The National Plant Germplasm System (N.P.G.S.), is a federal program that safeguards the genetic diversity of crops essential for food security. Located in facilities like the seed vault in Aberdeen, Idaho, the N.P.G.S. maintains over 600,000 plant genetic lines, including more than 62,000 wheat varieties. T

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have mapped the genome of Aegilops mutica, a wild wheat relative, providing valuable genetic insights for improving modern wheat varieties. Published in Scientific Data, this high-resolution genome assembly enhances efforts to safeguard wheat production against climate change and plant diseases. Led by assistant professor Surbhi Grewal, the research highlights Aegilops mutica's potential for traits like wheat rust resistance. As part of the Nottingham Wheat Research Centre’s pre-breeding program, the study aims to introduce beneficial genetic diversity into cultivated wheat. Using advanced sequencing techniques, researchers developed a fully annotated genome assembly, paving the way for breeding more resilient wheat varieties. For over a decade, the Nottingham Wheat Research Centre has worked on wheat-Aegilops mutica introgression lines to transfer adaptive traits into modern wheat, strengthening its resilience to environmental challenges.

Scientists at UC Davis have developed a groundbreaking genetic tool that enhances wheat and triticale breeding, improving efficiency and adaptability to different environments. This innovation, described as driving a "second Green Revolution," allows breeders to separate plant height genes from other growth-related traits, enabling the development of varieties suited to specific field conditions. The research, led by Juan Debernardi and involving wheat geneticist Jorge Dubcovsky, utilizes micro-RNA to regulate gene expression. By applying CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, they manipulated AP2L genes to produce shorter plants while maintaining normal-sized underground sprouts. This advancement allows seeds to be sown deeper, accessing moisture and reducing the risk of lodging—when plants fall over, which complicates harvesting. Field trials confirmed the benefits, with gene-edited plants standing 5 to 7 inches shorter, resisting lodging, and yielding 9% more grain. The method also significantly shortens breeding time compared to traditional approaches.

Maintaining optimal soil pH is essential for sustainable farming, as acidic soils can hinder crop productivity by increasing toxic aluminum levels and reducing nutrient availability. To address this challenge, we launched field studies in Ashton and Swan Valley in 2021 to evaluate the effects of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), a byproduct of sugar beet processing, applied at rates of 0, 2, 4, and 6 tons per acre.

China has released new guidelines to advance biotech cultivation from 2024 to 2028, focusing on gene-editing tools and developing improved wheat, corn, soybean, and rapeseed varieties to enhance food security. The plan aims to establish independent and controllable seed sources, prioritizing high-yield and disease-resistant crops. The initiative also seeks to reduce reliance on imports, particularly soybeans, amid trade tensions with the U.S. Additionally, China plans to enhance livestock breeding by developing high-performance pigs with better reproductive capacity and efficient feed conversion, as well as disease-resistant broiler chickens.

Wheat production in the dryland regions of the Inland Pacific Northwest (PNW) is heavily dependent on limited rainfall and soil moisture availability. In Eastern Washington, where annual rainfall is less than 14 inches, soils are prone to erosion and have low soil organic carbon (SOC). The predominant wheat-fallow cropping system relies on tillage during the fallow period to conserve moisture but contributes to SOC decline, increased erosion, and overall soil degradation. To address these challenges, researchers and farmers are exploring strategies such as biosolids, biochar, manure applications, conservation tillage, and crop residue retention to enhance soil health and fertility.

The current administration’s dismissal of USDA-funded scientists will have lasting effects on farmers, ranchers, and agricultural research, according to Oregon State University’s Dean of Agricultural Sciences, Staci Simonich. Nineteen USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and support staff at OSU-affiliated research units across Oregon were among those abruptly fired, many of whom were early-career researchers. The cuts were part of a nationwide termination of probationary USDA-ARS scientists, though the USDA has not provided details or responded to requests for comment. Research areas affected include weed control, rangeland management, blueberry breeding, and irrigation practices. Some dismissed scientists, like horticulturist Francisco “Paco” Gonzalez, were rated as “fully successful” in performance reviews.

Pabitra Joshi, a recent doctoral graduate from the University of Idaho, has made significant contributions to Idaho’s wheat breeding program, particularly in developing wheat varieties resistant to dwarf bunt and common bunt. Originally from Nepal, Joshi's research identified two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with resistance to these fungal diseases, aiding future breeding efforts. Her work utilized advanced genetic mapping techniques, including doubled haploid breeding, to accelerate cultivar development. Beyond her research, Joshi became a licensed drone pilot to assist with high-throughput phenotyping, using aerial imagery and modeling to assess wheat traits. She also played a key role in the national Wheat Coordinated Agricultural Project (WheatCAP), focusing on breeding wheat resilient to climate challenges.

