IDAHO WHEAT COMMISSION

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ALERT: Winter Wheat Mites Found in PNW Fields

The winter wheat mite has been found actively feeding on wheat in fields in Washington.  Mites do not like bright lights and will be active at dawn or dusk or on overcast days.  They are black bodied with reddish-orange legs and only about 1/16 of an inch in size.  If winter wheat mites are present fields will take on a gray or silver hue, or will show patches of yellow.  No-till and high residue fields increase crop risk.  Learn more here.

April 7, 2026
Changing diets and demographics creating new opportunities for U.S. wheat
Rising incomes, growing populations, and rapid industrialization is creating increased demand for wheat foods around the world.
April 7, 2026
Idaho ag economic impact hits records
The economic impact of agriculture in Idaho reached $44.5 billion in sales, 17.2% of the state’s total economic output.
April 7, 2026
What is the Most Important Asset on the Farm?
How much time do you spend making sure your equipment is properly maintained? From combines and drills to pickups and silos, the farm has spent a lot of money and you probably have a “correct” way to take care of the tools you’ve invested in. But what is the most important asset on the farm? Quick answer: you and the people around you. Do you allocate as much time and attention on those assets? Probably not.
April 7, 2026
ALERT: Warm Weather Threatens Wheat with Yield Loss
The warm winter weather throughout the state has experts concerned about increased fungal diseases creeping into fields and causing yield loss. Xianming Chen, USDA stripe rust expert in the PNW, is warning farmers to start checking their fields. Chen is predicting that stripe rust will be more widespread and extreme this year than in the past 15 years. The last particularly bad year for stripe rust was in 2011. Experts from the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative are also warning about fusarium head blight and vomitoxin (DON) in winter wheat. USWBSI is reminding farmers that the best time to apply fungicides for FHB and DON management is at Feekes growth stage 10.51, when 50% of the main tillers have reached early anthesis (flowering) and up to seven (7) days following.
April 7, 2026
Impacts from Iran on Idaho Wheat Inputs
In the two weeks since the February 28 U.S. strikes on Iran, there have been jolts to the global economy. The most obvious adjustment for the majority of Americans will be at the gas pump as oil is manipulated and used as collateral. Beyond fuel, the current unrest in Iran has already started to punch agriculture in the gut in Idaho and across the country.