Absent passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) and the Washington Grain Commission (WGC) are urging the Senate and House Agriculture Committees to immediately pass a short-term extension while continuing to work to pass a final bill as quickly as possible “Dragging this process out only adds to the uncertainty farmers are already facing ... Read More »
Conservation tillage helps protect soil by reducing soil disturbance and keeping the soil covered. These actions conserve soil moisture, reduce soil erosion and, when used in conjunction with other practices, can help promote soil health. Healthy soils can improve environmental outcomes and benefit farmers. For example, greater rainfall infiltration and soil water-holding capacity can reduce runoff of sediment and nutrients ... Read More »
From U.S. Wheat Associates U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is excited to hear that the Trump Administration and the Japanese government are taking formal steps toward trade negotiations. The announcement today to “further expand trade and investment between the United States and Japan in a mutually beneficial manner” has the potential to eliminate a dangerous vulnerability for U.S. wheat farmers. Over ... Read More »
From the Capital Press With $6.9 billion in agricultural exports to South Korea hanging in the balance, U.S. producers got reassurance on Monday that a renegotiated trade agreement with the Asian nation would not harm exports. While commodity groups were confident with an agreement in principle reached in March, signing of the revised U.S-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement — ... Read More »
An updated Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) was signed today by President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-In. The KORUS amendments include several revamped customs guidelines, provisions to prevent Korean discrimination against U.S. pharmaceutical exports, and a doubling of the amount of cars — from 25,000 to 50,000 — the U.S. can export to South Korea without being ... Read More »
From the Capital Press The wheels are beginning to turn on trade moves that will benefit U.S. farmers, but some major concerns remain, the head of an agricultural trade organization says. The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing Sept. 13, focused on the Trump administration’s trade agenda. Brian Kuehl, executive director of Farmers For Free Trade, said he is cautiously ... Read More »
From the Capital Press Desperation in farm country due to low commodity prices and retaliatory tariffs by U.S. trade partners was the central theme of last week’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on trade. The committee questioned Ted McKinney, USDA undersecretary for trade, and Gregg Doud, chief agricultural negotiator, on what is being done to resolve trade disputes and forge new ... Read More »
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) appreciate the Senate Agriculture Committee holding a hearing on “Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade” Sept. 13, 2018, focused on the Trump Administration’s trade agenda. The organizations are encouraged that Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow, as well as the members of the administration who testified today, recognize the ... Read More »
The National Wheat Foundation’s Wheat Industry Leaders of Tomorrow (WILOT) program will take place in St. Louis, Mo., from Nov. 11-16, 2018 and seeks applicants to participate. This week-long training program, sponsored by Monsanto, is geared towards current leaders and those who soon could take on leadership positions at the state and national levels for wheat organizations. The program will ... Read More »
From the Capital Press One by one, farm bill conferees from the House and Senate last week laid out the dire situation in farm country and insisted a new farm bill must be in place before the current one expires on Sept. 30. There still remain some differences to overcome on a range of issues from farm policy and conservation ... Read More »
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