Herbicide-resistant weed populations are evolving rapidly, posing a significant threat to the sustainability of crop production in Idaho. To address this challenge, a four-year crop rotation study was launched in 2021 at the University of Idaho Kimberly Research and Extension Center. The study evaluates weed control and seedbank dynamics in two rotation systems: wheat-alfalfa and wheat-annual crop (corn and dry bean). Three herbicide treatments were implemented: untreated, postemergence (POST) only, and a combination of preemergence (PRE) and POST. Results showed a dramatic reduction in weed seedbank density, from 11,304 seeds to as low as 196 seeds per 10 square feet in some treatments. The highest seedbank densities were observed in untreated plots, while the PRE + POST approach consistently outperformed the POST-only treatment in reducing weed seedbanks.

Kansas State University wheat specialist Romulo Lollato emphasizes the benefits of including winter wheat in crop rotations, despite its declining acreage in Kansas. While profitability often drives planting decisions, omitting winter wheat may mean missing advantages in planting flexibility, fertilization timing, and livestock grazing. Lollato highlights that winter wheat offers a longer planting window, particularly in warmer regions, and allows for more strategic nitrogen application over six months. Additionally, it serves as high-quality forage for livestock during late fall, winter, and early spring. Farmers can also capitalize on double-cropping opportunities, potentially growing three crops in two years, enhancing overall profitability. Other key benefits of winter wheat in crop rotations include weed suppression, moisture conservation, and carbon sequestration.

The story of durum wheat spans over 10,000 years, starting with Neolithic farmers in the Fertile Crescent cultivating wild emmer grass and selectively breeding it into durum wheat. As people migrated, they adapted wheat to new climates, with durum wheat becoming the basis of pasta in Italy. The Council for Agriculture and Economic Research (CREA) collaborates with global scientists and uses Microsoft Azure's high-performance computing to analyze the genomes of wheat varieties. The Pangenome Project focuses on identifying traits to improve wheat’s resilience to extreme weather, diseases, and pests, while reducing reliance on fertilizers and pesticides. This work is critical as wheat accounts for 20% of global calorie intake, and climate change poses significant threats to staple crops. Researchers emphasize the importance of collaboration and data quality in transforming raw genomic data into actionable insights. By leveraging cloud technology, they aim to address climate challenges and secure the future of global food production.

A new rapid test for measuring starch damage in wheat, known as the TotalTarget for Sprout Damage, is expected to be commercially available by the first quarter of 2025. Developed by EnviroLogix, the test targets grain elevators and wheat mills, with limited use anticipated by farmers. It directly measures the activity of the amylase enzyme, which indicates sprout damage or low falling number issues caused by pre-harvest sprouting or alpha-amylase activity. The introduction of this test is particularly significant for Idaho’s wheat industry, where high-quality soft white wheat is a major export. By helping preserve the premium value of sound wheat, the TotalTarget test could benefit Idaho wheat growers, enabling better segregation and reducing the risk of contamination.

The first Pacific Northwest Herbicide Resistance Initiative (PNWHRI) annual report is now available. The goal of PNWHRI is to create a coordinated. interdisciplinary, systems-based apporach to managing herbicide resistance in weeds that is regional in scope and long-term impact.

Weeds are a big problem for wheat farmers, and herbicide-resistant weeds make things even harder. In Idaho, some Italian ryegrass populations have developed resistance to multiple herbicides, including groups 1, 2, and 15. Roundup-resistant kochia, Russian thistle, common lambsquarters, and downy brome have also been found in the state. In Latah County, mayweed and mustard species have shown resistance to group 2 herbicides, while wild oat resistant to groups 1 and 2, as well as FarGo-resistant wild oat, continues to spread. Herbicide resistance raises costs for farmers. For example, if a grower has group 2-resistant Italian ryegrass in winter wheat, they would have to switch from using Amber ($7/acre) to Zidua ($20/acre). Over time, costs increase due to the buildup of resistant weed seeds and lower yields. One possible solution is using a seed safener, which can help control resistant Italian ryegrass. In tests, wheat without a safener was damaged by Dural Magnum, while Zidua, Axiom, and untreated plots (with or without a safener) had better results.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a genetic modification in wheat that could make it safer for individuals with celiac disease while improving the quality of gluten-free bread. By removing specific DNA sections, such as the Δgli-D2 deletion, they reduced harmful epitopes—protein components that trigger celiac disease—without compromising wheat’s yield, protein content, or breadmaking properties. This breakthrough strengthens dough and may reduce the risk of celiac disease by lowering exposure to these proteins in the diet. The team aims to refine this method further by "cleaning" additional regions of wheat chromosomes using small deletions and gene editing. The project, supported by a grant from the Celiac Disease Foundation, seeks to create commercially viable wheat varieties for bread and pasta that are safer for celiac sufferers. While still years away from widespread availability, this research holds significant promise for improving the lives of millions affected by celiac disease.

