Weekly Update for
October 29

This week, NAWG President Jamie Kress was featured in Western Ag Network discussing the state of the agricultural economy and farmers’ response to recently announced federal assistance. Kress acknowledged that while financial assistance is appreciated, record levels of government support reflect the significant economic challenges facing farmers and the ongoing difficulty of maintaining profitability without federal assistance. Kress also underscored the importance of passing a new Farm Bill, emphasizing that Congress still has time to make meaningful progress before the end of 2026.

This week, Sam Kieffer, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), attended CME Group’s Fall 2026 Agricultural Markets Advisory Council (AMAC) meeting in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting brought together industry leaders to discuss key issues impacting agricultural markets. Featured speakers included Dan Glickman, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and AMAC Co-Chair, and Denis McDonough, CEO of Feeding America.

On October 26, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), alongside Reps. Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and Kim Schrier (WA-08), co-chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition’s (SEEC) Climate and Agriculture Task Force, led 45 House Democrats in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revise a new rule governing the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Implemented on October 16, the rule requires projects to be fully installed and operational for at least 12 months before applicants can qualify for the program. In their letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, the members raised concerns that the new eligibility requirement could limit farmers’ and rural small businesses’ access to financial assistance for energy-related projects. They cited rising energy bills and agricultural input costs, along with trade policy uncertainty, as ongoing financial pressures on rural communities. The letter urged USDA to reconsider the requirement to ensure farmers and small rural businesses can continue to access REAP support for managing energy costs.

On October 26, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced more than $325 million in funding for 42 projects through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The investments are intended to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners strengthen their operations while conserving natural resources nationwide. The RCPP combines federal funding with private-sector and local partnerships to support conservation efforts on agricultural and forest lands. According to USDA, recent program changes are intended to reduce administrative requirements and provide partners with greater flexibility in implementing conservation projects.

In this week’s Agri-Pulse Open Mic, Eric Dell, President and CEO of the American Bakers Association, discussed the economic challenges facing the baking industry. Dell highlighted the impact of tariffs, high fuel costs, and uncertainty around government regulations, and noted that the industry is responding to changing consumer preferences for whole, nutrient-rich foods. Additionally, he discussed the industry’s efforts to preserve consumer choice while navigating an increasingly complex patchwork of state regulations.

The results have been tabulated for the 2026 National Wheat Yield Contest and our Official Publication, Progressive Farmer, will be publishing them on Monday, November 2 in the afternoon. At the National Wheat Foundation fall board meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico the results will be revealed at approximately 3 pm local time. Please join us for the board meeting and the big reveal on Monday, November 2nd if you are in New Mexico for the wheat meetings.