Idaho Wheat Commission

News

Weed Management Systems: Italian Ryegrass

Joan Campbell, University of Idaho

An initial Italian ryegrass survey was completed in 2006 and 2007 with 75 Italian ryegrass samples collected from Lewis, Latah, Nez Perce, and Benewah counties in Idaho and Whitman, Spokane, and Walla Walla counties in Washington. Italian ryegrass seed was collected again in 2017 to 2019 from the same areas and an additional 31 sites. Seeds from each sample along with a known susceptible biotype are screened in the greenhouse against herbicides used to control Italian ryegrass. Untreated plants are included from each sample. Screening has been ongoing and will be completed in May.

Post emergence herbicides tested in the second survey include glyphosate, Axial XL, clethodim, Poast, Assure II, Osprey, and PowerFlex HL. No Italian ryegrass samples were resistant to glyphosate. Diclofop is no longer used as Italian ryegrass had a high degree of resistance to this group 1 herbicide. Other group 1 herbicides increased from below 50% in the first survey to 58 to 75% resistance. Clethodim is the exception with resistance levels still below 25%. Screening of pre-emergence herbicides resulted in no sample resistant to Zidua or Outlook. Amber resistance is widespread at 86%. Axiom and Dual Magnum resistance is 25% and 14%, respectively.

Close attention to using herbicide resistant tactics will help keep herbicides effective for managing Italian ryegrass.

August 4, 2026

Study Outlines Importance of Enriched Flour to U.S. Health

The Grain Foods Research Institute has published a paper outlining the undeniable benefits enriched flour has on public health. Without enrichments, the average American diet would be deficient in a number of essential nutrients and those insufficiencies would hit vulnerable groups the hardest.

August 4, 2026

Wheat Poised for a Rally

With sharp escalations in Russia’s war against Ukraine, and less wheat leaving Black Sea ports, futures markets for wheat are climbing. Futures markets rose above $7 per bushel for the first time since 2023. Trading on futures and options can come with substantial risks, but knowing what your risks are and weighing possible outcomes can be profitable and help you manage your risk. The Idaho Wheat Commission invested grower dollars into the creation of the Idaho Wheat Commission Bill Flory Endowed Chair of Risk Management at the University of Idaho, held by Dr. Xiaoli Etienne. Because that position was funded with your assessment dollars, you have access to her expertise. Also, University of Idaho Extension Specialist in Risk Management, Colby Field, can help you understand the risks and potential rewards of the trade.

August 4, 2026

New Ag License Plates Available — Support Ag in the Classroom

A new license plate design is now available in Idaho. This new agriculture plate supports Idaho Ag in the Classroom and shows off your love and commitment to Idaho agriculture all day every day. The plates are available at county offices and through the Idaho Transportation Department online portal.

August 4, 2026

Supreme Court Sides with Bayer

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled with manufacturers and the ag industry, agreeing that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) is meant to prevent state laws from imposing additional warning labels on production aid chemicals if they differ from the labels already required by the federal government.

June 3, 2026

Idaho’s U.S. Senator Frank Church Wrote BPA’s Rulebook. It Demands Reliable Power, Too.

An opinion editorial written by Will Hart, executive director of the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association, and Kurt Miller, executive director of the Northwest Public Power Association.