U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is ready to launch another trade team season. Idaho wheat farmer and USW Vice Chairman Clark Hamilton describes farm vists as an important event for customers, and a valuable experience for the farmers who host them. Half of Idaho's wheat is exported to overseas markets, so inviting, hosting, and leading trade teams is a key piece of the puzzle for market development.

Wheat grown in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington travel through the Columbia and Snake River Systems to the Portland habor for global distribution. Portland harbor exports the largest volume of wheat in the U.S., and the Columbia River is the third largest grain exporting center in the world.

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani met with Mr. Vince Peterson, President of U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), and his accompanying delegation this week in the Prime Minister’s residence in Washington D.C. They discussed future cooperation on the supply of high-quality wheat to Iraq at reasonable prices for flour production that can be supplied to the local market outside of the ration card system, which the government has worked to secure and strengthen its strategic reserve, primarily relying on Iraqi wheat.

To misquote Mark Twain, reports of the death of agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) are exaggerated. That is a key message for the world’s wheat growers and buyers following the Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. “Going into MC13 negotiations, we did not want to see any backsliding on past progress made on agricultural commitments at the WTO,” said U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Director of Trade Policy Peter Laudeman, who joined a coalition of U.S. agricultural representatives at the Conference. “Fortunately, the U.S. negotiating team and many other countries were able to hold firm, particularly against India’s protection of its trade-distorting wheat and rice policies.”

Because the quality and attributes of flour can vary by season and variety, it’s important for bakers to understand what works best in their products. One tool that can help them determine flour quality is Solvent Retention Capacity (SRC) testing, said Sean Finnie, director of the Western Wheat Quality Laboratory with the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service. He is part of a team that works to improve wheat quality by identifying desirable traits, testing for them and working with breeders to enhance those traits.

Understanding what operating costs will look like in 2024 is crucial for farm businesses. This article provides a background discussion on categories of operating costs of the greatest importance for crops grown in Idaho and an assessment of the 2024 operating cost projections from the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS). The first part provides insights regarding the input prices that can have the greatest influence on a farm business’ profitability.

A wet February and early March have boosted snowpacks in much of southern Idaho, where some flood-control operations are planned in coming weeks. Snowpack in the state’s northern areas remains below 30-year medians partly because the dominant El Nino weather pattern pushes Pacific storms south. An anticipated shift to La Nina patterns, expected in late summer and early fall, will bring more rain and snow in northern areas.