Texas native Chandler Goule, a senior official at the National Farmers Union, will become chief executive of the National Association of Wheat Growers effective July 5, reports Agri-Pulse. The selection follows a suggestion by Jim Palmer, the departing NAWG leader, that the commodity group should recruit someone with experience in farm policy development and advocacy.
Goule was a congressional staff worker for nine years, including four years as staff director of a House Agriculture subcommittee, before joining NFU in 2009 as its chief lobbyist. He was named NFU senior vice president two years ago, overseeing government relations, communications, membership and education. NFU is the second-largest U.S. farm group.
The Wheat Growers is a federation of 22 state associations and represents the interests of wheat producers in Congress and with federal agencies. The group began its search for a new chief executive in early April. Wheat plantings, nearly 77 million acres 20 years ago, are forecast for less than 50 million acres this year. Corn and soybean yields are rising more rapidly than wheat, making it a less attractive crop.