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NORTH CAROLINA CELEBRATES NATIONAL AG DAY
North Carolina Small Grain Growers celebrated National Ag Day by participating in NC Ag Awareness day
at the Legislature on Wednesday, March 18th. Over 1500 people rallied on Capitol Grounds to show
their support for Agriculture in North Carolina. Agribusiness is North Carolinas #1 Industry but there's
always room for growth and in order to do that this is what we need in our state:
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Strengthen the public’s financial commitment to agricultural research and agricultural
extension.
Support and invest in new ideas: the Plant Science Initiative, the Food Processing &
Manufacturing Initiative, and the Animal Food Initiative.
Promote the opportunities for NC Agriculture to lead the challenge of feeding our world.
Encourage students to pursue a career in agriculture.
North Carolina Agriculture means business and with Agriculture’s projected value to reach $100 Billion
by 2020 means great potential for NC. North Carolina has a unique range of geography, climate and
soils allowing us to raise a diverse variety of crops and animals. Strong relationships with agricultural
businesses at the Research Triangle Park and over 100 commodity organizations make NC Agriculture a
success. And with a world-class research station infrastructure such as the Plant Science Facility, North
Carolina could lead the way for the Future of Agriculture!
NCSU COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE & LIFE SCIENCES ANNUAL PARTNERS MEETING
The NCSGGA attended the 2nd Annual CALS Partners & Stakeholders meeting Tuesday, March 17th at the
McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The purpose of the meeting was so that Partners and Stakeholders of
NCSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences could receive college updates including the budget, the
Plant Science Initiative, the Food Processing & Manufacturing Initiative, and the Animal Food initiative.
The theme for this year’s CALS Partners’ meeting was: Stories of Success: Messaging with a Purpose.
Several organizations shared their own agricultural success stories and how that relates to the potential
of a successful future in North Carolina.
Another major outcome of this meeting was to prepare for North Carolina Agriculture Awareness Day,
which was held the following day on March 18th. The idea was to develop a consistent, coherent
message about agriculture and its importance to our state’s economic future that can be shared with
policy-makers at the March 18 event and beyond. We all recognize and value the great diversity of
North Carolina’s agriculture, but also see the critical need for creating common message themes that
apply to all agricultural industry partners.
NC SMALL GRAIN GROWERS UPCOMING EVENTS
April 1st - 9:00am - 2:00pm
Ag Day
University of Mount Olive
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April 16th - 9:30am
Central Piedmont Field Day
Rowan County
Piedmont Research Station
8350 Sherrills Ford Rd.
Salisbury, NC 28147
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April 23rd - 4:00pm
Coastal Plain Field Day
Robeson County
Elbert Forbis' Farm
18352 N Carolina 71
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357
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May 7th – 9:00am
Syngenta Field Day
Winterville, NC
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May 14th - 10:00am
Lower Piedmont Field Day
Union County
Gilliard Brothers Farm
5616 Old Highway Rd.
Monroe, NC 28112
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May 21st - 2:00pm
Tidewater Field Day
Washington County
Griffin Farms
1694 Avenue Road
Washington, NC 27889
2015 NC CROP COMPARISONS
Attached is NCSU Professor Nick Piggott’s best "guestimate" on 2015 Crop Comparisons for North
Carolina producers who wish to take advantage of current strong basis bids and the current market
conditions in order to lock in a basis contract to make the best planting decisions. We hope that you
find this helpful.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WHEAT GROWERS: WEEKLY UPDATE
Tonsager Joins Wheat Growers’ Policy Team
This week NAWG announced the addition of Joshua Tonsager to lead the organization’s Washingtonbased government affairs team. Tonsager will serve as legislative director for NAWG, overseeing the
policy team and leading the associations work on transportation and research and technology issues.
Most recently, Tonsager served as a Legislative Assistant in the Office of Former Senator Tim Johnson of
South Dakota. His issue portfolio included agriculture, trade, economic development and
appropriations. Prior to joining Senator Johnson’s staff, Tonsager served as a Research Assistant for
Former Senator Johnson. Tonsager received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the
University of South Dakota. Tonsager can be reached at JTonsager@wheatworld.org.
