Mission

No Barley No Beer
Our mission is to enhance and maintain the profitability of the United States barley industry.

We work to achieve this mission by providing a unified voice through grassroots producer involvement.

Issues relevant to our work include:

  • Research
  • Domestic Farm Programs
  • Grain Quality
  • Trade Policy
  • Domestic Farm Policy
  • Farm Labor
  • Crop Insurance / Risk Management
  • Conservation
  • Transportation
  • Energy
  • Environmental Impact
  • Taxes

Sustainability Statement

Sustainability is inherent for barley growers, many of which have years of experience working the land on family farms that have operated for generations. As farmers, we rely on healthy soil and water and continuous improvements to remain competitive, productive, and profitable.

Barley growers invest in a range of stewardship and best management practices reinforced by lenders, federal farm support programs, and crop insurance. The National Barley Growers Association (NBGA) works with Field to Market to assess and measure environmental impacts of barley production and incorporate barley into the Fieldprint Platform.

The NBGA also supports and advocates for voluntary conservation programs to incentivize growers to implement additional practices to conserve resources and improve environmental outcomes on working lands. Moving forward the organization commits to advocating for research and other programs that will enable barley growers to enhance resiliency in their operations.

2023 FEDERAL POLICY PRIORITIES

Farm Bill & Crop Insurance

  • Oppose any cuts to federal crop insurance Improve RMA education of crop insurance providers to increase knowledge of barley production for effective implementation of barley crop insurance products.
  • Maintain policy of decoupling, which provides planting flexibility without distorting crop production by tying income or revenue protection to recent historical base acres rather than current-year crop plantings
  • Maintain flexibility under Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agricultural Revenue Coverage (ARC) programs, which allow producers to choose program options on a farm-by-farm and crop-by-crop basis
  • Reference Prices: ensure equitable treatment for barley if revisions occur to Reference Prices; any changes to wheat should be applied proportionately to barley.
  • Support reauthorization of S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative and increase authorized funding level for this Ag Research Service (ARS) program from $15 million to $20 million per year. (see separate one-pager)

Appropriations – FY2024

USDA- Agriculture Research Service (ARS)

  • Barley Pest Initiative (BPI)
    • NBGA appreciates the $3 million provided for the BPI in FY2023 and urges an increase to $5.3 million in FY2024
  • Maintain funding for Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative at $15 million, as authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • Maintain funding for Small Grains Genomic Initiative at the level of $3.5 million.

Trade & Supply Chain

NBGA supports:

  • Science-based Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). NBGA is concerned with proposals by some countries, especially Mexico, to use MRLs as a non-tariff trade barrier. MRLs are essential for guiding acceptable pesticides residues in commodities for international trade. NBGA supports MRLs based on the best available science to address human dietary concerns. MRLs should not be arbitrary trade barriers.
  • Trade agreements that expand market access for U.S. barley in Japan and other key markets.
  • Removal of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum which adversely impact beer producers and result in retaliatory tariffs against U.S. agricultural products.
  • Aluminum Midwest Premium – NBGA supports efforts to address lack of transparency in aluminum supplies and prices, which has an adverse impact on beer producers