Don't come to us for a lousy T-shirt

Home

E-Mail

Back

Prairie Grains is the
official publication of
the Minnesota
Association of
Wheat Growers,
North Dakota Grain Growers Association,
South Dakota Wheat,
Inc., and the
Minnesota Barley
Growers Association

But is that want you really want from your state wheat association?

Heck no—you join for a voice on state and federal policy issues that matter to you as a wheat grower. And judging by key successes over this past year, you’ll get results:

• Remember all that pre-farm bill talk in the press about "green payments" and environmentalists driving the legislation? It didn’t happen. Not only did wheat farmers get attractive fixed payments (under the old program, there’d be no deficiency this year because of last summer’s high price) but also got more farmer-friendly conservation compliance and Swampbuster provisions.

• The MAWG, NDGGA, and SDWI were the driving forces behind the formation of United Spring Wheat processors, on track to be the largest grower co-op in the Northern Plains.

• Key involvement with containment, treatment, and control of Karnal bunt, the fungal disease that surfaced in the Southwest U.S. and threatened the reputation of U.S. wheat globally.

• When local and national media produced stories relating to the consumer impact of high grain prices last summer, we countered with the producers’ perspective: explaining the limited effect basic commodity price increases have on consumer products.

• Prevented planting coverage for producers denied coverage in some areas in the spring of 1996.

• Relief for some producers who unfairly fell into the FCIC’s high-risk nonstandard classification, because of losses due to scab.

• The zero residue tolerance of the old pesticide law, the Delaney Clause, was modernized while at the same time, federal food safety protection strengthened.

• Opportunity for participation in the Crop Revenue Coverage pilot program for many spring wheat producers in 1997, and even more in 1998.

• Keyed many recommendations now under consideration for the new CRP rules, to be finalized early 1997.

• Strong in-state leadership for ag education and research programs, with MAWG keying attention on the scab research initiative; SDWI chairing the Ag Unity subcommittee on funding for SDSU’s research and extension programs; and NDGGA coordinating ag tours for environmental and legislative decision makers.

• A new plan and success strategies developed for the U.S. wheat industry.

Remember, when you join your state wheat association, you also become an automatic member of the National Association of Wheat Growers in Washington, D.C. If you’re not already a member, make it a point to fill out the coupon below and send it in to your state wheat association today. We promise you’ll get more than just a lousy T-shirt.

December 1995