National Wheat Improvement Committee Hits the Hill
The National Wheat Improvement Committee (NWIC) gathered this week in Washington, D.C. to discuss
important wheat research issues. NWIC began their trip speaking with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture Research Service (ARS) Administrator Chavonda Jacobs-Youngs thanking
the agency for their support of wheat research projects and looking forward to continued partnership.
The remainder of their trip was spent speaking with congressional offices highlighting the benefits of
wheat research efforts and ARS funding as well as and the importance of continuing funding for specific
programs like the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, Small Grains Genomic Initiative and Triticeae
Coordinated Agriculture Project (TCAP).
NWIC is comprised of wheat researchers and wheat growers from across the country. “In my thirty years
in wheat research, I have never been as excited about the scientific and technological opportunities
being revealed by our applied and basic researchers in the USDA, Land-Grant and private company
sectors across the country,” said NWIC Chairman Paul Murphy. “I am humbled by the level of
stakeholder support from organizations such as NAWG, who are unflinching in their advocacy for wheat
research on Capitol Hill.
This annual event is an opportunity to educate stakeholders on Capitol Hill and at USDA about the
importance of wheat research projects around the country and to emphasize the need for consistent,
adequate funding even in tough budget times.
NWF Hosts Full Crowd for National Ag Day Briefing
In celebration of National Ag Day on March 18, the National Wheat Foundation (NWF) hosted a bagel
breakfast and educational briefing on Capitol Hill. The event filled the Senate Ag Committee Hearing
Room with more than 100 industry representatives, Hill staff, embassy staff, and media participating in a
forward-looking discussion about innovation and the next generation of agriculture.
The panel of industry experts included:
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Gordon Stoner; Vice President, NAWG
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Matt Erickson; Chief Economist, Senate Agriculture Committee
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David Van Sanford; Professor of Plant and Soil Science, University of Kentucky
NWF Chairman Dusty Tallman moderated the discussion that emphasized the importance of a
cooperative industry approach to advancing agriculture – not only production agriculture, but the entire
farm-to-table industry.
NAWG Submits Comments on Ozone Regulations
In comments filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NAWG expressed concern over the
proposed changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone. EPA’s proposed regulation
would lower the ozone standard from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to between 65-70 ppb or as low as 60
ppb. The lower standards could impact managed burning plans that several state associations have
negotiated with their state regulatory agencies. A new, lower standard set by EPA would require states
to implement new plans to meet air quality standards. NAWG asked for additional time for the existing
standards, which were set just six years ago, to remain in place and to allow for additional reductions in
ozone levels.
House Agriculture Committee Approves Pesticide Bill
On Thursday, the House Agriculture Committee approved HR. 897, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens
Act. Currently EPA requires a Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
general permit or individual permit for anyone that will discharge pollutants from point sources into
waters of the U.S., including pesticide applications. In 2009 the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decided
in National Cotton Council v. EPA that the discharge into waters of the U.S. of biological and chemical
pesticides that leave a residue are a pollutant. Prior to this lawsuit, the EPA did not consider pesticides
pollutants, but regulated the use of pesticides under Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.
With pesticide applications now falling under the Clean Water Act, several provisions of the law apply –
including daily fines of up to $37,500 for violations and citizen lawsuits in addition to the NPDES permit
requirement. EPA is also in the process of finalizing a regulation on waters of the U.S., potentially
increasing the waters that fall under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act and subsequently increasing
pesticide applications requiring a permit. NAWG several agriculture groups in sending a letter of support
to members of the House Agriculture Committee.
Agriculture Committees Focus on Clean Water Act Regulation
This week the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry
Subcommittee held a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed regulation on
waters of the U.S. NAWG signed on as a supporter to testimony presented by National Cotton Council
Chairman Sledge Taylor. Also supporting the testimony were: American Soybean Association, National
Corn Growers Association, National Sorghum Producers, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, USA Rice
Federation, and Western Peanut Growers. The testimony focused on the agriculture industry’s concerns
with the regulation and asked that any action taken by the EPA be available for public comment again
before being finalized.
The Senate Agriculture Committee also announced a full committee hearing on the same topic
scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 10 am.