From the Capital Press Increasing regional demand, competition for acreage from other crops and higher shipping costs may force the Russian wheat industry to market its crop closer to home in the coming years, a top U.S. Wheat Associates official says. “While we are not done with Russian competition and they are here to stay as a main player in ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Pesticide legislation that Washington lawmakers recently passed only faintly resembles the bill that unnerved farmers in January. Senate Bill 6529 no longer requires growers to notify the state Health Department at least four business days before spraying. Gone is also a mandate to file monthly public reports on chemical use. Read the rest of the story here. Read More »

On March 01, 2018, the U.S. Senate confirmed Gregg Doud to be chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Trade is a top priority for U.S. wheat farmers, and this nomination is welcome news for our growers. “We believe the confirmation of Gregg Doud will bring a needed agriculture voice to USTR’s political leadership,” ... Read More »

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are extremely disappointed in the decision announced today to impose sweeping tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum. We have repeatedly warned that the risks of retaliation and the precedent set by such a policy have serious potential consequences for agriculture. It is dismaying that the voices of ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Today marks the 52nd day of the 2018 Legislative Session. With just more than a week left remaining for the regular session, the legislature is focused on moving the supplemental budget through the final days of the session and passing bills off the floor. This Friday at 5 p.m. is the deadline to pass bills ... Read More »

From NASS The first half of February was warmer than normal while the second half of the month was much colder than normal. Most of the state experienced large drops in temperatures, with some regions reporting temperatures having dropped to single digits during the night. Some regions even reported temperatures dropping down to as far as -14 degrees F. Meanwhile, ... Read More »

From the Capital Press A carbon tax bill in the Washington Senate seeks to shelter farmers from higher fuel costs and calls for investing in rural economies with electric vehicles, public transit and a faster internet to encourage telecommuting. Farm groups and rural Republican legislators, however, have not warmed to the bill. Farm groups say they’re worried about increasing off-farm ... Read More »

TPP Withdrawal Threatens the Stability of the U.S. Agriculture Industry When President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the agricultural industry warned that the consequences could be dire for our country’s farmers. That warning appears to be coming true, as the remaining 11 TPP countries are close to formalizing the deal without the U.S., threatening the ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG lobbyist Today marks the 44th day of the 2018 Legislative Session. Last Wednesday, the legislature reached a milestone—the deadline to pass bills out of the house of origin. Bills that did not meet that deadline are ineligible to move forward this year unless considered necessary to implement the budget. It is important to note, bills are ... Read More »

From Oklahoma Farm Report Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays had the chance to catch up with Chandler Goule, chief executive officer of the National Association of Wheat Growers, during the American Farmers & Ranchers Convention this past weekend where Goule updated members on current issues facing the wheat industry. Hays and Goule touched on several topics during ... Read More »