A reminder that there is a new nation-wide project called “Probing Our Country’s Soil Health”. It is being funded by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). A major goal of the project is to build a national soil health database and new and improved tools for benchmarking and interpreting soil health metrics. The anonymous data will be used to expand a new and exciting tool called the Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation (or SHAPE). This tool helps provide better references for farmers seeking to understand and build soil health. Idaho growers are encouraged to join this important initiative to help shape the future of soil health practices across the nation. More information can be found here!

The FDA has updated its definition of the term “healthy” on food labels, with new rules taking effect on April 28, 2025. Under the revised guidelines, foods must contain a certain amount from a recommended food group—such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, or proteins—and meet strict limits on added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. The new definition also introduces important terms like Food Group Equivalent (FGE) and Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC) to help standardize serving sizes. Labeling a product as “healthy” remains voluntary, but companies that choose to use the term must maintain documentation to prove compliance.

The Trump administration is considering softening its proposed port fees on China-linked ships after receiving widespread backlash from U.S. industries, including agriculture, that warned of severe economic harm. The original plan proposed fees up to $3 million per port call to curb China’s maritime influence and boost U.S. shipbuilding. However, due to concerns that the fees could disrupt commodity shipping and strain businesses reliant on Chinese-built vessels, alternatives under review include delayed implementation, tonnage-based charges, or fees scaled to the proportion of Chinese-built ships in a company’s fleet.

USDA research weed scientist Olivia Landau is asking big questions about the future of weed management in wheat farming. As part of the Pacific Northwest Herbicide Resistance Initiative, Landau focuses on identifying herbicide-resistant weed populations and exploring innovative approaches to manage them. As growers face increasing herbicide resistance, Landau encourages them to reach out and share field observations that might inform her research. She’s committed to making complex scientific information clear and accessible, helping the region’s farmers find sustainable, forward-looking solutions to weed management.

The University of Idaho’s largest grant, nearly $59 million from the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC) program, was terminated due to new USDA criteria requiring 65% of funds go directly to producers. The original proposal had over 50% allocated for producer payments, with the remainder for technical and marketing support. The university had already begun enrolling producers and offering support to help them adopt sustainable practices. The USDA is relaunching the program as the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) Initiative, and U of I plans to revise and resubmit its proposal.

The USDA is now accepting applications for four key export market development programs for 2025—MAP, FMD, TASC, and EMP—to help U.S. agricultural producers expand international sales. These programs support overseas marketing, address trade barriers, and develop new markets. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins also announced six upcoming international trade missions to promote U.S. ag exports, highlighting a renewed push to reduce the $50 billion trade deficit left by the previous administration. Applications are due by June 6, 2025, with funding designed to foster strong public-private partnerships and boost rural economic growth.

Farmers in the Pacific Northwest are expected to plant slightly more wheat and corn but slightly less barley and hay in 2025, according to the USDA’s prospective plantings report. Idaho’s total wheat acreage will dip 1.7%, with a 3.9% increase in winter wheat offset by an 11% drop in spring wheat. Barley acreage across the region is projected to fall by 2.1%, with Washington seeing the largest decline, while Idaho holds steady. Corn plantings are up 6.1% regionally, led by a 10.5% increase in Idaho. The Idaho Wheat Commission notes these are normal fluctuations due to crop rotations and economics.