NAWG’s strength comes from the grassroots – wheat growers across the country who research issues, set policy and spend time educating policy makers in Washington, D.C., about the importance of wheat growers’ goals.

All the work NAWG does is in conjunction with the 21 affiliated state associations that make it up. Though these state associations themselves vary in size, composition and resources, leaders from all of them come together to create a strong national organization.

How We Make Policy

NAWG’s policy comes up from the countryside through county committees, which send ideas and resolutions to state associations, which set their policy and bring priorities to the NAWG’s Board of Directors. Board members from each state association serve as the crucial link between individual wheat growers, the state organizations and the national organization in Washington, D.C.

Strategic Planning Process

As part of a long-term planning process undertaken in 2008, NAWG leadership established four strategic priorities for the organization:

• Encouraging investment and innovation in U.S. wheat with the goal of increasing yields for U.S. wheat growers by 20 percent by 2018.
• Increasing the focus on capturing the benefits of energy policy.
• Improving risk management programs to support U.S. wheat growers, including federal farm policy, crop insurance and transportation policies.
• Creating a unified voice supporting U.S. wheat, by working with U.S. Wheat Associates and other industry groups.

Resolutions

NAWG’s resolutions give direction to the NAWG officers and Washington, D.C.-based staff members. These resolutions, approved by NAWG policy committees and the NAWG Board of Directors, are the official policies of the organization.

Working in Washington

NAWG’s staff serves as the eyes and ears in Washington, D.C., for state wheat organizations, alerting them of possible problems and pressing policy priorities before leaders on Capitol Hill and in the Administration. To further policy goals, NAWG frequently works with other wheat chain organizations and in coalitions with associations and companies across the industry.

Scorecards and Wheat Awards

Each year, NAWG distributes Congressional voting scorecards based on NAWG’s policy priorities. Recent scorecards include:

• 110th Congress, Second Session – House Scorecard
• 110th Congress, Second Session – Senate Scorecard
• 110th Congress, First Session – House Scorecard
• 110th Congress, First Session – Senate Scorecard
• 109th Congress, Second Session – House Scorecard
• 109th Congress, Second Session – Senate Scorecard
• 109th Congress, First Session – House Scorecard
• 109th Congress, First Session – Senate Scorecard

NAWG also gives three awards, including the following:

• Wheat Leader of the Year Award: given annually by NAWG to one Member of Congress based on his or her demonstrated commitment to the well-being and goals of the wheat industry
• Wheat Advocate Award: given annually to Members of Congress who have demonstrated support for the wheat industry above and beyond the norm
• Friend of Wheat Award: given annually by NAWG to Congressional and administrative staff members who have demonstrated support for the wheat industry above and beyond the norm