The White House has announced the formation of a Columbia River task force and released a report detailing the impacts of 11 federal dams on Native American tribes in the region. According to the White House Council on Envrionmental Quality, federal dams in the Columbia River basin have long provided renewable energy and numerous other benefits, but they have alse caused and continue to cause significant harm to tribal communities.

After weeks of negotiations between Idaho's surface water users and groundwater districts, a compromise has been reached, averting a potential water curtailment order from the Idaho Department of Water Resources. This temporary agreement ensures that farmers along the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer will continue to have access to water for this growing season. About two-thirds of Idaho's wheat is grown under irrigation.

The World Health Organization states cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. Whole grains are essential for maintaining a healthy heart due to their high dietary fiber content. Elevated cholesterol levels significantly increase the risk of heart disease, but the fiber in whole grains can help lower cholesterol levels in the body. Whole grains are also rich in vital nutrients like B-vitamins, iron, magnesium, and more, all of which support heart health.

With increased moisture across much of the western United States, the wheat industry is off to a strong start in 2024, and remains the nation's top food grain. However, longer-term trends raise concerns. Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) said there has been a steady decline in wheat acreage over the last decade and especially in the last 20 years, and the number of U.S. wheat farmers has decreased from approximately 170,000 in 2002 to 97,000 in 2022.

Weather and climate are top risks to Shepherd’s Grain, a U.S. flour firm based in Idaho that sources wheat from farmers across the Pacific Northwest. To help farmers know when to plant and harvest crops and predict yields, Shepherd's Grain is now using an AI-powered software system called ClimateAi. This system leverages current and historical data, including satellite imagery and temperature and rainfall readings, and combines them with future projections to provide farmers with the most accurate, locally-tailored weather forecasts, ranging from one hour to six months ahead.

The total value of Idaho's agricultural exports increased by 10 percent in the first quarter of the year, while U.S. export value decreased by 4 percent. Idaho's agricultural exports showed remarkable strength despite weaker commodity prices and a strong U.S. dollar. The state has set records for total agricultural export value for three consecutive years and is on track to set another one in the first three months of this year.

A curtailment order is currently in effect for junior groundwater users statewide, but many residents in eastern Idaho are advocating for an agreement to help farmers get through the growing season. At a public meeting hosted by the Bonneville-Jefferson Ground Water District on Wednesday morning, water district attorney Skyler Johns discussed a proposed one-year deal that would prevent curtailment and revert to a 2015 mitigation agreement.