Idaho Wheat Commission

News

Wireworms: The Devastating Pests of PNW Wheat

Dr. Arash Rashed, Jae Ryu, Patrick Hatzenbuehler
This research is funded by Idaho Wheat Commission grower check-off dollars

An objective assessment of economic loss due to wireworm damage in Idaho wheat. Remote-sensing technologies can provide efficient analyses of crop stress and damage in large-scale farming. This project uses field-scale imaging to identify spatial and spectral signatures associated with wireworm damage in wheat fields. Combined with ground-sourced data on yield and wireworm count, these measures can help with early pest detection and estimate yield and profit losses.

‍
Wireworms are the immature stage of all click beetle species (Coleoptera: Elateridae). In the recent decade, wireworms have been resurging as devastating pests of a wide range of crops in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA. Wireworms can stay in the soil for several years (up to 10 years) and infest crops in almost any rotation. Idaho Wheat Commission has provided support to the University of Idaho researchers to study wireworm ecology, management, and the expected yield loss to this pest.

‍

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.

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.