Join NAWG’s advocacy campaign to engage with legislators on increasing Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) programs authorized in the Farm Bill. MAP’s authorized funding has not changed since 2006 and FMD funding has remained the same since 2002, so inflation and sequestration have significantly eroded the ability to compete with other countries who are steadily investing more in their agricultural export promotion efforts. Please visit NAWG’s website to participate in the grassroots efforts to make your voice heard.

There were 2.4 days suitable for fieldwork in Idaho, up from 1.1 days reported the previous week. Most of Idaho remained cooler than normal. Significant new snowfall was reported in southwest Idaho. Some spring grains, onions, sugarbeets, and potatoes were planted. In northern Idaho, a small number of small grain acres were planted. Onion planting started in southwest Idaho. In south central Idaho, there was some rain and snow early in the week. Later in the week, things dried out enough for farmers to get in the fields.

‍Idaho agricultural groups have joined other Northwest stakeholders in asking U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to step in on the federal government's efforts to restore salmon by removing the four lower Snake River dams. Decades-long litigation over salmon in the Columbia River Basin is halted under a stay agreement until Aug. 31. During the stay, the primary parties to the litigation have entered a mediation process led by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, in hopes of reaching a settlement.

The new research addition to the University of Idaho’s Parma agricultural research station is expected to open this fall. The 8,300-square-foot Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health is under construction at the Parma Research and Extension Center, which UI’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences operates. Modern laboratories and space for additional research are among the features. The building “is really going to allow us to make significantly more investment into programming at Parma,” said Mark McGuire, associate dean and director of the system of nine extension centers and several affiliated facilities.

This year, a grower from District 2 will be eligible to serve a new, five-year term on the Idaho Wheat Commission (IWC). The new term will begin July 1, 2023. Are you interested? For more information contact Idaho Grain: ssatterlee@idahograin.org

April marks the beginning of Stress Awareness Month, designed to bring awareness to the negative impacts of stress.The National Institutes of Health states that knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize exacerbation of health-related issues.

Early winter wheat entries into the National Wheat Yield Contest are eligible for a drawing for a free one-year Business Plan subscription to Bushel Farm (formerly FarmLogs)! . Get your entries in to be eligible for this fantastic prize!