Joint Statement from USW and NAWG Wheat Industry Welcomes U.S.-Japan Trade Deal
On August 25, 2019, President Trump announced a trade agreement in principle between the United States and Japan that will keep exports of U.S. wheat flowing to a very large and crucial market for U.S. farmers. In a joint release, NAWG and U.S Wheat Associates welcomed the announcement.
Soil Health Partnership Wheat Field Day
The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) has finalized with the Soil Health Partnership its second wheat field day. The field day is scheduled for September 3rd in Beloit, KS on Mike Jordan’s farm. NAWG’s Environmental Policy Advisor and SHP Steering Committee Member Keira Franz along with Foundation Chairman Wayne Hurst will be attending the field day. A complete list of field day events can be found here: https://www.soilhealthpartnership.org/field-days-events/.
2019 NAWG/USW Fall Conference
NAWG has distributed its agenda for the 2019 Fall Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The conference is set to take place from November 2-6, 2019 at the Hilton Buffalo Thunder Santa Fe. It will kick off with two full days of WOLF Programming (November 2&3) and conclude by 11:00am on Wednesday, November 6th. Registration will be open in early September. For more details and the agenda, visit NAWG’s site here.
USDA Details Trade Damage Estimate Calculations
On August 23, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist published a detailed accounting of how estimated damage from trade disruptions was calculated for its support package for farmers announced on July 25, 2019. It notes that the methodology used to estimate damages is often employed in WTO arbitrations. To estimate trade damages USDA used a longer time-series by surveying trends in U.S. bilateral trade over a 10 year period as they viewed this to be more representative and account for other contributing variables, like other longstanding trade barriers used by China. NAWG sent an overview of USDA’s report to the states. For additional detail, read USDA’s release here.
NAWG Joins US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA)
As a NEW funding organization of US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, NAWG is excited to announce the launch of USFRA’s new film, “30 Harvests.” The film features two farmers, Jay Hill and Meagan Kaiser, who are excited about the positive impact agriculture can have on the environment. Farmers are the change agents that will help feed an unprecedented population while solving for climate change. We encourage you to watch the short film and share your sustainability story with your neighbors, community, or on your social media platforms. Contact us Caitlin Eannello (ceannello@wheatworld.org) with questions or to get involved!
Farmers for Free Trade Update
Earlier this summer, Farmers For Free Trade (FFT) launched a sign-on letter to Congress from farmers, ranchers, and other individuals in ag in support of the USMCA. So far, this effort has generated 1,400 signatures. Please share this letter with your networks as appropriate to ensure maximum participation from farmers and ranchers. Please note that this letter is focused on individual producers and ag business owners and employees.
Additionally, on September 12, FFT will be holding a DC fly-in focused on USMCA and related trade issues. After the fly-in, Farmers for Free Trade will be hosting its final Motorcade for Trade roundtable on September 13th from 10:00am to 11:00am in Washington, D.C. at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building. If interested or looking for more details, email Caitlin Eannello, NAWG’s Director of Communications at ceannello@wheatworld.org.
Release of 2018 ISAAA Report on Adoption of GMO Crops
“A total of 70 countries adopted biotech crops through cultivation and importation in 2018, the 23rd year of continuous biotech crop adoption,” according to the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2018 (ISAAA Brief 54) released by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). “Twenty-six countries (21 developing and 5 industrialized countries) planted 191.7 million hectares of biotech crops, which added 1.9 million hectares to the record of plantings in 2017. The continuous adoption of biotech crops by farmers worldwide indicate that biotech crops continue to help meet global challenges of hunger, malnutrition, and climate change.” Click here to read the entire press release, download the infographic, and learn more about the full report.
Source: National Association of Wheat Growers