More than six of every 10 acres in the continental United States is in drought, with arid conditions stretching from the Appalachians to the Pacific Coast, said the weekly Drought Monitor on Thursday. Conditions worsened in the Ohio Valley, as warm weather combined with below-normal precipitation to dry the Midwest.

The 2023 US winter wheat crop is in considerably worse condition than the 2022 crop at the same point a year ago, and in fact it is in worse condition than any winter wheat crop for the date. But as any longtime wheat industry professional will tell you, it’s a long way until harvest, suggesting the crop has plenty of time to recover if weather conditions improve.

Russia agreed to resume a deal allowing safe passage of Ukrainian crop exports, abruptly reversing course after Turkey and the United Nations pushed ahead with the shipments over Moscow’s objections.

In a regional, continuous project partially funded by the Idaho Wheat Commission, popular wheat varieties are tested for quality at the Western Wheat Quality Lab.

Wheat industry representatives are ramping up visits with overseas customers this fall and winter. Northwest farmers, researchers and other industry experts will participate in crop quality tours hosted by U.S.

New University of Idaho research raises the possibility that exposing a crop cultivar to several generations of heavy weed pressure may be an effective way to breed more resilient varieties.

In Idaho, 42% of the crop was rated fair, 44% good and 9% excellent. In Oregon, 16% was fair, 32% good and 44% excellent. In Washington, 31% of the winter wheat crop was fair, 54% good and 9% excellent.