The 2019 NAWG/USW Winter Conference is scheduled for February 12-15, 2019 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in downtown Washington, D.C. As a result, NAWG will not be sending out its weekly updates. The agenda for the conference can be found here.
NAWG Participants in BNSF Annual Meeting
On February 6, 2018, NAWG VP of Policy and Communications Josh Tonsager and Past President Gordon Stoner attended the 2019 BNSF Ag Rail Business Council annual meeting. During the meeting, NAWG spoke on its priorities for 2019 focusing on our efforts to get the 2018 farm bill implemented, and NAWG’s work to meet with Freshmen members and bring more awareness to the organization.
PRESS RELEASE: NAWG CEO Responds to 2019 State of the Union Address
On February 5, 2019, President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union Address. The theme of the speech was “Choosing Greatness” and focused on immigration, trade, infrastructure, healthcare, and national security. NAWG issued a statement in response to his remarks.
JOINT STATEMENT: Trade Mitigation Funds Will Benefit Export Market Development for U.S. Wheat Growers
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are pleased that U.S. wheat growers now have the opportunity to increase efforts to expand export market access with USDA’s Jan. 31 announcement awarding $200 million to 57 organizations through the Agriculture Trade Promotion Program (ATP). USW was awarded $8.25 million, which will be distributed over the next three years. Administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the ATP is one of three USDA programs within the Trump Administration’s trade mitigation package—created to ease the effects of recent trade retaliation against U.S. farmers and exporters. The funds will support export market development programs led by U.S. trade associations, cooperatives and other industry-affiliated organizations.
Read our joint statement in its entirety here.
NAWG Comments on Wetlands Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued an interim rule for the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Compliance provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. This rulemaking clarifies how USDA delineates, determines, and certifies wetlands located on subject land in a manner sufficient for making determinations of ineligibility for certain USDA program benefits. The deadline to comment on the rule was Tuesday, February 5, 2019. NAWG submitted comments which can be found here.
2019 AGRI Crop Research Grant Award
On Tuesday, February 5th, NAWG was notified that the Minnesota Department of Agriculture approved a 2019 AGRI Crop Research Grant award to the Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council. The grant will fund the project, “Wheat Variety and Sourdough Product Analysis for Anti-Nutrient Levels Related to Digestibility”. Congratulations to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute! We look forward to reading the results of the project upon completion.
EPA and Army Announce Public Hearing on Proposed New “Water of the United States” Definition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have scheduled a public meeting Feb. 27-28 in Kansas City, Mo., on the administration’s proposed “waters of the U.S.” rule, which would narrow the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. An informational webcast is set for February 14th.
NWF Officially Opens 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest
The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) has officially announced that it is accepting grower enrollment for the 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest! The deadline for Winter Wheat entries is May 15th with an early registration deadline of April 1st. The Spring wheat entry deadline is August 1st, with an early registration deadline of June 15th. To register for the contest, visit here.
The 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest sponsors include AgriMaxx, Ardent Mills, BASF, Corteva Agriscience, Indigo Ag, Grain Craft, John Deere, LimaGrain Cereals, Syngenta, and WestBred.
NAWG’s Policy Committees Meet at the 2019 Commodity Classic!
There is still time to register for the 2019 Commodity Classic, which is scheduled for February 28th – March 2nd in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center. NAWG has been assigned to the Rosen Centre hotel (9840 International Drive, Orlando, Florida 32819) which is located right next to the Convention Center.
Visit here to register for Classic’s trade show.
Source: National Association of Wheat Growers