Weekly Update for
October 2

This week, The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) announced that Sam Kieffer has been selected to serve as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer starting November 1, bringing more than 20 years of experience in agricultural leadership and farm policy to the role. “I’m honored to join NAWG at such a pivotal time for wheat growers across the country,” said Sam Kieffer. “Having grown up on a farm, it has been a privilege to dedicate my career to serving farmers and I’m proud to champion their cause in this new role. I look forward to working alongside NAWG’s dedicated members, board and staff to tackle challenges and ensure a bright future for farm families and rural America.” Read the full press release below.

This week, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) joined 20 leading agricultural organizations in urging Congressional leadership and the White House to work together—across chambers and party lines—to end the ongoing government shutdown. In a joint letter, the coalition emphasized the severe consequences the shutdown poses to the nation’s agricultural producers. It noted that a lapse in government funding increases uncertainty, disrupts critical services, delays essential payments, and places an added burden on rural communities already under significant stress.

Registration and hotel booking are now open for the 2025 Joint NAWG/NWF/USW Fall Board Meeting, taking place Tuesday, November 4 through Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Austin, Texas at The Westin Austin at The Domain. We encourage all attendees to arrive by late morning on Tuesday, November 4. The Board of Directors meeting will conclude at noon on Thursday, November 6, so please plan your return travel accordingly. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is approximately 26 minutes from the hotel. The deadline to register and reserve your hotel room is October 13. Register and book your accommodations below.

On October 1, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) released the following statement regarding the shut down the federal government. “Family farmers across the country are already facing increased uncertainty and pressure thanks to the president’s tariffs. Shutting down the government doesn’t improve their situation; it makes it worse. We got here because the Republican Party, which controls the House, Senate and the White House, has been unwilling to work with Democrats to agree on a bipartisan bill that ensures access to health care for millions of rural Americans. We are nearly a year into their majority and all we’ve got to show for it are trade wars, increased cost of living, worsening health care, higher unemployment and more hunger. Republican politicians need to start standing up to this administration’s terrible policies.” 

On October 1, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Gleen “GT’ Thompson (PA-15) released the following statement after the shutdown of the federal government: “voting to shut down the government, Democrats put critical USDA services in jeopardy. These political games harm rural America through disruptions to farm payments, disaster relief, food assistance, and other critical services. Performative photo ops at state fairs and lip service to the producers who feed, fuel, and clothe our country won’t hide the truth—Democrats forcing a government shutdown only inflicts more pain on our agricultural economy."

On September 30, senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, led 12 of their colleagues in calling on President Trump to immediately halt his plan to send a $20 billion bailout to Argentina, which recently suspended soybean export taxes, undercutting American farmers in the international market. The following statement is part of the letter addressed to the president. “We write with deep concern regarding your plan to send a $20 billion bailout, funded by American taxpayers, to Argentina just days after the country took steps to undermine American farmers. Last week, Argentina announced its plan to suspend export taxes on soybeans, effectively sidelining American soybean farmers in the international market. Despite Argentina’s decision, you are still reportedly moving forward with the bailout for the country. American soybean farmers – who are already reeling from your sweeping tariffs – deserve better.”

On September 26, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), Vice Ranking Member Shontel Brown (OH-11), Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Ranking Member Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) were joined by all Agriculture Committee Democrats in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling for answers over the cancellation of the Household Food Security Reports. “The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (Public Law 119-21) made the largest cut in history to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which more than 42 million Americans depend on to put food on their tables each month…In the wake of its passage, it will be more important than ever to understand how many Americans are living with food insecurity,” wrote the members. “The administration is choosing to eliminate the report instead of facing the consequences of its actions.” Hunger reports have provided critical data on American food insecurity for decades.

On September 25, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump stated he would use some of the money generated from tariffs to support America’s hardworking producers: “Years of Biden’s broken promises, from failing to enforce the Phase 1 agreement to letting inflation run wild while foreign governments use our farmers as pawns, have devastated American agriculture. President Trump is right to support them and step in to provide a bridge to the enhanced farm safety net policies in H.R. 1, which will kick in next year. I’m committed to working with the Trump Administration to support farmers and rural America during critical economic times."

On September 25, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins spoke on the current state of the farm economy in the United States and addressed the ways President Trump is supporting American agriculture. “President Trump has made it clear: America’s farmers and ranchers will never be left behind,” Rollins stated. Due to high costs on essential farm production inputs, such as fertilizer and fuel, the USDA and Department of Justice signed a Memorandum of Understanding that represents a joint commitment by both agencies to protect American farmers and ranchers from the burdens imposed by high input costs while ensuring competitive supply chains, lower consumer prices, and the resilience of U.S. agriculture and the supply chain. To combat rising labor costs, the USDA is working daily with the Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security to build out regulatory changes that can make the H-2A program more affordable and accessible for American agriculture.

Thanks to our partners WestBred, Bayer, BASF, Dyna-Gro Seeds and Nutrien the Contest can share more about how the winning growers are doing what they do and hopefully, encourage other wheat growers to try the contest and see how they can boost their yield, quality and profitability in their wheat.  Find the latest podcast at Field Posts Podcasts.

Everyone is welcome to attend the National Wheat Foundation’s Fall Board meeting on November 4th, at 1-4 pm in Austin, Texas.  We will announce the National Wheat Yield Contest Winners at this meeting at approximately 3 pm central time. Register on the NAWG website if you plan to attend the meeting.