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Congress to Come Back for Lame Duck, Agenda Unclear
(11-14-08) -- Members of Congress will reportedly come back to Washington next week for a lame duck session, though what’s on the agenda remains unclear.
World Leaders Agree on Roadmap to Tackle Ug99
(11-14-08) -- Representatives from agricultural organizations from around the world met in India late last week to discuss the threat of Ug99, a virulent stem rust, and how to effectively deal with it through surveillance and breeding.
Registration, Housing Open for Commodity Classic 2009
(11-14-08) -- Housing reservations and registrations are now being accepted for Commodity Classic 2009, scheduled for Feb. 26-28 in Grapevine, Texas.
Word on Wheat: What Does the Doha Round Mean to You?
(11-14-08) -- As a wheat grower, I was especially interested in a presentation on the ongoing Doha Round negotiations given at the NAWG and U.S. Wheat meetings a few weeks ago in Dallas.
Elections Deliver White House, Congress to Democrats
(11-07-08) -- Speculation about what effects the Obama Administration will have on agricultural policy followed the results of long-awaited elections Tuesday that delivered both chambers of Congress and the White House to Democrats.
Wheat Organizations Hold Fall Business Meetings in Dallas
(11-07-08) -- Grower-leaders from NAWG and U.S. Wheat Associates met in Dallas last weekend to review policy priorities for the industry.
Major Rail Study Released, Public Comments Requested
(11-07-08) -- A rail competition study commissioned by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and conducted by Christensen Associates was released this week.
Days Remain Until Long-Awaited Presidential Election
(10-31-08) -- After years of campaigning, just days remain until Americans go to the polls to select new Congressional representatives and a new president.
NAWG, Iogen Comment on Biomass Incentive Program
(10-31-08) -- NAWG and Iogen submitted comments this week on the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) included in the 2008 Farm Bill.
Word on Wheat: Falling Prices and Rising Anxiety on Farms
(10-31-08) -- Say good bye to $8 wheat. No, $7 wheat. Change that to $6 wheat. Um, $5 looks to be going fast. Should I have priced more earlier? Welcome inside the head of a wheat grower from Kansas.
NAWG Participates in Ag Sustainability Meeting
(10-24-08) -- NAWG Director Matt Gellings of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and NAWG CEO Daren Coppock participated this week in a plenary meeting of Field to Market, an alliance for sustainable agriculture, held in Colorado.
Wheat Outlook Report Shows Record All-Wheat Yield
(10-24-08) -- USDA’s Wheat Outlook report released last week showed that all-wheat yield in the U.S. has hit a new record at 44.9 bushels per acre.
Online Offerings Supplement Heartland’s New Season
(10-24-08) -- The fourth season of America’s Heartland is now airing on public television stations across the country, supplemented by a robust line-up of Web offerings at americasheartland.org.
Bill to Suspend 10-Acre Rule for One Year Gets Bush Signature
(10-17-08) -- President George W. Bush signed into law this week H.R. 6849, which suspends the 10-acre rule for one year and makes technical corrections to the SURE disaster program.
Wheat Tumbles Amid Continued Market Crisis
(10-17-08) -- The phrase “what goes up, must come down” took on new meaning for wheat producers in the last week, as futures markets reached 16-month lows amid continued turmoil in the broader economy.
Third Cellulosic Ethanol Summit Set for Florida
(10-17-08) -- The third annual Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is scheduled for Nov. 17 to 19 at the Westin Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables, Fla.
Word on Wheat: In NYC, Proof of the Need for Ag Education
(10-17-08) -- I have fielded a lot of unusual inquiries during my nearly three years at NAWG, so when I volunteered for the Wheat Foods Council’s Urban Wheat Field in the heart of New York City, I expected a few doozeys in addition to a lot of teaching moments.
USDA, DOE Announce National Biofuels Action Plan
(10-10-08) -- NAWG participated this week in a roll-out announcement by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy for the National Biofuels Action Plan.
APHIS Publishes Proposed Rule on Trait Regulation
(10-10-08) -- USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced this week a proposed rule to update its regulation of biotechnology traits.
Urban Wheat Field Brings Wheat, Education to NYC
(10-10-08) -- NAWG President David Cleavinger and Director of Communications Melissa George Kessler joined others from the wheat industry at the Wheat Foods Council’s Urban Wheat Field Experience in New York City this week.
Corrections Made to 10-Acre, SURE As Session Winds Down
(10-03-08) -- Congress approved a bill this week that will suspend the 10-acre rule for one year and make technical corrections to the SURE disaster program.
