Idaho's snowpack is near, at, or above normal in many areas, giving USDA NRCS hydrologists optimism that irrigators will have enough water this season. The only areas of concern with below-normal snowpack are the Coeur d’Alene-St. Joe basin, Big Lost and Little Lost basins, and the Birch-Medicine Lodge/Beaver-Camas basin. NRCS Idaho water supply specialist Erin Whorton highlighted that snowpack conditions, combined with expected reservoir fills, set water users up for success, though spring weather will still influence water availability.

The current administration has indefinitely paused a court-ordered review of 14 Columbia River dams intended to assess their impact on endangered salmon and steelhead. The delay is due to recent changes in how federal agencies implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), following the President’s rollback of longstanding NEPA regulations. The review stems from a 2023 $1 billion settlement—known as the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement—between the federal government, tribal nations, and the states of Oregon and Washington.

Clark Hamilton, a third-generation farmer from Ririe, Idaho, recently concluded his term as chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates (USW). Over the past year, he traveled internationally to build relationships with global wheat buyers and promote the quality and reliability of U.S. wheat. With over 15 years of leadership in the wheat industry, Hamilton is recognized for his collaborative, relationship-driven approach. He encourages fellow farmers to value their checkoff investment, highlighting the important work USW and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) do on their behalf.

There is a new nation-wide project called “Probing Our Country’s Soil Health”. It is being funded by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). A major goal of the project is to build a national soil health database and new and improved tools for benchmarking and interpreting soil health metrics. The anonymous data will be used to expand a new and exciting tool called the Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation (or SHAPE). This tool helps provide better references for farmers seeking to understand and build soil health. Idaho growers are encouraged to join this important initiative to help shape the future of soil health practices across the nation. More information can be found here!

Mexico and Canada have been exempted from President Donald Trump’s new 10% global tariff baseline. Goods compliant with the USMCA trade agreement will largely remain tariff-free, except for auto exports and steel and aluminum, which fall under separate policies. While Trump previously imposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada over migration and fentanyl concerns, he later allowed exemptions for USMCA-compliant goods. Analysts believe the exemptions helped Mexico and Canada avoid harsher trade measures. Canadian leaders, however, indicated they would respond with countermeasures to protect their economy.

The President announced new tariffs on April 2, aiming to counter what he described as unfair trade practices that have harmed U.S. farmers and ranchers. The President declared tariffs ranging from 10% to 50% on 57 countries, excluding Canada and Mexico. He emphasized that these measures would restore balance to U.S. trade and support American agriculture. Agricultural leaders expressed uncertainty over how the tariffs would impact input costs and global trade. Trump's tariffs followed a recent 25% duty on imported autos and parts, aligning with broader protectionist policies aimed at bolstering American industry.

Idaho set a record for total agricultural export value for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, reaching $1.34 billion—14% higher than the previous record of $1.18 billion in 2023. The state's top export was dairy at $282 million, an 11% increase, driven mainly by higher prices. Canada remained Idaho’s top export destination at $421 million, a 10% increase, followed by Mexico at $260 million (up 6%) and South Korea at $74 million (up 42%). Different data sources track Idaho's exports. U.S. Census Bureau data, which is more timely but based on export location, does not fully capture all Idaho-grown commodities like wheat shipped through Portland. USDA data, which lags but provides a broader view, reported $2.89 billion in Idaho ag exports in 2022.