Federal

In October, the Economic Research Service (ERS) released its annual update of the State Export Data product, which estimates a state’s agricultural export value for selected commodities, and its total export value. Tracking agricultural export products back to their original source of production can be complicated, since U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not collect data on agricultural exports by ... Read More »

A recently introduced bill in the U.S. Senate is designed to improve USDA’s Agricultural Risk Coverage-County (ARC-CO) program in the farm bill, and it is drawing strong support from farm organizations, including the American Farm Bureau. The legislation, introduced in late October by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, is designed to strengthen the farm safety ... Read More »

From the Capital Press National grain industry leaders are urging President Donald Trump not to pull out of a trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. Lobbyists are “increasingly fearful” that Trump will decide to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement, said Jerry Hagstrom, of the Hagstrom Report newsletter, as moderator of a panel discussion at the Tri-State Grain ... Read More »

The Washington wheat industry urges its Congressional delegation to communicate to the highest levels of government that renegotiation of existing trade agreements, “do no harm” to agricultural exports. The Washington Grain Commission (WGC) and the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) called trade the “lifeblood” of Eastern Washington farmers and warned of fallout if the international commerce is jeopardized. Mike ... Read More »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »