Mission

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.

Research & Appropriations
USDA – Agriculture Research Service (ARS)

• Funding of $5.2 million for the Barley Pest Initiative
  NBGA appreciates the $1 million provided for the BPI in FY2021and urges an increase to $5.2 million in FY2022
• Maintain funding for the US Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative at the FY2021 level of $15 million, as authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill.
• Maintain funding for the Small Grains Genomic Initiative at the FY2021 level of $3.5 million.
• Adequate Funding for ARS Salaries and Expenses to ensure all staff vacancies can be filled.

Farm Programs & Crop Insurance

• Oppose any cuts to the federal crop insurance program. Improve RMA education of crop insurance providers to increase knowledge of barley production for effective implementation of barley crop insurance products.
• Support continued implementation of Farm Bill programs including development and posting of websites by University consortiums to assist producers in evaluating PLC and ARC program options.
• Ensure barley producers and unique aspects of barley production are considered in the development and implementation of programs intended to address impacts of COVID, natural disasters and other market disruptions.

Trade
NBGA supports:

• Seamless implementation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
• 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 upon the best available science to address human dietary concerns. MRLs should not be arbitrary policies that serve as trade barriers.
• Negotiation of a Phase II agreement with Japan that expands market access for U.S. barley.
• Negotiation of trade agreement with China that increases U.S. barley exports and stabilizes ag markets.
• Removal of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum which adversely impact beer producers and result in retaliatory tariffs against U.S. agricultural products.

Transportation & Rural Infrastructure
NBGA supports:

• Reauthorization of the Highway Bill with adequate funding to ensure road maintenance & construction needs are met.
• Provisions, endorsed by the Safer Hauling & Infrastructure Protection (SHIP) coalition, to modernize truck weight limits on federal highways and increase freight efficiency.
• Comprehensive infrastructure investments, including rural broadband that is vital to agriculture and rural health, education, and economic development.

Pandemic Response, Labor & Supply Chain

• Ensure agriculture, transportation workers, and processing facilities are prioritized for vaccines and pandemic assistance and deemed essential when determining exemptions to restrictions imposed to address COVID pandemic.
• NBGA supports temporary tax relief for industry partners that have suffered a loss to their food and beverage inventory as a result of the COVID pandemic. Specifically, the implementation of a short-term, one-time business tax credit for unmerchantable inventory is needed to help mitigate the significant losses in affected industries.