Keeff Felty

Reauthorization of the farm bill remains a top priority this year, the new president of the National Association of Wheat Growers says.

“Everybody wants to get this farm bill done, but it’s got to be an improvement, it’s got to be better,” said Keeff Felty, of Altus, Okla. “We don’t want to do it just for the sake of saying we got it accomplished.”

Maintaining and improving crop insurance is the “cornerstone” of the bill for NAWG, Felty said.

The farm bill has been extended for one year, through September.

Felty said he’s optimistic despite delays in Congress.

“It’s going to require a few tweaks here and there, and some of them are expensive,” he said.

Other prioritiesFelty lists the Snake River dams, the Environmental Protection Agency’s “waters of the U.S.” rule and labeling of crop protection products as other priorities.

“There are a lot of different things that are going to need some attention going forward,” he said. “A lot of these have been lingering for a while now. It would be nice if we could get an ultimate, longer-term solution on some of these things. A lot of that involves Congress, legislation and regulation.”

Farm lifeA fourth-generation farmer, Felty’s been farming on about 6,800 acres since 1985, with wheat comprising about 5,000 acres. He also raises cotton, sesame and pastureland.

“Fall has always been the most exciting time,” he said. “It’s wheat-seeding time, it’s summer crop harvest time. It’s different every year — it’s different and it’s the same. You know what you’re going to do, but you seldom do it the same way twice.”

Joining NAWGFelty replaces Brent Cheyne, of Klamath Falls, Ore., as president.

The president serves a one-year term. Felty was elected during NAWG’s annual conference in Houston, Texas.

Felty volunteered to be on the budget committee during his first NAWG meeting, in January 2017.

“It’s a good bunch of people, everybody is dedicated and striving to improve the industry,” he said. “I like being part of that.”

Pat Clements of Kentucky will serve as vice president. Jamie Kress of Idaho will serve as treasurer and Nathan Keane of Montana is the new secretary.

“I’m looking forward to working together with the entire industry,” Felty said. “Wheat’s got a good long history and legacy. Whatever we can do to further wheat’s footprint, voice and activities throughout the nation.”

NAWG president Keeff Felty is named for his mother’s maternal grandfather, Cliff Keef Norman.

“His was with one ‘F,’ and Mother mis-spelled my name at the hospital, but that’s fine, it balanced it out,” Felty said with a laugh.

It has caused some confusion.

“I’ve heard everything, all the time,” Felty said. “You probably can’t come up with something I haven’t heard.”

He “absolutely” loves the name.

“It’s different, it does have the history and heritage, and I know what it is,” he said. “Unless somebody asks, I’m probably not going to elaborate on it. But it’s different, it’s interesting. I like it.”