Federal

Wheat growers urge USDA consultation in review of glyphosate labeling case

From the National Association of Wheat Growers As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide whether to review a case that threatens federal preemption in the regulation of crop protection technologies, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) reiterates the need for the administration to consult with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the policy changes and the far-reaching ... Read More »

Ag groups call for withdrawal of glyphosate court brief

In a letter to President Biden, 54 agricultural groups expressed grave concern with a recent amicus brief submitted by the U.S. Solicitor General to the Supreme Court advising the court against taking up a case regarding pesticide labels. The groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Association of Wheat ... Read More »

USDA to provide $6 billion to farmers for disaster aid

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP). “The announcement from USDA is a welcome relief to wheat growers across the country ... Read More »

USDA seeks feedback from producers about 2022 crops, stocks, inventories, values

During the next several weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major midyear surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact more than 4000 producers across theNorthwest to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2022. “The June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey are two ... Read More »

Labor talks begin amid port problems; experts cautiously optimistic

From the Capital Press Contract negotiations between the longshoremen’s union and container terminal owners along the West Coast have begun amid port congestion problems that are already crippling farm exports. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

Senate Agriculture Committee Holds Farm Bill Field Hearing

National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) past president and Cass City, Mich., wheat farmer Dave Milligan attended the Senate Agriculture Committee’s first field hearing on Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunity: 2023 Farm Bill Perspectives from Michigan. The hearing is the first Senate Agriculture Committee review of the 2018 Farm Bill and will focus on farm programs, conservation, rural development, research, ... Read More »

Keeping the tools sharp

RMA reviewing crop insurances wheat program By Trista Crossley Editor, Wheat Life Farmers know that regular maintenance is the key to keeping their equipment running smoothly, but sometimes even the tools in the toolbox need a little maintenance of their own.  Last October, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) began reviewing the crop insurance program for wheat to determine if improvements ... Read More »

Rail letter details ag issues

A letter authored by the National Grain and Feed Association has been sent to the Surface Transportation Board, White House and Congress detailing freight issues agricultural shippers and receivers have been having with several Class I railroads. The letter is signed by the organization’s Agricultural Transportation Working Group (ATWG). “The current inability of several Class I carriers to provide reliable ... Read More »

National wheat organization signs letter supporting Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

The National Association of Wheat Growers has signed a letter supporting full funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). This program works to establish and fund a service that provides the farming and ranching community with stress assistance programs. In 2021 most farmers, ranchers, and rural adults, reported that they had been experiencing more stress and mental ... Read More »

White House study of lower Snake River dams raises farmers’ questions

From the Capital Press The White House Council on Environmental Quality says in a post on its website that it is studying the fate of four lower Snake River dams — and the rest of the Columbia Basin. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »