Virginia Grain & Soybean Annual Conference Tuesday, February - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Virginia Grain & Soybean Annual Conference

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

National Association of Wheat Growers National Wheat Foundation Organizational Overview Policy Overview

NAWG Members

• 22 affiliated state wheat grower organizations

– Across all regions, all classes of wheat – Represent 85%+ of all wheat production

• Industry Partners Council
• Individual-direct membership available for

farmers in states without an affiliated association

Grassroots Organization

• Policy priorities developed by our States and farmer

leaders

• Several policy committees covering domestic, trade,

environment, renewable resources, and research and technology

• Joint trade and biotechnology policy committees with U.S.

Wheat Associates

• 3 board meetings held each year, additional committee

conference calls held

• Farmer fly-ins to DC to lobby
• NAWG leaders active in DC and in the media
• Development of National Wheat Action Plan

Governance & Management

NAWG Governance Structure

• President
• Exec Cmte - Officers (P, VP, Treas., Sec., PP)
• CEO
• Board of Directors (2 per 22 states)
• 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

Focused on the Future of Wheat

Board of Directors

Restructured in 2012 to be smaller, more flexible Five farmers, including four former NAWG presidents Colorado, Idaho, Texas North Carolina, Kansas Two crop industry reps One miller rep One baker rep

NWF Staffing

• NAWG CEO serves as the executive director of NWF
• Finance, communications and corporate/ industry relations

staff also assist with NWF program implementation and developing financial support

• NAWG provides administrative support & financial oversight

for all NWF programs

Current NWF Programs

• National Wheat Action Plan (Bayer CropS

cience and others serve on Advisory Council)

• WOLF (Bayer CropS

cience)

• WILOT (Monsanto)
• Jerry Minore S

cholarships (BAS F)

• Wheat Advocates
• National Wheat Yield Contest (BAS

F, Monsanto, John Deere, WinField)

NAWG Fe Fede deral P l Polic

• licy Act

ctivit ities

NAW AWG P Policy Ac Activities in 201 015

• Defense of Crop Insurance through Budget Agreement Debate
• Highway Bill Reauthorization

– Reversal of crop insurance cuts – Funding for road construction projects

• Positive Train Control (PTC) extension
• FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
• Tax package – Section 179 and bonus depreciation
• Reauthorization of the Grain Standards Act

– NAWG priorities included – maintains State-delegated authority; requires an open recertification process; requires study on impact of Canada’s treatment of U.S. wheat

• Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization

NAW AWG P Policy Ac Activities in 201 015

• Comments on Actively Engaged Rule
• 2014 Crop Title 1 Payments
• GMO labeling legislation
• WOTUS Rule
• Passage of Trade Promotion Authority
• Conclusion of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations

– NAWG/USW support the agreement

• USW/NAWG release of domestic support study
• APHIS GE field trials comments

Top p 20 2016 16 Policy I Issues ues

• Threats to the Farm Bill and Crop Insurance

– Anticipating “regular order” for FY 2017 Appropriations process – likely see multiple efforts to come after Farm Bill programs – President’s budget request includes $18 billion cut to crop insurance – Stand-alone legislation (Flake/Kind AFFIRM Act) – Other threats to crop insurance later in presentation

• GMO labeling legislation
• Continuing efforts to rollback the WOTUS rule
• CFTC Reauthorization
• FY 2017 Agriculture Appropriations

– Research funding – Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program funding

Top p 20 2016 16 Policy I Issues ues

• Development of policy priorities for next Farm Bill
• Possible Congressional consideration of TPP

– Political realities facing consideration – Urgency to wheat for action

• Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
• Canada grain-grading issues
• Representing wheat growers on sustainability discussions through the Field to

Market Alliance

• Supporting USDA conservation programs that work for wheat growers
• Ensuring balance between endangered species requirements and pesticide

applications

Polit itica ical C l Challen llenges es f for F Farm P Programs

• Detractors will continue to find unique ways to come after crop insurance and

Title I

– Appropriations Process – Budget Agreement – Sequestration – Upcoming Farm Bill battle

• 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)

• Message to Congress

– Do not reopen the Farm Bill, crop insurance is the foundation of the safety net – Weather extremes and high input costs are increasing the grower’s economic risk – Oppose stand-alone bills and appropriations riders that would undermine crop insurance

Questions?