Schuler Travels to Washington for Trade Policy Meetings
(10-03-08) -- NAWG Past President and NAWG/U.S. Wheat Associates Joint International Trade Policy Committee (JITPC) Vice Chairman Dale Schuler visited Washington, D.C., this week for a series of trade meetings on Capitol Hill and with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Breakthrough in Wheat Genome Mapping Reported
(10-03-08) -- French scientists reported this week that they have mapped the largest chromosome in the wheat genome, chromosome 3B, a feat reported in more detail in the current edition of the journal Science.
Word on Wheat: Triggering Problems for Producers
(10-03-08) -- As wheat harvest winds down in the Northern Plains, the effects of the 2008 drought in western North Dakota are becoming painfully evident. Unfortunately for many producers and our industry, delays in the timely settlement of many crop insurance claims are only adding to the misery.
10-Acre Rule Bill Passes House; Senate Bill Introduced
(09-26-08) -- The House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday that would suspend the so-called “10-acre rule” for the 2008 and 2009 crop years.
Coppock in Saskatchewan to Talk Biotechnology in Wheat
(09-26-08) -- NAWG CEO Daren Coppock traveled north this week to talk biotechnology and wheat in Saskatchewan.
CSREES Grants $1 Million to KSU Wheat Genome Research
(09-26-08) -- CSREES announced this week that it has renewed a grant to Kansas State University researcher Dr. Bikram Gill to complete the physical map of wheat chromosome 3A by August 2010.
House Agriculture Votes to Suspend 10-Acre Rule
(09-19-08) -- The House Agriculture Committee approved a bill Thursday that would suspend the so-called “10-acre rule” for two years.
House Approves Bill to Increase Market Transparency
(09-19-08) -- After a summer of questions about the functioning of futures markets, the House of Representatives revisited a bill Thursday that would attempt to increase transparency and accountability.
Word on Wheat: Funding Crabs, Seals and Wheat
(09-19-08) -- However you may feel about earmarks as a political issue, it struck me that these were the same type of requested earmarks that our respective state universities request on behalf of the agricultural industry every year.
Energy, Trade, Markets Focus of Congress’ First Week Back
(09-12-08) -- Work on the Hill this week was abbreviated when the House went home early due to Hurricane Ike, but it nevertheless touched on a number of key issues.
CFTC Chair Testifies on Traders, Markets Report
(09-12-08) -- Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Acting Chairman Walter Lukken testified before the House Committee on Agriculture Thursday on the role of swap dealers and index traders and whether their connection to the futures markets is having an impact on the price of commodities.
WASDE: U.S. Wheat Output Up 19%, World Up 11%
(09-12-08) -- Friday’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report from USDA showed an unchanged U.S. wheat and wheat by-class balance sheet, though the range of projected average farm prices was narrowed to between $6.70 and $7.80, versus $6.50 to $8 last month.
Growers for 2008 WILOT Training Class Selected
(09-12-08) -- Eleven growers and grower representatives have been selected to attend the 2008 Wheat Industry Leaders of Tomorrow (WILOT) leadership training program in October.
Ag Groups Write Schafer on ACRE Implementation
(09-05-08) -- NAWG and other commodity groups told Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer this week that USDA plans to implement the ACRE program would undermine its goal of providing an accurate revenue guarantee.
CIMMYT Head Says Biotech Resistance Causing Hunger
(09-05-08) -- The head of CIMMYT, the leading world wheat research center, told news agency Reuters this week in stark terms that resistance to biotech wheat from rich countries was hurting food security in poor countries.
Word on Wheat: Politics, Like Policy, Really Does Matter
(09-05-08) --
At this point in the election cycle, NAWG leaders and staff often get asked where the organization stands on the presidential contest. Will we be endorsing any candidates? The short answer is: no.
USDA Shows Wheat Price Up, But Not High Enough
(09-05-08) -- USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) said in a report this week that the price received by farmers for wheat in August was up 86 cents from July and $2.38 from August of last year.
USDA Report Shows Rising Farm Incomes on Grain Prices
(08-29-08) -- USDA agencies issued reports Thursday projecting record net farm income in 2008 and lowered exports in the 2009 fiscal year.
Hotel Information Online for Wheat Fall Board Meetings
(08-29-08) -- Grower-leaders who have not already made arrangements to attend the 2008 NAWG and U.S. Wheat fall meetings in Dallas should do so in the coming weeks.
September Deadlines Set for SURE Buy-in, Other Programs
(08-29-08) -- September brings a number of important dates to remember for wheat producers.
NAWGF Development Committee Meets in Canada
(08-22-08) -- Discussions at the annual NAWG Foundation Development Committee summer meeting, held this week in Ottawa, focused on how to implement strategic initiatives formulated early in the year.
Fourth Season of America’s Heartland Begins Soon
(08-22-08) -- The fourth season of America’s Heartland is set to debut on public TV stations across the nation in the first weeks of September.
