U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) addressed dozens of topics – USDA’s America First Trade Promotion Program (AFTPP), outlook for the Farm Bill, upcoming reviews of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), U.S. wheat exports and more – all during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s (NAFB) Issues Forum on April 27.

Part of the NAFB’s week-long Washington Watch event in Washington, D.C., the Issues Forum brought together U.S. Wheat, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and other commodity groups in a room for a three-hour series of in-depth conversations on key issues facing farmers and U.S. agriculture. USW and NAWG shared a U.S. wheat industry table to talk with broadcasters, and USW Director of Communications Ralph Loos and NAWG CEO Sam Kieffer participated in interviews with Brownfield Ag News, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, Kansas Farm and Ranch Radio Network, Hoosier Ag Today, Red River Farm Network, Northern Ag Network and more.

Reaching Farmers Across the Country

“Farm broadcasters always have a good sense of what is on the mind of their listeners, which, of course, are farmers,” Loos said. “This gathering allows ag radio stations, news networks and online media to ask a lot of questions about a lot of topics, all in one place. For organizations like U.S. Wheat, it allows us to share our messages about our work overseas and provide direct face-to-face answers.”

Loos provided broadcasters with up-to-date wheat export figures and highlighted the USW activities around the world that promote the six classes of U.S. wheat. Loos answered questions about longtime customers and emerging markets where U.S. Wheat is working to grow demand for U.S. wheat.

“We answered questions about how we plan to use new funding available from the AFTPP and our traditional market development programs,” Loos noted. “Overall, it was a well-rounded event, and a good opportunity to connect with farm broadcasters from across the country.”