For immediate release:
~Warrington Thanked for his Service to Wheat Commission
~NAWG Visits Upper Plains to Get First-Hand Look of Drought Conditions for Wheat Farmers
~South Dakota Wheat Outlook
A special news release for South Dakota media outlets. Please contact Reid Christopherson at info@dwheat.org to set up interviews, gather additional quotes and graphics, or pitch a story.
Warrington Thanked for his Service to Wheat Commission
The South Dakota Wheat Commission recently thanked Leo Warrington for his dedicated service. Commissioner Warrington served for six years following his appointment by Governor Dennis Daugaard in 2011.
Warrington has been farming since 1973 and has operated a seed cleaning facility in Bristol SD since 1990. He has served on the Foundation Seed Board of Directors and is a long time member of his local Crop Improvement Association and the SD Crop Improvement Association. He is a member of the Midwest Shippers Association and has held positions on both his local school and township boards.
Reid Christopherson, South Dakota Wheat Commission executive director stated, “I have always appreciated Commissioner Warrington’s extremely sharp focus upon future value-added opportunities for wheat. He recognizes the urgent need for producers to access future and emerging markets.”
NAWG Visits Upper Plains to Get First-Hand Look of Drought Conditions for Wheat Farmers
On August 28th and 29th, SD Wheat Inc.’s Board of Directors and SD Wheat Commissioners met with National Association Wheat Growers (NAWG) President David Schemm and CEO Chandler Goule from Washington, DC, concerning the drought and its effect on wheat acres and SD farm economy. On-farm tours were scheduled for NAWG officers in Pierre and Mitchell, to learn more about how the drought is impacting growers and their planting decisions.
As part of the trip, NAWG then participated on a drought panel, hearing from Department of Agriculture, Congressional representatives, Farm Services Agency, financial institutions, insurance representatives, and Wheat Board of Directors and Commissioners. The message was clear, “producers are feeling the effects of not just 1 but 3 difficult years for wheat,” said Director Todd Mangin “a strong farm bill and exports are key for our industry.”
“The ongoing drought in the Upper Plains is a real-time example of why wheat farmers need a strong safety net program in place,” stated NAWG President and Sharon Springs farmer David Schemm. “Congress needs to realize that this drought is not only affecting wheat growers but the entire wheat value chain, impacting the agriculture industry.”
“Witnessing first-hand the current state of the wheat industry in South Dakota really put into perspective the need for quick re-authorization of the Farm Bill,” stated Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers. “Wheat growers in the Dakotas are truly struggling but with such programs as federal crop insurance, growers are able to stay in business and continue to plant their next wheat crop.”
South Dakota Wheat Outlook
Ahead of the five-year average, 50 percent of the 2018 winter wheat crop is planted.
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