There’s reason for optimism, and reason for concern, as wheat farmers across Idaho prepare for another growing season. Britany Hurst Marchant, Executive Director of the Idaho Wheat Commission said on the positive side, the Gem state has received a lot of snow this water year. “Our snowpack looks pretty good, our water equivalent in that snowpack is above normal but still not super high. The good news is that we won't be in a drought and we know that we'll still be getting more snow, but we don't want to be too overly optimistic about not having any water issues going forward. This year should be great.”

Famers have many assets that need cared for on a regular basis, including mental health. With daily stressors from natural disasters and volatile markets, to labor shortages and equipment breakdowns, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of farmers and farm families are experiencing stress and mental health concerns. It is important to recognize signs of poor mental health and know how to seek help when needed.

With recent breaks in U.S. and global wheat futures and lower freight rates, the wheat market seems to have turned a corner to favor buyers after two years of volatility and risk. Despite the improved general outlook, inflationary pressures persist, influencing macroeconomic conditions both in the U.S. and for our customers overseas. For example, major runups in the U.S. dollar in the second and third quarter of 2022 impeded wheat trade. Yet even with recent strengthening, the U.S. dollar index has decreased 7% from the highs hit in September 2022, providing some relief for wheat importers.

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are disappointed that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has approved Canadian Pacific Railway’s merger with Kansas City Southern Railroad.

Last year, U.S. exports of wheat dropped to a historic low, both in the number of bushels and in the country’s share of the international market. For the first time since the U.S. Department of Agriculture Environmental Research Service began recording U.S. wheat production and exports in its Wheat Data product in 1975, the U.S. share of world wheat exports dropped below 6% of the international market. Drought was a major factor in the low yields, according to the U.S. Wheat Associates.

US wheat associates Vice President of Communications, Steve Mercer says they are pleased that the Chinese baking industry continues to thrive post-COVID, which is good news for us wheat producers.“China is increasingly in the top 10 of markets to which we export wheat.

Russia has proposed that a U.N.-backed initiative that has enabled grains to be exported from Ukraine's Black Sea ports should be renewed for just 60 days. The deal to free up grain exports from Ukraine's southern Black Sea ports, which expires later this month, has previously been renewed for 120 days and there are concerns a shorter extension could cause logistical issues. Reached in July last year, it created a protected sea transit corridor and was designed to alleviate global food shortages by allowing exports to resume from three ports in Ukraine, a major producer of grains and oilseeds.