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National Barley Improvement Committee selects new leadership
The National Barley Improvement Committee (NBIC), a coalition representing the U.S. barley community of growers, researchers, processors, users, and allied industries, works to secure both funding and favorable agricultural policies at the federal level for their industry. The NBIC’s most visible efforts culminate in an annual Hill climb each spring, primarily focusing on federal funding to support barley research through three unique initiatives: Barley Pest Initiative, U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative, and the new Resilient Barley Initiative.
Idaho barley farmer, Lucas Spratling, and barley researcher, Dr. Thomas Baldwin, have been elected to serve as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively. They will both serve two-year terms and replace Minnesota barley Farmer, Ryan Hough, and Montana State University barley breeder, Dr. Jamie Sherman. The NBIC thanks Ryan and Jamie for their several years of service on the committee. “With great uncertainty in federal funding for agricultural research, the work of the NBIC is more important than ever,” says Ashley McFarland who serves as the coalition’s executive secretary. “Lucas and Thomas are proven advocates and leaders representing their respective stakeholder groups. I look forward to working with them in bringing our message to Washington, D.C. to accelerate barley improvement efforts.”
Spratling is a fourth-generation barley grower from Rockland, Idaho, runs an 800-acre farm alongside his wife Laurie and son Orlin. The family farm focuses on producing malt barley for Molson-Coors, one of Idaho’s largest barley contractors. In addition to his new role with NBIC, Spratling serves on the Idaho Barley Commission and the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) Sustainability Committee. Beyond his farming experience, Spratling has served in various leadership positions, including as Past President of the Idaho Grain Producers Association, Raft River Fire Commissioner and as a volunteer fire fighter with Raft River Fire Department. He is a graduate of Leadership Idaho Agriculture – a leadership development program working directly to cultivate leaders within the state’s agriculture community.
Baldwin is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at North Dakota State University (NDSU). His research focus is on cutting edge-technology to address barley resistance and management of barley diseases. He has over a decade of research experience and has published in the areas of plant pathology, fungal biology and barley genetics. His research program aims to improve our understanding of the nature of barley diseases in relation to the host and the environment. Dr. Baldwin received his Ph.D. in plant pathology at the University of Georgia and conducted post-doctoral research at the Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Unit at the USDA-ARS Research Station in Aberdeen, Idaho. At NDSU, he is the current principal investigator of the North American Barley Scab Evaluation Nursery (NABSEN) and manages the barley disease nurseries in both Fargo and Langdon for spot blotch and bacterial leaf streak of barley. Beyond his research interests, Dr. Baldwin engages with barley farmers and stakeholders in the malting and brewing industry to ensure his program addresses the needs of the barley industry.
NBIC’s annual Hill climb will occur March 9-11, 2026 and will include nearly 30 barley stakeholders advocating in 90+ Congressional offices over the three-day trip. Priorities and platforms will be announced in early-2026 on the NBIC website.
