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Wheat growers ask USDA for more consistency in rewarding climate-smart ag

The National Association of Wheat Growers want USDA to adopt more consistent standards as farmers are incentivized for planting cover crops in regenerative ag programs.

CEO Chandler Goule says harvesting wheat disqualifies farmers from accessing some voluntary USDA conservation programs, because winter wheat is also considered a cover crop.

“We’re asking wheat growers get the credit for the conservation and cover they are providing, not double dipping. How do we also get that credit as food companies ask for that information?”

Goule says USDA and lawmakers are working with wheat growers on a solution, which might be included in the next farm bill.

“How do we get the definitions between the USDA’s Risk Management Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to work together so wheat can thread this difficult needle?”

USDA addressed some of these questions and more during a panel discussion with NAWG members at the Commodity Classic.