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New Wheat Growers CEO will re-examine some current views

The National Association of Wheat Growers’ (NAWG) new CEO, Chandler Goule, says he’ll have to re-examine his views on trade.  The National Farmers Union, Goule’s current employer, and for whom he frequently serves as spokesman, is opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but NAWG supports it.

“I understand both sides of trade and the benefits, because trade’s neither inherently good or bad,” Goule told Brownfield Ag News Tuesday.  “Trade is trade; we just need to make sure that it benefits the family farmer and so I don’t think that will be a difficult transition to make.  I clearly understand international markets play an important role in making wheat profitable.”

Goule has a lot of experience in Washington farm policy despite his background as a Texas A&M animal science major.  He aspired to veterinary medicine before accepting an internship in the nation’s capital.

“I had one semester left at Texas A&M, I drove back finished up my semester at A&M, packed all my stuff up and moved right back to Washington, D.C. and have been here for 16 years,” he said.  “That internship completely changed my life.”

In addition to his position with NAWG that Goule takes on July 5, he will also serve as executive director of the National Wheat Foundation.

Goule says his aim is to make wheat a major player in drafting the next farm bill, Goule’s fourth since he began working in farm policy.

“There are 300,000 wheat farmers in the United States; it’s the third-largest commodity in the United States and we are going to be sitting at the table during every one of these conversations,” said Goule.  “That is my main goal as we head into the farm bill debate.”

AUDIO: Chandler Goule (8 min. MP3)

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