Washington State University (WSU) researchers are conducting a USDA-funded study to explore soil health changes on lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) at the Lind Dryland Research Station. CRP incentivizes farmers to convert environmentally sensitive land to vegetative cover, temporarily removing it from agricultural production to improve soil and environmental quality. The study aims to identify best practices for transitioning CRP land back to crop production while preserving soil health. This is the first study in the Pacific Northwest’s dryland region to evaluate CRP soil health. Findings will guide farmers on how to optimize the benefits of conservation practices while maintaining food production. While three years is insufficient for long-term conclusions, researchers hope to secure future funding to extend the study over multiple crop cycles.

Oklahoma State University (OSU) has developed Scab Stryker, a new wheat variety resistant to fusarium head blight (head scab), a fungal disease affecting wheat and small grains. Though uncommon in Oklahoma, head scab is particularly problematic in high-moisture conditions and in fields where wheat follows corn. This innovative variety combines OSU's 2011 Garrison wheat with a scab-resistant gene from a University of Nebraska experimental line, making it the first Great Plains wheat variety to include this gene. While Scab Stryker is susceptible to leaf rust and stripe rust, these risks can be managed with fungicides. Its strong resistance to head scab, however, addresses a threat that fungicides alone cannot control. The variety also shows resilience against barley yellow dwarf, powdery mildew, leaf spotting, and bacterial leaf streak diseases.

The University of Idaho’s Aberdeen Wheat Breeding and Genetics Program made remarkable strides in 2024, particularly in the development of spring wheat cultivars tailored to Idaho’s diverse agricultural needs. Among the year’s highlights was UI Gold, a hard white spring wheat cultivar first released in 2022. Despite the challenges of widespread stripe rust, UI Gold demonstrated outstanding yield performance. Certified seeds were successfully harvested by licensed seed companies, ensuring its availability to Idaho growers for spring 2025 planting.

Agriculture, originating in the Fertile Crescent around 12,000 years ago, has undergone several transformative revolutions. Today, a fourth agricultural revolution is underway, driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

Shirin Parizad, a researcher with expertise in plant pathology, entomology, and molecular biology, is tackling the challenges of vector-borne plant viruses in agriculture. Currently pursuing her second Ph.D. in entomology at Virginia Tech, Parizad focuses on the epidemiology of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), a major viral disease impacting small grains worldwide.

Technology providers have faced challenges in delivering hybrid non-GMO wheat to U.S. farmers. Corteva aims to change this with plans to release hybrid hard red winter (HRW) wheat by 2027. A new proprietary technology is being used for making hybrids with the goal to increase yield potential by 10%, enhance drought resistance, and accelerate the introduction of new elite germplasm. Testing shows that hybrid wheat could outperform conventional varieties by 20% in water-stressed conditions, helping farmers adapt to climate change. Hybrid wheat development has had mixed success, with companies like Syngenta, BASF, and Bayer each pursuing different strategies. Syngenta recently launched hybrid hard red spring (HRS) wheat in the U.S. Northern Plains, while BASF exited North American hybrid wheat development. Bayer continues hybrid wheat R&D in the U.S. and Europe. HRW wheat, the most widely grown class in the U.S., accounts for 24.1 million acres planted in 2024, making Corteva’s focus on HRW particularly significant.

The Hessian fly is among the most destructive insect pests of wheat worldwide. Host plant resistance remains the most effective and dependable method for controlling this pest. In Idaho and the Pacific Northwest, spring wheat cultivars resistant to Hessian fly have been developed and are now widely grown. Genes continue to demonstrate strong effectiveness.

Are there certain advantages old wheat varieties have over newer wheat varieties that are commonly grown today? This was a question presented to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln High Plains Ag Lab specialists at a recent workshop. Wheat is sensitive to drought and heat stress, which are major environmental drivers affecting crop yields in the Panhandle, a semi-arid region. For decades, breeding for drought-tolerant wheat varieties has focused on above-ground traits, such as grain yield, disease resistance or straw strength. Very little breeding has been done for below-ground traits due to the challenges associated with assessing those traits.

An important breakthrough in efforts to halt the advance of wheat blast, an emerging threat to international food security, has come from a surprising source. New research unexpectedly reveals that wheat varieties with resistance to another pathogen, powdery mildew, also confer protection against wheat blast. The study is published in the journal Nature Plants. When seeking resistance to diseases, it is common to search among varieties or old landraces from regions where the disease originated. As wheat blast is a disease of humid sub-tropical regions, efforts to control the disease have focused on finding resistance genes among wheat varieties adapted to warmer climates.

An antique collection of wheat from around the world could breathe new vigor into the staple. When plant breeders created modern wheat during the 19th and 20th centuries, they focused on crossing and selectively breeding a few key varieties, creating a finicky racehorse of a crop: high yielding but vulnerable to disease, heat, and drought and reliant on a liberal application of fertilizer. Part of the solution, according to a study published today by Nature, may lie in the genetic diversity in 827 kinds of wheat, many of them long vanished from farms.

