2014 Update. Importance of states like Michigan Leadership – Chris Schmidt DTPC and David Milligan RTC. David Milligan – Budget Committee. Michigan.

2014 Update

Importance of states like Michigan

• Leadership – Chris Schmidt DTPC and David Milligan RTC.

• David Milligan – Budget Committee.• Michigan – 15 Congressmen. The top three

production states in NAWG – Kansas, North Dakota, and Montana have a total combined 6 Congressmen.

Major Policy Areas for 2013

• Farm bill and related federal budget issues• Environmental regulations• Trade promotion funding, market oversight &

transportation • Research funding & biotechnology regulation

Environmental Regulation, Conservation & Sustainability

• Supporting legislative solutions to duplicative pesticide regulations reducing regulatory burdens of SPCC

• Addressing wheat grower concerns with potential administrative actions on Clean Water Act requirements, greenhouse gas emissions / climate change

• Ensuring balance between endangered species requirements and pesticide applications

• Representing wheat growers on sustainability discussions through the Field to Market Alliance

• Supporting USDA conservation programs that work for wheat growers

Sustainability

• Environmentally Sustainable, Economically Sustainable, Socially Sustainable.

• Walmart• Coca Cola• General Mills• Field to Market Calculator

Trade, Marketing & Transportation

• Appropriations for MAP & FMD market promotion programs

• Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)• Transatlantic Trade and Investment

Partnership (TTIP)• Trade Promotion Authority

Research & Biotechnology

• Appropriations for ARS, NIFA research programs

• Oversight of USDA’s Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21)

• International wheat research initiatives

• Legislation to invite private & corporate investment in research through tax benefits

GMO Event in Oregon

• APHIS is still conducting their investigation.• In 2004 the FDA confirmed the unapproved

RR trait that was detected on this farm is safe for human consumption.

• Throughout the investigation, the wheat industry and Monsanto have cooperated fully with APHIS.

NAWG’s Farm Bill Priorities

• Do not harm crop insurance• Provide farm-level protection in Title I

– Revenue program with farm-level, by-commodity coverage and not market distorting

• Provide essential funding for trade promotion, food aide and crop insurance

• Ease unnecessary regulation

Questions?

Focused on the Future of Wheat

VisionThe national center for

wheat research information, education and

outreach

Mission Areas …the advancement of the science of wheat growing…

…the conservation of the natural resources of the United States through the development of good

farming and farm marketing practices…

…the development of new uses and markets for improved strains of wheat and wheat products…

…the dissemination of educational materials and, through a broad range of educational methods and

media…

…the carrying out of educational programs aimed at improving the skills of persons engaged in the growing

and marketing of wheat in the United States…

…and thereby improve the economic and nutritional well-being of the people of the United States…

Structure of WIAThe Wheat Innovation Alliance

Questions?

Values and Value Proposition

Grower Centeredness -- Integrity and Honesty --

Trustworthiness

NWF shall add value to ongoing activities of state associations through collaborations and

leveraging of resources.

Strategies for Success• Wheat industry’s catalyst, bringing

people together to create synergistic outcomes

• Leverage financial, human & organizational resources by building innovative collaborations around the mission

• Focus on advancing the wheat industry while supporting the competitiveness of its stakeholders and trusting and respecting organizational independence

Education/Outreach• Unify wheat industry interests to promote

opportunities benefitting the whole industry, develop solutions to industry concerns and manage issues on behalf of the industry.

• Provide forums for all stakeholders to come together, such as an annual Wheat Summit and the Wheat Innovation Alliance.

• Provide resources to develop research to help understand what’s driving demand for U.S. wheat.

• Develop messaging to defend wheat attacks by opportunists.

• Utilize appropriate forums and collaborations to reach target audiences.

Research• Improve wheat’s competitiveness with other crops,

with focus on agronomic and quality improvement traits.

• Provide grants for research projects and encourage collaborative efforts between researchers to avoid duplication.

• Support the efforts of the National Wheat Improvement Committee.

• Provide scholarship opportunities to enable sustained improvement and competitiveness of wheat in the U.S. and develop the next generation of wheat researchers.