Garfield Grain Grower Will Become Lobbyist Jim Miller Takes Job With National Association Of Wheat Growers

Jim Miller, a Garfield wheat farmer and co-chairman of the U.S.-Canada Joint Commission on Grains, will join the National Association of Wheat Growers in Washington, D.C., as a lobbyist next Monday.

That’s the same day the commission will release its preliminary report on a wheat trade dispute between the two countries.

Miller, the brother of former NAWG president Judy Olson of Garfield, was unavailable for comment.

Bob Riemenschneider, head of the U.S. secretariat of the commission, said Miller will retain his position as the co-chairman when he joins the wheat lobby group.

“I don’t see a conflict of interest in Jim doing both jobs,” Riemenschneider said.

Canada’s co-chairman, Bill Miner, agreed, saying he was aware that Miller had “very close ties” with NAWG.

The commission’s report on recommendations to resolve long-running grain trade disputes between the U.S. and Canada is due out Monday.

Miner declined to comment on published reports that the commission is considering a recommendation that the U.S. eliminate its export subsidy program, the Export Enhancement Program, and in return the Canadian Wheat Board would stop undercutting U.S. wheat prices in certain South American markets.

The joint commission was established last August with a one-year mandate to resolve wheat trade disputes that erupted over soaring U.S. imports of subsidized Canadian durum wheat.

The commission is due to present a final report Sept. 11.

U.S. Trade Rep. Mickey Kantor said earlier this month that he favors extending these restrictions.

However, Raymond Chretien, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., said earlier this week that his country won’t agree to any extension of the 1994 U.S. restrictions on imports of Canadian wheat.

“The fact that we have a different way of marketing our grain does not make our system unfair,” Chretien said.