IDAHO WHEAT COMMISSION

News

U.S. flour production up 4% to new record

Flour production in the second quarter of 2022 totaled a record 107.407 million cwts, up 4.087 million, or 4%, from 103.32 million a year ago, according to data issued Aug. 1 by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the US Department of Agriculture.  

Second-quarter 2022 production was up 5.2% from 102.25 million cwts in the second quarter of 2020. Production in the first quarter of 2022 was 106.471 million cwts.  In the first six months of 2022, flour output aggregated a record 213.878 million cwts, up 3.3% from 206.955 million in January-June 2021. The previous high was 210.916 million cwts in January-June 2018.

April 30, 2024
Winter Wheat Virus Gaining Foothold in North Idaho
Reports of Soilborne Wheat Mosaic Virus are on the rise in north-central Idaho. The virus and yield-reducing disease it causes were first found in Idaho in 2023, in Nez Perce County. This disease has likely gone undetected for a number of years due to symptoms resembling other diseases or disorders in wheat such as nitrogen deficiency.
April 30, 2024
Agricultural Officials Pleased with Early Returns
Although Idaho has had some windy conditions and subfreezing temperatures, it has not slowed the momentum of field work. Farmers have been able to start work in their fields earlier than they have in recent years, and spring planting is looking good so far. “Spring planting of cereal grains is going all full-steam,” said University of Idaho Nez Perce County Extension agent Doug Finkelnburg.
April 30, 2024
EPA Promises to Make Herbicide Strategy Better for Farmers
There is a pressing issue of rapidly evolving herbicide-resistant weed populations that pose a threat to crop production sustainability for Idaho wheat farmers. With promised improvements made by The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), farmers will have more options for controlling weed populations more effectively.
April 30, 2024
Planted Acreage Uncertainty Disrupts U.S. Grain Markets
Idaho wheat farmers have planted about 1.16 million acres of wheat this year, just a slight decrease from last year's 1.17 million acres. Assuming normal weather as the winter wheat crop progresses and spring wheat crops are seeded, wheat futures could feel a downward tug in early summer. While analysts expect wheat price weakness this summer, the near-term outlook is described as less bearish.
April 30, 2024
Strategies for Managing the Unique Stresses Faced by Ag Producers
The agricultural community is increasingly worried about the profound mental health issues affecting its producers. This highlights the crucial need to tackle stressors and create a dependable support system with trusted advisors. There are many unknowns in agrculture that can cause stress for Idaho farmers. Experts identify these potential stress areas as production risk, financial risk, legal risk, and human risk.