Plant biologist Marcus Samuel has been working for more than a decade to improve the climate resilience of crops. At his research greenhouse at the University of Calgary, he uses cutting-edge gene editing techniques to produce hardier varieties of plants able to withstand temperature fluctuations, floods and frosts. But while he has worked on canola, peas and other crops, perhaps the most elusive and exciting part of his work is the quest for drought-resistant wheat. "It is definitely the Holy Grail. I think this has been one of the hardest things to crack," Samuel said. Samuel is just one of many scientists in Canada and around the world pursuing the development of a drought-resistant wheat strain. It would be one of the biggest victories in agricultural research, if achieved.

Although there is data on how crops respond to soil pH and liming, information on how weeds tolerate low pH or respond to liming is scarce. The influence of soil pH on crop competition with weeds is also not well understood. To investigate this, two sites have been established to study the effects of soil pH on weeds. Weed growth is being measured by planting weeds in field soil collected in a greenhouse. Several weed species are grown in both non-limed soil and soil with four levels of adjusted pH. Preliminary results show that prickly lettuce and two biotypes of common lambsquarters are taller in limed soil compared to non-limed soil partway through the experiment.

Wheat plays a critical role in global food security, but water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions hinders its efficient production, suggesting significant opportunities for water saving. Therefore, understanding the genes that control wheat's drought tolerance and water use efficiency is critical for improving genetic resilience and breeding water-efficient varieties.

The surface of the Pacific Ocean along the equator is cooling and likely will continue to cool, triggering a La Nina this summer that will stay through the winter, the National Weather Service predicted Thursday. Sea-surface temperatures have been above average for almost a year, but will drop this month to near normal, ending a strong El Nino that peaked in December, according to the weather service's Climate Prediction Center. There is a 69% chance that between July and September seas will be cool enough for a La Nina. La Nina winters are generally cooler and wetter in the Pacific Northwest and good for irrigators.

China has approved the safety of gene-edited wheat for the first time as Beijing cautiously moves forward with commercial growing of genetically modified food crops. China has in the past year ramped up approvals of genetically modified (GM) corn and soybean seeds that are higher-yielding and resistant to insects and herbicide to secure its food security, but the uptake remains slow and cautious due to concerns about the impact to health and ecology. Unlike genetic modification, which introduces foreign genes into a plant, gene editing alters existing genes to change or improve its performance and is viewed by some scientists as less risky than genetically modifying them.

CIMMYT researchers recently conducted a retrospective analysis of top-performing elite spring wheat genotypes. Data collected from international trials over 14 years (2003 to 2016) were included in the analysis. The annual genetic gain for grain yield was estimated at 0.96% (65 kg/ha per year) accompanied by an increase in genotype stability over time. Researchers attributed gains primarily to enhanced radiation use efficiency and increased grain filling rate. However, different traits were associated with grain yield in the top highest-yielding genotypes. This suggests increased grain yield can be attained by different mechanisms and that no single trait should be the focus for future improvements.

Several viruses are present in Idaho which can impact yield and quality of wheat. Some of the important viruses include Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV), wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), and the more recently discovered in Idaho, soilborne wheat mosaic virus (SBMV). These viruses are capable of causing significant yield losses.

Export demand and competition, the war in Ukraine, domestic supplies, the fight for planted area, and global weather will be primary factors influencing wheat, corn and soybean prices and production levels in the year ahead. In the breadbasket of the US Plains, the hard red winter wheat crop enters dormancy in relatively good shape. The Nov. 28 US Drought Monitor map showed far less production area in drought versus a year earlier. The US Department of Agriculture said winter wheat areas in drought on Nov. 28 were 65% in Kansas (89% a year earlier), 29% in Texas (79%), 3% in Colorado (98%), 9% in Nebraska (100%), zero in South Dakota (93%) and 5% in Montana (83%). Oklahoma isn’t included in the drought analysis.

A new $1 million grant from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Organic Transitions Program will facilitate studies into organic dryland wheat production in the inland Pacific Northwest. Organic production presents challenges for farmers switching from conventional cropping systems. There is currently little information on the best practices to make that transition and the corresponding economic impact. Inland Northwest farmers face three big challenges in going organic: weed management, finding a non-chemical source of nitrogen for soils, and reducing the associated costs of both. Scientists from WSU, Oregon State University, North Carolina State University, and the Rodale Institute will focus on specific organic cropping systems in their respective regions. The WSU team will evaluate different nitrogen-fixing legumes that can contribute nitrogen into soil and reduce weed competition.

After member states failed to reach agreement, the European Commission has approved the continued use of the controversial chemical substance glyphosate throughout the European Union for an additional ten years. Glyphosate, a herbicide introduced in the 1970s to eliminate weeds in agricultural crops and public spaces, has been a subject of controversy since the World Health Organization’s cancer agency determined in 2015 that it was likely carcinogenic to humans. The Commission emphasized in its recent announcement that the EFSA meticulously reviewed 16,000 published studies, including 2,000 considered potentially relevant, along with an additional 300 studies identified during the public consultation phase.

