Weekly Update for
October 30

In this September–October episode, we sit down with NAWG Treasurer Nathan Keane to talk about our annual Fall Fly-In in Washington, D.C. Then, Interim CEO Eric Steiner gives us the latest on the government shutdown and what it means for wheat growers across the country. Listen below!

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) joined fellow members of the U.S. Food and Agriculture Industry Associations in signing a letter of support for a full 16-year renewal of the Agreement Between the United Staties of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA). In the joint letter sent Thursday, NAWG and its partners emphasized the importance of maintaining trade cooperations that directly improve efficiencies within the agricultural sector. NAWG advocates for continued trade integration between all three countries which allows U.S. agricultural exports to soar, saves costs to American farmers, improves regional food security, and strengthens global competitiveness. Read the letter below.

On October 29, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced the committee will hold a hearing to consider the nominations of Glen Smith to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development on November 5, at 3 PM EST.

On October 29, 2025, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry held a nomination hearing to consider three candidates for senior roles at the United States Department of Agriculture: Dr. Mindy Brashears (Under Secretary for Food Safety), Ms. Stella Yvette Herrell (Assistant Secretary for Congressional and External Relations), and Mr. John Walk (Inspector General). Chair John Boozman emphasized modernization of food safety, improved USDA communication with Congress and stakeholders, and stronger oversight of programs and taxpayer funds. During the hearing, senators asked targeted questions such as how the nominee for food safety would modernize inspection systems, how the external relations nominee would ensure timely and transparent outreach to rural communities, and how the Inspector General nominee would bolster safeguards against fraud and misuse of USDA programs.

On October 28, the House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) released a statement regarding the lawsuit filed by a multistate coalition of 26 attorneys general to hold the Trump administration accountable for withholding food assistance from 42 million Americans. “I applaud their courage and principled stance against a lawless administration that is unilaterally depriving eligible American seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and children of food assistance,” stated Craig. “President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins must disburse the congressionally appropriated funds and use all available legal authority to ensure the most vulnerable members of our communities can keep food on their tables come November.”

On October 27, 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 19 of their colleagues in calling on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to reconsider further aid to Argentina and focus instead on restoring and expanding export markets for U.S. farmers. “The recent announcement to double this aid with investments from banks and sovereign wealth funds in addition to the U.S. taxpayer commitment threatens to continue to close markets for American farmers, who are already facing increased competition from Argentine and Brazilian farmers,” the Senators wrote. “At the same time the Administration is weighing financial assistance for farmers impacted by the Administration’s self-inflicted trade war, it is unacceptable to continue taking actions that continue to undermine restoring long-term market access for our farmers.”

On October 25, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released a statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcing it will withhold food assistance by refusing to use contingency funding to cover the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) starting November 1. “The Administration is choosing not to feed Americans in need—choosing to inflict pain on families—despite knowing that it has the authority to do so. That is unacceptable. Hunger isn’t a bargaining chip,” stated the lawmakers.

On October 24, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement concerning the Trump administrations illegal move to withhold available Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November. “People across the country are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of groceries skyrockets. Secretary Rollins and Director Vought’s answer is to illegally freeze all funding for SNAP,” stated the lawmakers. “This is perhaps the most cruel and unlawful offense the Trump administration has perpetrated yet – freezing funding already enacted into law to feed hungry Americans while he shovels tens of billions of dollars out the door to Argentina and into his ballroom. The president, his agriculture secretary, and his budget director need to stop playing politics with Americans struggling to afford food and release the SNAP funds that Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate overwhelmingly voted to provide.”

The U.S Wheat Associates website is packed full of information about wheat, market information, the classes of wheat, wheat crop quality and what testing is used to determine wheat quality, and much, much more. One of our favorite parts of the U.S. Wheat website is the videos. They are full of beautiful scenery of wheat fields, farmers, harvesting and growing. Our thanks to U.S. Wheat Associates for partnering with the National Wheat Yield Contest on the quality component of the contest. Please visit their great website at www.uswheat.org.  Enjoy the views!

Everyone is invited to attend the National Wheat Foundation’s Fall meeting at The Westin at the Domain in Austin, Texas. The meeting is scheduled from 1:00-3:30 pm central standard time on Tuesday, November 4th. Come and learn more about the Foundation’s projects, purpose, and mission at the Fall meeting.