Federal

U.S. wheat flows freely to Mexico under NAFTA

By Steve Mercer Vice President of Communications, U.S. Wheat Associates Before the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) entered into force on Jan. 1, 1994, state intervention and import tariffs held U.S. wheat exports from the Mexican market. NAFTA ended both, and the newly opened market helped the Mexican flour milling and wheat foods industries to flourish, as did U.S. ... Read More »

NAWG president defends NAFTA trade deal at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

From NAWG Today, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) president, Gordon Stoner, along with several U.S. agricultural stakeholders and business community representatives, participated in a NAFTA panel titled “The Future of NAFTA: The Stakes for American Agriculture and Business.” The panel took place at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., and was moderated by Neil Herrington, the ... Read More »

NAWG president resigns to pursue opportunity in home state

From the NAWG The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) has announced the resignation of former NAWG president and Sharon Springs, Kans. farmer, David Schemm. Schemm has resigned his position to pursue other professional opportunities in his home state of Kansas. “During his time as president of NAWG, David helped move the wheat industry forward, grew its presence on Capitol Hill and improved ... Read More »

Senate FY18 budget resolution passes house; next steps tax reform

From the National Association of Wheat Growers On Oct. 26, the House took final action on the FY2018 Budget Resolution. With this action, National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) CEO Chandler Goule made the following statements about the importance of a strong farm bill and effective tax reform: “While NAWG appreciates that no reconciliation instructions were included for agriculture, the ... Read More »

NAWG among farm groups supporting changes to ARC-County program

From the American Farm Bureau Federation The American Farm Bureau Federation and seven other major farm groups today hailed introduction of bipartisan legislation to improve the Agriculture Risk Coverage program, an important component of the federal agricultural safety net for farmers. Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Joni Ernst are sponsors. Among other things, the bill would prioritize use of data collected ... Read More »

Wheat Grower Organizations Dispute Corker’s Food Aid Position

In remarks to the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) on Oct. 19, 2017, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) stated that he has talked to farmers and that farmers “do not care” about U.S. in-kind food aid. “I don’t know what farmers Sen. Corker is talking to because I can assure you wheat farmers care a lot about in-kind food aid,” said Dighton, ... Read More »

Farm Bill, Trade hot topics at 2017 fall wheat industry conference

Editor’s note: The leadership and staff of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers has been participating in the National Association of Wheat Growers’ fall conference this week, sharing Washington wheat farmer priorities and helping craft the wheat industry’s farm bill message to lawmakers. The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) held its annual fall conference this week ... Read More »

As Trump takes aim at NAFTA, farmers are hopeful—and nervous

From NPR President Trump made his view of the North American Free Trade Agreement very clear during the presidential election. He called NAFTA “the worst trade deal in … the history of this country.” And Trump blamed NAFTA for the loss of millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs. His administration is in the midst of renegotiating the free trade deal with ... Read More »

NAFTA Day on Capitol Hill

From NAWG On Capitol Hill yesterday, there were signs of the increased stakes in the NAFTA talks: business and agricultural groups mounted a lobbying push targeting more than 250 House members, and the Ways and Means chairman seemed to say businesses have reason to worry, reported Politico. At the White House, in the most visible and symbolic moment of the day, ... Read More »

Wheat group defends crop insurance

From the Capital Press Wheat industry leaders are emphasizing the importance of crop insurance for farmers in the wake of a summit sponsored by organizations that want to eliminate it. The R Street Institute, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Heritage Foundation and other like-minded groups held a summit in Washington, D.C., last week and proposed changes to the farm bill that ... Read More »