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Wheat industry pattern continues
Kansas
It is a "first" for the Wheat industry, but also a continuation and broadening of a long-time tradition. The "first" is the North American Grain Congress during the final weeks of February in Reno, Nevada, which annually brings together the National Association of Wheat Growers, U.S. Wheat associates, and the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee. The broadening of the long-term tradition is the National Grain Sorghum Producers joining with the NAWG for this inaugural joint conference.
Recognizing there are a number of common interests between Wheat and milo farmers, the two organizations were a natural fit. A very large percentage of Wheat producers also devote part of their food-producing efforts to growing grain sorghum, while most grain sorghum producers also grow Wheat on their farms.
Representing the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers at the national meeting will be KAWG President Jerry McReynolds of Woodston, and Vice-President Kendall Hodgson of Little River. They both also serve as members of the NAWG board of directors.
KAWG Secretary-Treasurer Joe Kejr from Brookville will also be traveling to Reno, as will directors Jay Cook of Garden City and Richard Kvasnicka of Winona. KAWG's Immediate Past-President John Thaemert of Sylvan Grove, who also is the NAWG Secretary-Treasurer, will also be attending, as will KAWG's Executive Vice-President Brett Myers of Manhattan.
A key issue expected to receive action from all three Wheat organizations is the voting on a consolidation proposal, which would consolidate NAWG, U.S. Wheat, and WETEC into one national Wheat organization. NAWG President Mark Gage said, "We plan to treat this issue as Congress treats conference reports--an up or down vote with no amendments." He commented, "The proposal has been thoroughly discussed, analyzed, refined and amended into its present form." The consolidation plan has been in the planning for more than three years, and through three separate committees.
The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Wheat Commission have sent an e-mail in mid-February to the members of the governing boards of WETEC, NAWG, and U.S. Wheat. In that e-mail, over the names of KAWG President Jerry McReynolds and KWC Chairman Tom Morton, strong support for the consolidation plan was stated.
In the e-mail, the Kansas Wheat industry leaders said, "Wheat production is vital to Kansas and to our individual farming operations. We see the global market share for our U.S. Wheat crop fall dramatically. We observe annually planted Wheat acreage surrender to other crops with greater income potential due to technological production advancement. In the course of these trends, we have also witnessed the national Wheat organizations wrangle over policy and trade issues in both the media arena and in the halls of our nation's Capitol."
Morton and McReynolds said the Wheat industry leaders in both Kansas organizations are committed to not allowing that wrangling to continue. The Kansas e-mail said, "It is clear to Kansas producers, we must reverse the trends of the past and aggressively pursue an agenda focused on enhancing the long-term viability of Wheat production." And, the message said, "We believe the first step to realizing this effect would be the consolidation of the U.S. Wheat Associates, National Association of Wheat Growers, and Wheat Export Trade Education Committee. This would allow for a more unified and effective national voice for Wheat producers across the country."
Outside of business meetings of each of the organizations, a number of common sessions with the Grain Sorghum Producers will also be features of the North American Grain Congress. The conference will begin Feb. 19 and continue through Feb. 22. The opening reception Feb. 20 and the first general session in the morning Feb. 21. Farm policy matters, the upcoming farm bill debate and the world agricultural market will occupy major parts of the agenda.
The Kansas Association of Wheat Growers is a grass-roots organization that represents Kansas Wheat Producers under the common goal of maximizing members' profitability.
Date: 2/24/05
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