Kansas State University researchers have reported a breakthrough in developing wheat-based foods that contain lower amounts of gluten, a discovery that may lessen the adverse effects for those with celiac or other autoimmune diseases. Scientists from K-State’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service—in partnership with Kansas Wheat—successfully used a gene editing technique known as CRISPR-Cas9 to reduce the presence of two types of gluten-coding genes called gliadins that are known to be abundant in immunoreactive peptides—the amino acid building blocks that form proteins.

This research was aimed to develop a generic machine learning-based model for predicting wheat Leaf Area Index (LAI) across diverse soil backgrounds for the entire growth season, improving upon previous soil-specific models. Broadening the reflectance domain of the training soil background improved the model's robustness, but enhancing canopy-spectral inputs proved more effective for stable LAI prediction across soil backgrounds. This model represents a significant advancement in predicting LAI without the need for ground calibration, making it a promising tool for agricultural monitoring and management.

Crop rotations in eastern Idaho often are limited to one of three crops, with most of the production dedicated to cereals - wheat and barley. Understandably, with limited rotation, soil­ borne diseases and crop-specific nematodes may build up to damaging levels.

Northwest farmers will likely see more “normal” days this winter with less risk of “overly dry conditions,” a meteorologist says. Most forecasts are “too heavily dependent on an El Nino that is yet to jump in the ring,” said Eric Snodgrass, principal atmospheric scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions. In the meantime, a massive atmospheric ridge over British Columbia will bring weather out of the east, where there’s no moisture, he said. As a result, most of the Pacific Northwest will be drier, with some chances of moisture coming in, Snodgrass said. “You’re going to get moisture, but it’s not a constant push of it,” he said.

The common assumption that Spelt is more nutritious than modern wheat is not supported by scientific data. Spelt (T. aestivum spelta) is a progenitor of modern wheat, often called an ‘ancient wheat’. It is still being grown, often for its assumed advantages in protein quality, fiber, and micronutrients and its unique flavor profile. A new study by the University of Cordoba, Spain, compared 90 varieties of Spelt with modern, common wheat. The researchers concluded that it was not accurate nor true that Spelt is healthier than common wheat due to the great genetic variability in important grain components in both specie. Common wheat generally has the highest grain fiber content, but grain processing and type of flour will impact final amounts. Micronutrients such as iron and zinc were generally higher in Spelt, but it also possesses more phytic acid, which makes micronutrients less able to be assimilated by the body. Phytic acid itself, however, has beneficial antioxidant properties. Although there was no obvious ‘winner’, the information can be used to select and breed individual varieties that combine the best nutritional properties and traits.

Representatives of US Wheat Associates (USW) traveled to Argentina last week to learn more about Bioceres Crop Solutions’ HB4 wheat technology at the company’s headquarters in Rosario. HB4 technology is the world’s first and only drought-tolerant technology for wheat and soybean crops, according to Bioceres. The technology has been approved in 10 countries — Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Paraguay, South Africa and the United States — but only has been approved for commercialization and cultivation in Brazil and Argentina.

Scientists will study the best way to shift to organic wheat farming through a new $1 million grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Organic Transitions Program. Organic agriculture is becoming more common, often yielding products that can fetch a premium price, but it presents its own different set of challenges. For farmers interested in switching from conventional agriculture to organic systems, there is little research-based information available on how to best make that transition, especially in the Pacific Northwest’s dryland wheat growing region.

Scientists with the University of Idaho Kimberly Research and Extension Center have a new machine for studying how temperature affects weed emergence. Results of testing using the new thermogradient table will inform development of predictive models to help growers pinpoint when weeds are likely to emerge to time the application of herbicides. Researchers have been collecting weed seeds from throughout Idaho to grow within the stainless-steel table. Weed seeds will be germinated either on specialized growing paper or in containers filled with sterilized soil, and the researchers will test how quickly weeds emerge when the table is set at various temperatures ranging from 35 degrees to 110 degrees.

Hessian fly is a destructive pest of wheat in most of the wheat growing regions in the world. Host plant resistance is the most effective and reliable control method. Several resistant wheat cultivars have been produced and planted to tame the hessian fly damaging effect. However, occurrence of virulent biotypes that can attack these resistant lines had been reported. Virulent biotypes are now capable of overcoming the H3 resistance gene. Wheat breeders and entomologists continuously search for new sources of resistance to protect both spring and winter wheats from Hessian fly attacks: Incorporation of multiple resistance genes like HS, Hl3, Hl5, H22, H25, H26, H31 and H34 into the wheat breeding efforts is paramount in Pacific Northwest.

After a run of bountiful harvests, Australia's 2023-24 wheat crop is likely to enter grain filling stages with much less soil moisture than in recent years. USDA noted in the September 2023 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report that "Australia (wheat production estimate) is reduced 3 million tons to 26 million as dry weather this past month in Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland lowers yield prospects." That change is not minor; it is more than a 10% decline in estimated Australia wheat crop size in just one month.

