Update from Speaker Pelosi Staff re USMCA
On November 20, 2019, Speaker Pelosi’s trade staff reached out to NAWG directly and provided us with an update on the standing of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Staff informed NAWG that technical discussions were still taking place but they are close to coming to a final Agreement.
NAWG Signs On To Letter re U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement
On November 19, 2019, NAWG joined 30 ag groups on a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee supporting phase-one of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. In the letter, the groups commented that a “under phase-one of the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, over 90 percent of U.S. food and agricultural imports into Japan will either be duty free or receive preferential tariff access once the Agreement is implemented, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The tariff treatment for the food and agriculture products covered in this phase-one agreement will match most of the tariffs that Japan provides preferentially to countries in the CP-TPP.”
NWF Announces State Winners for 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest
On November 21, 2019, the National Wheat Foundation announced the state winners for its 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest. The Contest had 115 grower winners from 24 states. In its fifth year, the contest recognizes winners in two primary competition categories: winter wheat and spring wheat, and two subcategories: dryland and irrigated.
A special thank you to the 2019 National Yield Contest Sponsors: AgriMaxx, Ardent Mills, BASF, Corteva Agriscience, Croplan/Winfield, Indigo Ag, Grain Craft, John Deere, LCS, Mennel Milling, Miller Milling, Syngenta, and WestBred.
“Growers can view a complete listing of winners, both State and National, on the Contest Website under 2019 National Wheat Yield Contest Results.”
Tariffs Hurt the Heartland Roundtable – Wednesday, December 4, 2019
On Wednesday, December 4, 2019, Tariffs Hurt the Heartland will be holding a roundtable from 12:00-1:00 pm in Detroit, Michigan. This event is part of a bipartisan, nationwide, grassroots effort led by Americans for Free Trade and Farmers for Free Trade called “Tariffs Hurt the Heartland.” This campaign is supported by nearly 150 of the country’s largest trade organizations, representing thousands of businesses as well as agriculture producers, manufacturers, workers and consumers across the country. Our effort has been to elevate the stores of local economic impact as well as effect on supply chains, customers and local jobs. We’ve hosted roundtables at over 25 locations across the country in factory warehouses, distilleries, pecan groves and ports. Please check out some of our events through our website at www.tariffshurt.com.
NWF Opens Scholarship Opportunity for Ag Students – Deadline Extended!
The National Wheat Foundation is officially accepting applications for the Jerry Minore Scholarship. The scholarship opportunity is made available to both high school and college students pursuing a career in agriculture for the 2020-2021 academic year, the deadline for the application is December 31, 2019. This year the Foundation will be issuing two scholarships for $2,500 each. For more details on the scholarships and testimonials from previous winners, check out our latest blog here.
New USFRA Podcast
The Farm, Food, Facts podcast next week (November 27) will feature Feeding America and their commitment to providing food to families in need. USFRA will also be promoting the podcast on our social media channels. You can find the podcast on Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Buzzsprout, or ask Amazon’s Alexa to play the Farm, Food, Facts podcast.
Source: National Association of Wheat Growers