers, and showcase America’s high-quality, agricultural products across the world.” Non-profit U.S. agricultural trade organizations, non-profit State Regional Trade Groups (SRTGs), U.S. agricultural cooperatives, and state agencies that conduct approved market development activities are eligible to apply for RAPP funds before the deadline of February 2, 2024.

On November 27, President Biden and the USDA announced investments in 185 projects to strengthen market opportunities for American producers. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, “Today’s investments in agricultural producers and rural entrepreneurs will create better economic opportunities that bolster food supply chains across the country and increase competition—a key pillar of Bidenomics. This will result in more affordable prices and choices for consumers, as well as more opportunities and revenue for farmers.” The 185 projects are worth approximately $196 million and work towards the overall goal of strengthening American food and agriculture supply chains, lowering food costs, and expanding markets for agricultural producers.

On November 20, the USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Small announced the USDA’s efforts to strengthen its long-lasting partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create jobs and expand access to market opportunities for people in rural America. Secretary Torres Small stated, “At USDA, we are redoubling our commitment to drive economic security and prosperity for people in rural America, so they can find opportunities to succeed right in the places they call home. Strengthening our collaboration with the SBA helps us expand these opportunities for people to build brighter futures for generations to come.” The USDA and SBA committed to increasing investments in underserved communities in order to help the rural economy grow and create well-paying jobs by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The MOU helped these communities by providing trainings, technical assistance and mentorship opportunities for rural small business owners. Additionally, they helped agricultural producers and small businesses identify ways to export their products globally, expanded collaboration between USDA’s Rural Partners Network and SBA’s Resource Partners Network, and cross-promote programs that work to support rural businesses.

Today, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing to consider the nominations of Dr. Basil Ivanhoe Gooden for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development and the Honorable Summer K. Mersinger for Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Commissioner Mersinger is a sponsor of the CFTC’s Energy and Environmental Markets Advisory Committee (EEMAC), which submits reports and recommendations to the Commission while also serving as a forum for discussion on matters involving exchanges, firms, end users, and regulators of energy and environmental markets. Earlier this fall, NAWG joined industry letters to Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member Boozman (R-AR) supporting the timely consideration of both Dr. Gooden and Commissioner Mersinger by the Senate Agriculture Committee and United States Senate.

On November 29, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry applauds the first round of funding in USDA’s new Regional Agriculture Promotion Program (RAPP). On September 6, Stabenow and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) requested the USDA use the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds to support trade for American producers. “I am glad to see that USDA is following through on its commitment to invest in strengthening trade opportunities, increase revenue streams, and help American farmers thrive in a global economy. Farmers have been clear that this is one of their top priorities. Today’s announcement will develop new markets for American agriculture and put American-grown food on tables around the world. I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and farmers on this exciting new program that will effectively double trade promotion investments.”

Wheat 101 is an annual educational event and reception put on by the National Wheat Foundation in Washington D.C. during the week of the NAWG/ US Wheat Winter board meetings. The event is meant to inform Members of Congress and their staff about each component of the wheat value chain and their importance to the economy. Wheat 101 will be taking place on January 25, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Hart 902 room of the Senate Office Building. Please register below to attend.