Good day, NAWG!
We’re gearing up for a big week here in Washington. Members of Congress return to town on the 14th, and NAWG’s Fly-in lands right on their heels — we look forward to welcoming growers back to the Hill. I’m excited to share that wheat is expected to bring the largest number of farmer-advocates of any commodity group next week during this multi-organization effort. When wheat farmers show up in force it tells members of Congress something no press release can: wheat isn’t just at the table, we’re leading. NAWG is ready, willing, and able to set the tone for the policy conversation among our peer organizations, and this Fly-in is exactly the moment to prove it.
On the legislative front, word out of the Senate Agriculture Committee is that they intend to take another run at the farm bill when session resumes. I’ll believe real forward motion when I see it — this bill has been “about to move” for longer than most freshman Members have been in office — but I’ll take renewed attention over none. NAWG will keep pressing wherever there’s a real opening, and our Fly-in participants will be doing the same in person. There’s no substitute for a farmer telling their own Senator, in their own words, why this can’t keep slipping.
Please note there is a brief (and virtual) NAWG Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, September 24th at 11am EDT. On the agenda are a new IPP member — Bayer Crop Science — and an amended FY27 budget. Meeting materials and the Zoom link will go out next week, so keep an eye on your inbox.
One more thing for your calendar. Our fall meeting, held jointly with US Wheat Associates (and this year, the Wheat Foods Council will also be joining us), is November 2-4 in Albuquerque, NM. Take note, this meeting occurs over election day, so I encourage you all to request absentee ballots (or examine other voting options that may be available to you in your state). Every vote counts, and farmers need to continue to make our voices heard, not only in congressional offices, but also at the ballot box. Conference information is available at https://wheatworld.org/events/nawg-usw-fall-conference/.
Looking forward to a full house in DC soon.
All the best,
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.
DC Week Ahead
There are no relevant House or Senate Committee meetings planned for this week.
Policy Report
House Passed CR
The House overwhelmingly passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 11, avoiding a potential shutdown after September 30. The measure also extends the U.S. Grain Standards Act, preserving the federal grain inspection system, and continues several surface transportation programs through the same period. The National Grain and Feed Association said the extension provides certainty for the continued inspection, movement and marketing of U.S. agricultural products. The bill also delays implementation of the federal intoxicating hemp ban by one month, from November 12 to December 11.
Chiarman Thompson Seeks Waiver to Continue Leading House Ag Committee
Chairman Thompson has requested a waiver from the House GOP Steering Committee to continue serving as the panel’s Republican leader in the 120th Congress after reaching his six-year term limit. Thompson pointed to his work on the 2026 farm bill and changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as accomplishments during his tenure, while emphasizing that some of his work on agricultural policy remains unfinished. A waiver would allow Thompson to seek another term leading the committee despite House Republican term limits.
WOTUS Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On September 4, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking additional input on a limited set of regulatory alternatives for defining “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). The supplemental proposal does not replace the agencies’ November 2025 proposal but adds additional options for consideration as EPA and the Corps work toward a final rule implementing the Supreme Court’s Sackett v. EPA decision. A 30-day public comment period will begin once the supplemental proposal is formally published in the Federal Register; as of September 8, EPA has released only the pre-publication version, so a specific comment deadline has not yet been set. The agencies have not announced a firm deadline for issuing the final WOTUS rule.
Important September 15 Deadline for S-Corp Farm Operations – USDA is reminding producers of an important September 15, 2026 deadline stemming from changes enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Beginning with the 2026 program year, USDA will treat S corporations, partnerships and qualifying LLCs as “qualified pass-through entities” for farm-program payment limitations. Previously, an S-corp generally received only one payment limitation regardless of the number of owners; under the new rules, qualifying members who are actively engaged in the operation can each contribute toward the entity’s overall payment limit. For 2026, USDA will use the farm’s ownership and organizational structure as of September 15, and affected S-corps and LLCs must update their farm operating plans with FSA by that date. This could be significant for multi-owner wheat farms because the 2026 ARC/PLC limit is $164,000 per eligible person—meaning, for example, a two-member qualifying S-corp could potentially have a $328,000 entity limit, subject to the actively-engaged, attribution and other eligibility requirements. Growers considering any change to their business structure should talk with their local FSA office, tax/legal adviser and crop insurance agent before making changes.