Federal

Industry cautiously measures market response to GM wheat trait

From the Capital Press Argentina-based Bioceres Crop Solutions will follow U.S. wheat industry biotech commercialization principles as it develops its genetically modified drought tolerance trait, a U.S. Wheat Associates official says. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

New Department of Energy study to weight energy challenges, dam breaching

From the Capital Press A new federal study called the Pacific Northwest Regional Energy Planning Project will consider ways to replace the services of the lower Snake River dams as it weighs the region’s overall energy challenges. Read the rest of the article here. A link to DOE’s announcement is here. Read More »

A new farm bill essential for wheat growers, NAWG president says

From the High Plains Journal A meaningful farm bill—not an extension of the current one—is on the mind of many wheat producers, and they have an ally with Keeff Felty. Felty, a southwest Oklahoma farmer, is president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, and he was a panelist at High Plains Journal’s Sorghum U/Wheat U event in Wichita, Kansas. ... Read More »

House votes to limit foreign ownership of US ag land

From agriculture.com The Republican-controlled House swept aside Democratic objections to pass a just-written bill on Sept. 11 to restrict the purchase of agricultural land by citizens of China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran. “It is the beginning of the effort to keep our greatest adversaries from being able to purchase any American farmland, because the way I see it, a ... Read More »

Over 300 groups call on Congress to pass a robust farm bill

From the National Association of Wheat Growers Citing worsening economic conditions impacting the nation’s farmers, over 300 national and state groups sent a letter to congressional leaders on Sept. 9, 2024, calling on them to pass the farm bill before year’s end. Signatories included groups representing farmers, livestock and specialty crop producers, lenders, and other essential stakeholders in agricultural communities ... Read More »

Pesticide label language update

New information could restrict or limit use around endangered, threatened species habitat From Wheat Life Growers and pesticide applicators should be aware of new language on pesticide labels that could restrict or limit pesticide use in certain areas where endangered or threatened species are found. The language will normally be found in the directions for use section of the label, ... Read More »

USDA Announces Additional RAPP Funding to Expand, Diversify Export Markets

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will make an additional $300 million available through the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program to help grow export markets for American farm and food products around the world, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced Aug. 5. “Access to international markets supports U.S. farmers at home and food security throughout the world,” said Deputy Secretary Torres ... Read More »

NAWG submits letter, public comments on climate smart biofuel feedstocks

From the National Association of Wheat Growers On July 25, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the Request for Information on Climate Smart Biofuel feedstocks. The comments focused on the environmental benefits of winter wheat and the need to recognize crop rotations and winter crops that function as cover ... Read More »

EPA Releases Draft Strategy for Insecticide applications

In late July, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its draft Insecticide Strategy for public comment. The draft strategy identifies protections that EPA will consider when it registers a new insecticide or reevaluates an existing one. In developing this draft strategy, EPA identified protections to address potential impacts for more than 850 species listed by the U.S. Fish & ... Read More »