RUDN University ecologists found a parameter in satellite images that allows accurately calculating and increasing the wheat yield. Such technology helps agronomists monitor crops and make decisions. These results were published in The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Science. Low crop yields are usually associated with disturbances in agro-climatic conditions, improper or untimely tillage, diseases, and pests.

Herbicides place selection pressure and drive evolutionary changes in weeds. Globally, weeds have evolved resistance to 21 of 31 herbicide modes of action. Colorado State University Professor Todd Gaines is exploring a new form of weed control by using next-generation RNA technology. Targeted weed RNA sequences can be designed to shut down specific protein translation and coding processes and inhibit gene function. These tiny RNA molecules could then be used as a spray to induce gene silencing. The technology is currently being used in medicine for highly specific disease treatments with minor side effects. The RNA targeted gene-silencing strategy presents a new mode of action that could revolutionize weed control. The challenge for weed control, however, will be to develop stable molecules that can easily enter plants. The research is being conducted in collaborations through the International Weed Genomics Consortium.

That’s right UI Gold, hard white spring wheat, was worth its weight in gold when it yielded 140 bu/ac in two registered seed fields in Ririe and Blackfoot, Idaho. That’s 170% of the average spring wheat yield for Idaho in crop 2023.

Funding and support from the Idaho and Oregon Wheat Commissions has led to a major NSF grant to advance wheat microbiome research. In 2014, Dr. Chris Mundt, a Cereal Pathologist and Professor at Oregon State University (OSU), learned of microbiome research underway in the United Kingdom concerning disease resistance in crops. Faced with a devastating disease outbreak in Oregon's wheat crops, and a lack of effective solutions for local farmers, Dr. Mundt recognized the potential for conducting similar research at OSU. The goal: provide valuable insights to disease resistance crops in the Pacific Northwest growers.

There has been significant recent interest in harnessing interactions of plants with microbial communities - the so-called "microbiome" - to control plant diseases.

A company on the cutting edge of Autonomous Decision Science, an artificial intelligence-based technology that gathers and analyzes an almost limitless amount of data to help clients make decisions (and make decisions for clients), has been closely examining the Russia-Ukraine war and the impact it is having on global food insecurity. Stephen DeAngelis, founder, president and chief executive officer of Enterra Solutions, said the war in Ukraine, one of the world’s leading exporters of wheat, corn, barley and sunflower oil, along with the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, have dramatically changed the global supply and demand picture.

The food industry supply chains have been challenged with severe weather events, price volatility, competition for planted acres, and global disruptions in trade and transportation as evidenced in the Black Sea region. Peter F. Levangie, president and chief executive officer of Bay State Milling Co., noted that companies are increasingly sourcing closer to home and avoiding reliance on a single supplier. Innovations that lead to more drought resistance varieties and reduced reliance on overseas suppliers for ingredients, such as high fiber wheat flours, also will limit exposure. Jeff Zyskowski, vice president and supply chain lead for Ardent Mills, Denver noted the importance of strong collaborative partnerships to anticipate any potential disruptions and leverage a broad supply and distribution network. New technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) could benefit supply chains as well. Software that allows companies to view entire the value chain can drive efficiency, manages costs, and react quickly.

Wheat starch is made up of two granule sizes – the larger A-type and smaller B-type granules. Researchers at the John Innes Centre have recently identified a key enzyme involved in the formation of smaller B-type starch granules. Removal of this ubiquitous enzyme, designated PHS1, produces wheat starch with low, or no, B-type starch granules. Starch is often modified to achieve specific properties required for each food or non-food end-use. This knowledge may help researchers create variations in starch though genetic means, optimized for different food and industrial applications. Future research may include how granule size impacts digestibility and nutritional value of dietary starches.

The Australian Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will invest more than a billion dollars over the next 5 years in R&D and extension. The goal is to maximize the impact of research investments and ensure a strong, profitable, and sustainable grains industry into the future. GRDC seeks to 1) harvest existing potential to hit yield and profit targets; 2) Reach new frontiers and deliver step changes in crop productivity; 3) Grow markets and capture more value from the crops; and 4) Ensure Australia’s grains industry remains a global leader in sustainability. A broad portfolio of investments is envisioned that will range from multi-million dollar national projects to smaller projects focused on regional farming systems.

Einkorn, a diploid bread wheat progenitor, was farmed as early as 12,000 years ago. It was gradually replaced by hexaploid bread wheat as people selected for larger grain and easy threshing. Einkorn is still being grown in some environments for use in certain local, rustic breads. Both wild and domesticated varieties still exist, which means it could be a unique genetic resource for modern wheat to improve traits such as tolerance to disease, drought, and heat. An international research team led by University of Maryland has now published a complete genome sequence for Einkorn in the journal Nature. Einkorn can be used as model species and genetic reference not only for bread wheat, but for rye, barley, and oats. Comparing gene sequences can identify gene targets for traits that differ between ancient and modern grains. Researchers have already begun identifying economically important genes in Einkorn and selectively breeding these into modern bread wheat.