Word on Wheat: The 2008 Farm Bill Isn’t Nearly Over Yet
(08-22-08) -- An ill-informed urban aunt of mine always liked to say this time of year, “Well, now that wheat harvest is done, you guys can take it easy for the rest of the year.” If only.
Members Hit Back on USDA 10-Acre Rule Implementation
(08-15-08) -- A USDA plan to bar producers from aggregating acreage on their farms in order to receive farm payments under the 2008 Farm Bill has drawn a stern reaction from Members of Congress in both chambers and grower groups like NAWG.
Coppock Travels to Portugal for U.S. Wheat Staff Meeting
(08-15-08) -- NAWG CEO Daren Coppock traveled to Porto, Portugal, this week on the invitation of U.S. Wheat Associates to discuss the 2008 Farm Bill and wheat biotechnology with USW foreign office staff.
History’s Modern Marvels to Showcase Wheat and Industry
(08-15-08) -- The History Channel’s Modern Marvels series will feature wheat next Thursday, Aug. 21, at 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, 8 p.m. Central.
Congress Leaves For Summer Recess With Little Done
(08-08-08) -- Congress started its traditional five-week summer recess this week, leaving without addressing energy costs - a top priority - or finishing any appropriations bills.
EPA Denies Texas’ Request for Changes to the RFS
(08-08-08) -- Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson announced Thursday he was denying a request from the state of Texas to modify the renewable fuels standard (RFS) for 2008.
NASS: 2007 Farm Expenditures Increase 9.3 Percent
(08-08-08) -- The National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) released its summary of farm expenditures for 2007 this week, showing a 9.3 percent increase in production expenditures in the past year and a nearly 30 percent increase over the past five years.
Word on Wheat: Building Global Bridges
(08-08-08) -- I was in Australia recently to attend the 2008 Australian Grain Industry Conference and build relationships with Australian industry to collaborate on biotechnology.
USDA Announces No CRP Early-Outs Without Penalties
(08-01-08) -- After much anticipation, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced this week that USDA will not allow landowners to withdraw acreage from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) without paying contractual penalties.
After Years of Work, Doha Round Talks Collapse Again
(08-01-08) -- Seven years after the Round was launched and more than a week after trade ministers convened in Geneva, the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations collapsed once again Tuesday.
Coppock Talks Biotech at Australian Grain Conference
(08-01-08) -- NAWG CEO Daren Coppock spent this week “down under” in Australia as an invited speaker at the Australia Grains Industry Conference in Melbourne.
Trade Agenda Sees Little Movement in Geneva, D.C.
(07-25-08) -- Efforts this week in Geneva to reach a breakthrough in the Doha Round of World Trade Organization talks met little success despite yet another offer of cuts to domestic supports by the U.S.
House Subcommittee Looks at RFS Implementation
(07-25-08) -- The House Agriculture Committee’s subcommittee with jurisdiction over energy held a hearing this week to review the renewable fuels standard (RFS).
Word on Wheat: Farming, Fuels and Climate Change
(07-25-08) -- Some of the most pressing issues faced by NAWG’s Environment and Renewable Resources Committee can leave people scratching their heads, saying, “What does this have to do with the business of growing wheat?”
Ag Groups, Senators Write Administration on Doha
(07-18-08) -- NAWG and other agricultural groups and Members of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee wrote Bush Administration officials this week, reiterating the necessity of market access gains for agricultural products in any Doha Round agreement.
Senate Appropriations Clears FY2009 Agriculture Bill
(07-18-08) -- The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the FY2009 agriculture appropriations bill Thursday.
Judge Extends Haying and Grazing Restrictions
(07-18-08) -- A federal judge ordered Thursday that the two sides in a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) haying and grazing dispute come up with a compromise by Tuesday, July 22.
House Ag Looks at CFTC, Senate Ag Confirms Nominees
(07-11-08) -- Oversight and possible legislative changes to commodity market regulation highlighted work in Congress’ agriculture-related committees this week.
House Subcommittee Looks at Truck Lengths, Weights
(07-11-08) -- The House Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing on truck lengths and weights this week.
CRP Haying and Grazing Stopped By Federal Court
(07-11-08) -- A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order this week against haying and grazing on 24 million acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land.
Word on Wheat: Thinking About Rail During Harvest
(07-11-08) -- Lost grain can represent a significant part of our profits. For many of us, we also lose tens of thousands of dollars in profit each year by paying more than we should in excess freight.
Commodity Supply, Prices Remain Hot Topics in DC
(07-03-08) -- Congress was out of town this week for the Fourth of July Recess, but discussion continued about policy implications of high commodity prices and supply concerns following severe flooding in the Midwest.
Spring Wheat Plantings Up With a Long Road Ahead
(07-03-08) -- USDA’s Plantings Report issued June 30 indicates that while the supply of high protein wheat supply has rebuilding potential this year, stocks are likely to remain relatively tight through the 2008/2009 marketing year.
