USA
March 19, 2015

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.

Website: http://www.wheatworld.org

Published: March 20, 2015