Idaho has extremely diverse growing conditions for wheat. Selecting varieties best adapted to local conditions and management practices is critical to achieving the highest possible grain yields and reducing vulnerability to diseases, insects, and unusual weather events. The University of Idaho Extension Wheat Nurseries provide an objective, uniform, and statistically sound evaluation of winter and spring wheat varieties and variety candidates in diverse Idaho environments. Public varieties from Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Utah and selected private entries are evaluated each year. The extension nurseries provide valuable data to support variety release and identify varieties which perform best in specific locations and management situations.

The downpour began in late May, drenching the wheat crops in central China. As kernels of wheat blackened in the rain, becoming unfit for human consumption, the government mobilized emergency teams to salvage as much of the harvest as possible. In a viral video, a 79-year-old farmer in Henan Province wiped away tears as he surveyed the damage. The unusually heavy rainfall, which local officials said was the worst disruption to the wheat harvest in a decade, underscored the risks that climate shocks pose to President Xi Jinping’s push for China to become more self-reliant in its food supply.

A novel cellulase nanofiber technology is being explored as means to control foliar disease in wheat. The nanofibers, when sprayed on the leaf, act as a mesh, non-chemical barrier to infection by fungal diseases. Produced from pine trees, nanofibers are used in other industries, such as cosmetics. The technology is not considered a pesticide, may outperform some pesticides, and is likely cheaper to apply.

Wheat growers currently have access to two production systems using herbicide resistant technologies to control grassy weeds – Clearfield and CoAXium. However, these two technologies, based on ALS- and ACCase inhibitor herbicides, are insufficient to solve all weed control problems and address evolving herbicide resistance issues.

USDA-ARS researchers have identified a new toxin that contributes to infection, spread, and severity of Fusarium head blight. The toxin is a trichothecene, called NX, which is related to, but different from, the deoxynivalenol (DON) toxin that impacts grain quality and use. Deletion of the toxin producing gene decreases fungal infection and spread in the wheat head. The gene provides an important new target to protect and control infection, as there are currently no cereal varieties that are completely resistant to the Fusarium head blight disease.

Researchers at the University of Hohenheim have identified 2,896 different proteins in flours from common wheat, durum wheat, and the wheat progenitors emmer, spelt, and einkorn. Although closely related botanically and genetically, about half of all proteins differed among the individual species. One of the largest proteomic studies to-date, the research shows wheat species differ significantly in levels of potentially allergenic proteins. Levels are reduced by 2 times in durum wheat and 5.4 times in einkorn as compared with common wheat. Common wheat and spelt have the same total allergen frequency. The information can be used to target breeding and selection for improved end-use quality, nutritional quality, and reduced allergies.

The University of Idaho soft white winter wheat (SWWW) breeding program has been working in close collaboration with Limagrain Cereal Seeds since 2012. Varieties co-developed by U of I and LCS are now being marketed with the ‘VI’, or ‘Varsity Idaho’, designation. The breeding collaboration has produced the leading Clearfield SWWW varieties UI Magic CL+, VI Presto, CL+, and VI Voodoo CL+. Conventional SWWW varieties include VI Bulldog, VI Shock, and VI Frost. These varieties, with support of LCS marketing efforts, have returned millions of dollars in royalties to support U of I wheat programs.

Winter wheat crops of U.S. Midwest and northern China are increasingly likely to be pushed beyond their physiological tolerances to heat and drought. A study published in the journal npj Climate and Atmospheric Science presents a worst-case scenario in which extreme weather impacts two key wheat producing areas in the same year.

ICARDA (International Centre for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas) is developing new image-based methods to identify plant genetic traits that promote tolerance to heat, drought, and pests.

Winter wheat sampled from a field in Nez Perce County, ID has been confirmed to have soilborne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV). While this disease has been in the Walla Walla area in southeastern Washington for some time, it was just recently discovered in other regions of Washington including near Ephrata in Grant County. However, this is the first incidence of this wheat disease in Idaho. Symptoms of SBWMV initially appear as a light green to yellow mosaic on the leaves and leaf sheathes of wheat plants along with stunting and reduced tillering. Symptoms typically appear in late winter to early spring when temperatures are still cool.

Wheat stripe rust is one of the most damaging diseases of wheat. The Pacific Northwest is particularly vulnerable due to its favorable climate for the disease. Yield losses in susceptible varieties have averaged 35% over the last 40 years.

Wheat plants weakened by drought are inherently more susceptible to root roots, aphids, brown mites, and wheat streak mosaic virus carried by the curl mite.

As part of a collaborative project with Oregon State University, University of Idaho is seeking cooperators for a study of the Cereal leaf beetle to monitor its abundance and the abundance of parasitoid wasp that was introduced as a biological control agent nearly 20 years ago.

Multicrop systems have potential to reduce erosion, soil carbon loss, nutrient runoff, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.

