USDA Announces Details of Support Package for Farmers – NAWG Responds
On July 25, 2019, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced further details of the $16 billion package aimed at supporting farmers who are being harmed by the current U.S.-China trade war. “Payments will be made by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) under the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Charter Act to producers…MFP assistance for those non-specialty crops is based on a single county payment rate multiplied by a farm’s total plantings of MFP-eligible crops in aggregate in 2019. Those per-acre payments are not dependent on which of those crops are planted in 2019.” Read NAWG’s release in response to USDA’s announcement: http://bit.ly/2yfhv6Q.
NAWG Grower to Testify at Senate Ag Hearing Next Wednesday
On Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 9:30am, the Senate Committee on Agriculture will he holding a hearing titled “Perspectives on Reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act”. Kansas farmer and NAWG member Brian Linin will be testifying on behalf of the Association. Following the hearing, NAWG will issue a release linking to a copy of Linin’s testimony. For more details on the hearing, visit the Committee site here.
Soil Health Partnership First Wheat Field Day – July 30
On July 30, 2019, the Soil Health Partnership (SHP) will host its first wheat focused field day in Red Lake Falls, MN from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Trinity Creek Ranch Wheat Field. NAWG’s Environmental Policy Advisor and SHP Board Member Keira Franz as well as Foundation Board Member Scott Swenson will be attending the field day. For more details and to register, visit here: https://www.soilhealthpartnership.org/field-days-events/.
NAWG Participates in 2019 Maryland Commodity Classic – July 25th
On Thursday, July 25, 2019, the Maryland Grain Producers Association (MGPA), Maryland Soybean Board, Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board, and Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association held its annual 2019 Maryland Commodity Classic NAWG’s Craig Berning and U.S. Wheat Associates’ Elizabeth Westendorf attended the event and hosted an exhibit. Follow NAWG, USW, and NAWG Member MGPA on Twitter for highlights from the 2019 MD Commodity Classic.
Oregon Wheat Magazine: “Lessons from NAWG and North Dakota” Article
As part of its August 2019 magazine, Oregon Wheat published a piece which discussed some lessons learned around the departure of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association (NDGGA) from the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG). Authored by Oregon Wheat Growers League CEO Blake Rowe, the article discusses the importance of belonging to a national organization and provides some “valuable reminders for us about how to keep our national organizations running smoothly”. The article can be accessed here.
USMCA Coalition Support Letter to Congress
On Tuesday, July 23rd, the USMCA Coalition, of which NAWG is a member, sent a letter to Congress urging their support for USMCA. More than 600 organizations and companies signed on to the letter which stressed how USMCA is critical to the economic future of the U.S.
Senate Finance to Hold Hearing on USMCA
On Tuesday, July 30, 2019, the Senate Committee on Finance will hold a hearing on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement featuring a panel of private-sector witnesses. Witnesses will include Michael Wessel, the staff chair of the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy. For more information, visit https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/the-united-states-mexico-canada-agreement.
USDA Awards Agricultural Trade Promotion Funding
Through the Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $100 million to 48 organizations to help United States farmers and ranchers find access to new export markets. This ATP funding is used to help U.S. farmers and ranchers generate access to new export markets. In 2018, these 48 recipients applied for and received $200 million in ATP funds utilized to support farmers impacted by unjustified retaliation and trade disruption.
Agri-Pulse: ERS Finds Crop Insurance Will Cost More Because Of Climate Change
In a report released on Monday, July 22, 2019, the Economic Research Service (ERS) concluded that crop insurance for corn, soybeans and wheat will cost more because of the expected effects of climate change on yields. ERS stated that all of the scenarios it considered “suggest that climate change would lower domestic production of corn, soybeans, and wheat” compared to a future scenario with climate identical to that of the past three decades. Additionally, the study found that “lower yields will translate to higher prices, which implies higher premiums and, consequently, higher subsidies.”
FFT: Farmers & Ranchers Sign-On Letter RE USMCA
Farmers For Free Trade (FFT) has launched a sign-on letter to Congress from farmers, ranchers, and other individuals in ag business owners and employees in support of the USMCA. The letter will be held open at least through the month of July. Visit their site to sign on to the letter.
NWF Accepting Entries for 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest
The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) is currently accepting grower enrollment for the 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest! The Contest is divided into two primary competition categories: winter wheat and spring wheat, and two subcategories: dryland and irrigated. The Foundation is currently accepting entries for Spring Wheat. The Spring wheat entry deadline is August 1st with an early registration deadline of June 15th.
Source: National Association of Wheat Growers