Cleavinger Heads to Europe With Other Ag Leaders
(07-03-08) -- NAWG President David Cleavinger will be participating in a study tour of Belgium, Germany and France next week focusing on sustainability in agriculture, rural development and renewable energy.
USDA Announces 2008 Direct Payment Sign-Up Period Open
(06-27-08) -- The Department of Agriculture announced this week the sign-up period for the 2008 direct and counter cyclical payment program is now open and will remain open until Sept. 30.
Word on Wheat: Are We Ready To Invest In New Varieties?
(06-27-08) -- NAWG's goal to increase wheat yields by 20 percent over the next 10 years is a great goal, but are wheat growers ready to do what is needed to get there?
House Appropriations Keeps Cuba Payment Language
(06-27-08) -- The House Committee on Appropriations approved a bill this week that includes language to restrict funding for the enforcement of the “payment of cash in advance” rule for trade with Cuba.
All of 2008 Farm Bill Finalized After Second Veto, Override
(06-20-08) -- The 2008 Farm Bill legislative process ended this week when President George W. Bush vetoed a second, complete version of the bill and Congress overwhelmingly overrode that veto.
Senate Ag Committee Looks at Function, Funding of CFTC
(06-20-08) -- The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry took a look at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) this week in a joint hearing with the Senate Appropriation Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.
NAWG Urges EPA Head To Reject RFS Waiver Request
(06-20-08) -- NAWG wrote Environmental Protection Agency head Stephen Johnson this week urging him to reject a request from the state of Texas for a waiver of the renewable fuels standard (RFS).
First Step in 2008 Farm Bill Implementation Announced
(06-13-08) -- USDA announced this week that it is implementing marketing assistance loan and loan deficiency payment (LDP) provisions from the 2008 Farm Bill.
Ag, Utility Groups Write on Stabenow Amendment
(06-13-08) -- NAWG joined a wide coalition of groups this week in a letter of thanks to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) for her leadership on the issue of agricultural greenhouse gas offsets.
NAWG, Others Request Hearings on Food Price Debate
(06-13-08) -- A coalition of commodity and general farm organizations wrote Congressional leaders this week requesting they schedule hearings to examine the causes of increasing food prices.
Word on Wheat: Safest, Most Abundant and Most Affordable
(06-13-08) -- American agricultural producers are proud of the fact that we can rightly say we produce the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world, for the world.
Senate Passes Complete Farm Bill Again; Veto Expected
(06-06-08) -- The Senate passed a new version of the farm bill conference report this week by a 77-15 vote. The bill, now officially called the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 or H.R. 6124, is set to once again be vetoed by President George W. Bush in the coming days.
Climate Change Bill Fails to Advance After Senate Debate
(06-06-08) -- The Senate began the week with intentions of holding a progressive debate on climate change, though partisan disagreements ultimately led to multiple delays and the body’s inability to achieve cloture and move to a vote on final passage of bill text.
CFTC Announces Steps to Up Commodity Market Monitoring
(06-06-08) -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) this week took incremental steps to improve market performance and moved to increase the amount of data it collects on futures transactions.
USDA: All Wheat Price Dropped 12 Percent from April
(06-06-08) -- A USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) report issued last Friday showed a $1.20 drop in the price of wheat in May from April.
Congress Back Next Week to Tackle Farm Bill Problem
(05-30-08) -- Congress was out this week on Memorial Day Recess but is set to return Monday to tackle finalizing the farm bill and take a first crack at climate change legislation.
U.S. Wheat Exports Estimated Up 42 Percent Over 2006/2007
(05-30-08) -- It appears likely that total U.S. wheat export sales in 2007/08 will be more than 38.4 MMT or 42 percent higher than in 2006/07, which saw sales of 23.8 MMT.
Word on Wheat: We All Agree on One Issue – Energy Costs
(05-30-08) -- I went to my equipment dealer the other day to see about buying a wheat drill. I hadn’t missed the fact that everything on the farm is going up, but I was still surprised at what I learned: they couldn’t give me a price.
Farm Bill Conclusion Delayed Yet Again Due to Clerical Error
(05-23-08) -- In an unbelievable twist to the farm policy saga, a virtually unprecedented clerical error kept the 2008 Farm Bill from being finalized in its entirety this week.
Senate Committee Looks at Commodity Price Increases
(05-23-08) -- The Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing Tuesday to examine the effects of institutional investors and hedge funds on food and energy prices increases.
NAWG Writes GMA on Ethanol Smear Campaign
(05-23-08) -- NAWG sent a letter to Grocery Manufacturers Association leadership Friday expressing the organization’s “profound disappointment” in GMA's high-priced anti-ethanol P.R. campaign.
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