U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) thank Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Sen. Pete Rickets (R-Neb.) for the introduction of the American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023 in the U.S. Senate. The bipartisan legislation would restore the original intent of the Food for Peace ... Read More »
Federal
Beginning farmers, ranchers needed for USDA advisory committee
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a call for nominations to the Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, which advises the Secretary of Agriculture to enhance USDA’s goals for new farming and ranching operations. Members of the public are invited to submit nominations for themselves or other qualified experts by Oct. 10, 2023. Nomination packages should include ... Read More »
NAWG ex-president: ‘Best-case scenario’ is new farm bill by end of 2023
From the Capital Press The best-case scenario is that markup of a new farm bill could come by the end of October, said Washington wheat farmer Nicole Berg, past president of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Or, she said, work on the keystone agricultural legislation could spill into next year. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »
Tight global wheat story is stuck on repeat, supporting market bears
From Reuters Chicago wheat futures this week hit their lowest levels in almost three years, yet relative to demand, exportable global wheat supplies are expected to approach historic minimums by mid-2024. In theory, that news should limit further slippage in world wheat prices, but there is one problem: this is a recurring story that has yet to become reality. Read ... Read More »
Deadline reminder for ARC/PLC changes
The Farm Service Agency is reminding producers and landlords that all changes to farming operations for FY 2023 that result in succession of interest in ARC/PLC contracts must be made by Sept. 29, 2023. Changes that can result in succession of interest contracts include things such as a sale of land, changes to an operator or producer on the contract, ... Read More »
Salmon and Farmers Are on the Same Side
In Spokesman Review Op-Ed, WAWG Executive Director Michelle Hennings shared, “In the hottest year ever recorded, another wheat harvest is wrapping up. Extreme weather means it’s more important than ever to preserve the critical infrastructure we depend on to deliver goods to market. The lower Snake River dams provide affordable, clean, and reliable energy for our farms and communities, but ... Read More »
A world without glyphosate
New study details the potential impacts of banning glyphosate A recent study concludes that the loss of glyphosate as a viable tool for agriculture would result in doubled input costs for farmers, increased soil erosion, increased carbon emissions, and increased costs for consumers. “We assess that if glyphosate were no longer available, markets would adapt through substitution and adjusted practices, ... Read More »
Ag industry brings taste of Washington to Washington, D.C.
Last month, Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) leaders and staff joined more than a dozen Washington agricultural stakeholders on a trip to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the state’s incredible ag industry at the 4th annual Taste of Washington event. The group included representatives from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State University, the Washington Grain Commission, the Washington ... Read More »
Coalition urges Congress to pass farm bill this year
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) has joined 19 other advocates to launch the “Farm Bill for America’s Families: Sustaining our Future” campaign to urge Congress to pass the 2023 Farm Bill this year. The campaign seeks to engage consumers, leaders, and lawmakers on the importance of the farm bill and highlights five core objectives: food security, job creation, ... Read More »
Russia’s nixing of Ukraine grain deal deepens worries about global food supply
From npr.org On July 17 the Russian government announced that it was pulling out of a deal to facilitate the export of millions of tons of grain from Ukrainian ports. The arrangement had been in place since July 2022. The Kremlin’s move immediately sparked concern, particularly in food insecure countries. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »