Good day, NAWG!
The House is back in session this week… just three days’ worth before Members head home again, with both chambers reconvening in Washington on September 14th (just in time for the NAWG Fly-in). Don’t let the brevity of this week fool you; there’s plenty on the docket worth watching, and our team will be fully plugged in.
Have you noticed wheat growers aren’t the only ones frustrated with misguided and unnecessary policy announcements? The Administration’s recent moves on imported beef have given cattle organizations an opportunity to offer sharp and public criticism to the White House and USDA.
Its moments like this reinforce my personal belief that farm organizations should always be unapologetically bipartisan. No single person, or party, gets it right all the time. NAWG will always encourage both parties to make the right decision – and just as importantly, hold the elected officials of both parties accountable when they take farmers for granted.
Thanks, as always, for the work you all do to keep NAWG’s voice loud and clear on the Hill.
More next week.
SK
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FROM THE FOUNDATION
Call for Nominations for National Wheat Foundation Board
Two of the National Wheat Foundation Directors’ second terms will expire in 2027; Scott Brown (ID) and Jeff Blackwood (industry). We want to thank and recognize Scott and Jeff for their tremendous contributions to the board.
We are calling for anyone interested in serving on the National Wheat Foundation Board to submit your name, in writing, along with a brief resume to Boyd Heilig, NWF nomination committee chair (heiligb18@gmail.com) and/or Anne Osborne, NWF Executive Director (aosborne@wheatworld.org) by October 9th, 2026.
Board terms are three years, and there is a maximum of two terms. The board holds two in-person meetings per year, plus it attends the Commodity Classic and the National Wheat Yield Contest winner’s reception. The term of the newly elected directors will begin in March 2027 immediately following the Commodity Classic.
If you have any questions about the process or the National Wheat Foundation, please contact either Anne or Boyd.
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POLICY REPORT
Government Funding Outlook
With the House back in Washington this week, government funding will be one of the first major items on the agenda. The House is scheduled to consider H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2027, a bipartisan stopgap funding package that would keep the federal government operating at largely current funding levels through December 11. The Senate passed the measure 90–6 before leaving for recess, and the White House has indicated that President Trump would sign it. If the House approves the Senate package this week, Congress could effectively remove the immediate threat of a September 30 government shutdown and give appropriators another two months to negotiate full-year FY2027 spending bills. For agriculture, the CR would generally maintain existing funding levels while leaving final decisions on FY2027 Agriculture-FDA programs for later this fall.
The House has H.R. 6500 on the suspension calendar this week. The House is expected to vote as early as tomorrow (Tuesday, September 1st) on the Senate-passed continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11, although leadership has not yet announced an exact time for the vote.
Biofuels
The biofuel industry is watching closely as EPA is expected to decide on 2025 small refinery exemptions (SREs) from Renewable Fuel Standard blending requirements. Historically high 2026-27 blending quotas have boosted biomass-based diesel production and improved the outlook for soybeans and other feedstocks. However, a larger-than-expected number of exemptions could weaken the impact of those quotas, prompting concerns among agriculture and biofuel groups.