Spring is an incredibly busy time of year for wheat growers.

Herbicide-resistant weeds are among the most costly and serious threats to sustainable wheat production.

Much of the new crop of wheat in the Northern Hemisphere is either dormant or semi-dormant, waiting for its opportunity to evolve and produce.As of mid-February, assessing the prospects for 2023 wheat production has been a little tenuous, but it is hard to find serious problems that cannot be fixed.

The Grain Research and Development Corp. (GRDC) announced a $12.7 million national research project to support the integration of long coleoptile wheat into Australian farming systems. The announcement was made by GRDC Chairman John Woods at the Grains Research Update in Perth, Western Australia’s premier grains industry forum. The coleoptile is the protective sheath that encloses the emerging shoot and first leaves. The longer the coleoptile is, the greater the emergence potential when deep sowing. Long coleoptile wheats can be sown at depths of more than 10 centimeters, making better use of stored soil moisture.

Growing wheat in drought conditions may be easier in the future, thanks to new genetic research out of the University of California, Davis. An international team of scientists found that the right number of copies of a specific group of genes can stimulate longer root growth, enabling wheat plants to pull water from deeper supplies. The resulting plants have more biomass and produce higher grain yield, according to a paper published in the journal Nature Communications.

A new semidwarf gene has been identified that will improve early emergence of barley in deep seedings. Genes associated with the Green Revolution often led to shorter stems and shorter coleoptiles, making it more difficult for plants to compete and emerge from dry, deep seedings. The new semidwarf gene has a more moderate reduction in plant height and increase coleoptile length, overcoming these weaknesses. A diagnostic molecular marker will support faster breeding of varieties with the trait. Semdwarf. The research was product of a collaboration between the Western Crop Genetics Alliance, University of Tasmania and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science.

No-till dryland wheat growers in Idaho are becoming increasingly reliant on glyphosphate for pre-plant and post harvest weed control. The repeated use of glyphosphate as the main weed management tool could result in widespread glyphosphate weed populations. To protect the value of glyphosphate in wheat production systems, it is important to identify effective alternate herbicides and mixtures for weed control.

Genome editing is a technology that allows researchers to develop new plant varieties with interesting characteristics, such as disease resistance. However, according to European legislation, these are potentially dangerous GMOs. But is it really so?

CIMMYT scientists have screened a sample of 990 bread wheat landraces using genome-environment associations against seven key climatic variables. The research identified proteins associated with drought and heat tolerance that can be used to improve modern wheat varieties and better adapt to extreme environments.

Genetic resources of crop plants are being held in nearly 2,000 gene banks around the world.

A University of Idaho livestock genetic scientist is part of an initiative that was recently awarded $1.9 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds to promote collaboration among plant and animal genomic researchers.

Nitrogen management in semi-arid dryland winter wheat production systems in Southeast Idaho is particularly complicated due to year to year variability in precipitation.

The world population is growing. At the same time, researchers and farmers need to figure out how to adapt agriculture to changing, and sometimes increasingly harsh environmental conditions.

Building the genetic makeup for the ideal wheat crop is no easy task. Just ask Liuling Yan, the Dillon and Lois Hodges professor of wheat molecular genetics and breeding in the Oklahoma State University Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, who recently discovered the TaCol-B5 gene in wheat plants. What makes this gene so special?

Researchers have developed several new varieties of wheat that tolerate soils with higher salt concentrations. After having mutated a wheat variety from Bangladesh, they now have a wheat with seeds that weigh three times more and that germinate almost twice as often as the original variety.

Yield reductions due to Hessian fly infestation of spring and winter wheat can be significant in northern Idaho. However, widespread economic losses in the region have not occurred in recent years due to effective resistance in many of the most widely planted and highest-yielding varieties.

Do fertilizer prices have you considering alternative nutrient sources for your grain production? Do you have a neighboring dairy wanting to incorporate manure into your cropping system?

The University of Idaho Extension has published a new bulletin focusing on management of Take-All Disease of Wheat in Idaho.

University of Idaho Extension barley agronomist Jared Spackman and UI Extension cropping systems agronomist Kurt Schroeder suspect many fields throughout Idaho that have historically been suitable for grain production but have been trending acidic are finally getting too far out of balance.

The Idaho Wheat Commission supports a multi-layered project to study the stripe rust epidemic through a collaboration between the USDA-ARS, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho.

Some of the foods we know and love could be gone from the planet faster than you might think - chocolate might be gone in 40 years and oranges are under threat as well.

Farmer-built, weed-specific sprayers are on the near-horizon for agriculture.

Agoro Carbon Alliance has announced a total payment of $9 million to farmers and ranchers enrolled in the first year of the carbon credit program. This carbon market was launched in June of 2021.

For Idaho growers concerned about increasing levels of herbicide-resistant weed seeds in their fields, harvest weed seed control systems may present a new approach.

Yield reductions due to Hessian fly infestation of spring and winter wheat can be significant in northern Idaho.