1. Nebraska Wheat Growers Gordon Stoner, President January 16, 2017

2. Unified Voice for U.S. Wheat Growers
Congratulate states on their improved relationships between growers and commissions as well as working together with other commodity and agricultural groups.
NAWG works closely with US Wheat Associates, North American Millers Association, American Bakers Association, Wheat Foods Council, National Grain and Feed Association, as well as with our state associations and commissions
Establish strong relationships with wheat chain partners
USW, NAMA, ABA, WFC, NGFA, etc
State relationships with associations and commissions

3. My Next Association Assignment??

4. NAWG Organization 22 affiliated state wheat grower organizations
Across all regions, all classes of wheat
Represent 85%+ of all wheat production (2.2 Billion Bu)
Grown in 42 States
NAWG assesses approximately $0.65/1,000 bushels
$1.5 million budget (Foundation $1.5 million)
Top 5 states KS, ND, MT, WA, SD
CA near bottom in wheat but 53 Congressman
Missouri in process of joining NAWG
Other work undertaken to protect the interests of wheat farmers this calendar year.
With regards to financial reform, NAWG has been working along with a number of agriculture and lending organizations to ensure that those using derivatives to manage business risks, including the farm credit system and others, would be able to continue doing so without added costs.
With regards to sustainability, NAWG has been working with agriculture groups and industry to follow the impact this national movement to define and measure sustainability is accurately depicted as well as insure that we have access to biotechnology tools and other tools to make sure the next generation of wheat growers can be viable.

5. NAWG Member States
Light brown states are full members or limited members. Provisions on the types of memberships are detailed in the Bylaws, which are in the policy directory books.
States in dark brown are those that have a state wheat organization of some sort (association or checkoff) but who are not affiliated with NAWG.
AZ has a promotion council and are members of USW.
Arkansas has a promotion board but are not members of USW.
IL has a Wheat Association but are not members of NAWG.

6. NAWG Governance Structure
President
Exec Cmte - Officers (P, VP, Treas., Sec., PP)
Board of Directors (2 per state)
Committees
Domestic and Trade Policy
Joint International Trade Policy (USW)
Joint Biotechnology (USW)
Environment and Renewable Resources
Research and Technology
Operations and Planning
Nominating
Budget

7. Major Policy Areas Farm Support Programs – Title 1 and Crop Insurance
Trade
Conservation Policy
Environmental Regulations
Biotechnology Regulation
Transportation
Agriculture Research Funding

8. NWF Governance Structure
National Wheat Foundation
Vision: “The national center for wheat research information, education and outreach.”
9 member board of directors; farmers and industry reps
NAWG CEO serves as Executive Director
Current NWF Programs:
National Wheat Action Plan
National Wheat Yield Contest
Leadership Programs (WOLF and WILOT)
Jerry Minore Scholarship

9. Farmers need to realize that this caricature is a widely-held perception about the Farm Bill
Perception that it’s just sending money to non-farmers
We need to be communicating to the general public the importance of maintaining a safety net for farmers, particularly given the recent low prices

10. Farm Bill Present & Future
Monitor & implementation of 2014 Farm Bill
Ag Committee hearings likely begin March
Possible early Farm Bill 2017
Problems with ARC-Co (NASS data), likely legislative fix only path forward
Next Farm Bill evolutionary not revolutionary
Timing of ARC/PLC payment, Advance pymt?
#1 priority from surveys, protect Crop Ins

11. This will segue into the next slide, which covers the primarily political threats to farm programs

12. Policy Dynamics in next Farm Bill
Cotton
2014 Farm Bill removed cotton lint from Title 1
New insurance program (STAX) hasn’t worked as planned
NCC cottonseed proposal
Chairman Conaway’s interest
Dairy
Dairy Margin Protection Program hasn’t worked as planned
Prices have plummeted
Ranking Member Peterson’s interest
ARC Data Issues
NASS vs. RMA data
Baseline
-A number of issues have spurred interest in moving up consideration of the Farm Bill
-Budget issues in Farm Bill
-But we need to think about this from the perspective of what our needs are

13. Political Dynamics in next Farm Bill
Appropriations Process
Sequestration
Upcoming Farm Bill battle
Educating new Members of Congress
Primary policy threats
Hard cap on federal share of the crop insurance producer premium
AGI limitations for eligibility
Company reimbursements – A&O and rate of return
Elimination of Harvest Price Option (HPO)

14. Second Verse, Same as the First…
Heritage Foundation – “Farms and Free Enterprise: A Blueprint for Agricultural Policy”
A “free-market vision” for agriculture policy
Repeal ARC/PLC
Seek private risk management programs
Separate SNAP from agriculture programs
Environmental Working Group
Farm program database
New conservation database released recently
EWG: voluntary conservation hasn’t worked

15. Farm Bill Vision or Lack Thereof
9 am late July pea harvest
11 am harvest same day

16. Crop Insurance Initiative
Quality issues (FN, DHV, DON)
Discount schedules & APH adjustment
Mark to count…flawed methodology

17. Why Crop Insurance?

18. Base Acre Question
Base established 1985 with update for pulse, oil seeds 2004, reallocation 2014
Base exceeds planted by 10 Million for wheat
Safety net or not
Expire CRP receiving payments
Minimal correlation between planted and base
Mandatory / Voluntary

19. Trade Policy Trade Promotion Authority
NAWG and USW support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Congressional Outlook:
Presidential election outcome: pessimistic outlook for consideration
Concerns expressed by key Congressional leaders
Key Messages to Congress:
TPP would eliminate tariffs on U.S. wheat in Vietnam
Would improve market access in Japan
Opens the door to bringing in other countries in the region; places pressure on China

20. Trade Policy Trade relations with Cuba Administrative actions
Congressional actions – Financial Services Appropriations
Canadian grain grading problems – comparison to COOL
Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development (FMD)
MAP – Authorized in the Farm Bill at $200 million annually
FMD program – Authorized in the Farm Bill at $34.5 million annually
Authorization process and appropriations challenges
Rollout of USW’s Foreign Domestic Support Study

21. Conservation/Environmental Policy
Implementation of Farm Bill conservation programs
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Conservation Compliance requirements for Crop Insurance
Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule
Judicial stay
Congressional efforts to force rescission of rule
Sustainability – Field to Market

22. Other NAWG Policy Issues
Transportation
Implementation of STB Reauthorization
Regulation of biotechnology
GMO labeling debate
APHIS Part 340 regulation – impact on wheat
Development of policy priorities for next Farm Bill
Farm Bill Survey this summer
Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Agricultural Research Funding
National Wheat Improvement Committee
Advocate for funding for scab research and genotyping labs

23. Thank You! Questions?