University of Idaho students in the Agricultural Economics course gain hands-on experience trading real money in commodity markets, using funds from the Barker Board Endowment Fund. Guided by faculty including Xiaoli Etienne, the Idaho Wheat Commission Bill Flory Endowed Chair of Risk Management, students analyze markets, manage risk, and trade about $150,000 each semester with professional tools like Bloomberg terminals and a simulated trading floor. This course is part of a larger Agricultural Commodity Risk Management program offering certificates, minors, and industry tours.

Through the support of grower dollars, the Idaho Wheat Commission welcomed a trade team from Southeast Asia to Northern Idaho last week, with representatives from top flour mills in Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. This region accounts for nearly a quarter of all U.S. wheat sales. The group toured the Lewis-Clark Terminal, the largest grain storage facilty on the inland river system, and visited the Lower Granite Dam, highlighting the vital role of the Columbia Snake River System in delivering high-quality Idaho wheat to our global customers. We value and appreciate our strong overseas partnerships.

Camp Rainbow Gold, a nonprofit supporting Idaho children with cancer and their families, has grown from a summer camp into a year-round program with a permanent home in Fairfield, Idaho called Hidden Paradise. As the site develops, it still lacks a kitchen and dining hall—an essential space for shared meals and connection. Idaho’s agriculture community is rallying to help build this vital piece. Join Idaho Wheat and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture on August 9 for a special evening of community, generosity, and purpose as we work together to make this dream a reality.

The current administration announced new trade deals with Japan and Indonesia that aim to expand U.S. agricultural exports by eliminating tariffs and reducing regulatory barriers. Japan, a major importer of U.S. farm goods, will open its market to more products while U.S. wheat producers stand to benefit from improved access. Indonesia agreed to remove 99% of its tariffs and purchase $4.5 billion in U.S. agricultural goods—including soybeans, wheat, and cotton. The agreement builds on a recent commitment by Indonesian flour millers to double U.S. wheat purchases over the next five years. U.S. Wheat Associates and other ag groups praised the deals, which are expected to reverse export declines caused by restrictive trade policies.

Parts of Idaho are experiencing severe drought, putting the region—especially the Magic Valley—at high wildfire risk. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reports extremely dry conditions and has fully staffed firefighting crews, with additional support arriving from Oregon and Montana. Nearly a dozen wildfires have already sparked this week, including lightning-caused fires near the Utah-Nevada border. Farmers in Southern Idaho are on alert, keeping equipment ready to quickly contain fires. Wheat fields, in particular, pose a high fire risk, prompting early harvests as a key mitigation strategy. As conditions worsen, officials urge the public to stay vigilant and help prevent wildfires.

Under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with U.S. Wheat Associates, the Government of Bangladesh has committed to purchasing 700,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat annually for the next five years. Signed on July 20 in Dhaka, the agreement aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s food security and trade ties with the U.S., while offering American wheat farmers consistent demand in a key export market. U.S. and Bangladeshi officials highlighted the deal as a step toward reducing the trade imbalance and ensuring a stable, high-quality wheat supply for Bangladesh. Historically a price-sensitive buyer, Bangladesh’s commitment marks a significant shift toward long-term procurement of U.S. wheat.

In 1975, officials celebrated the completion of the Lower Snake River dams, a $1 billion project that turned Lewiston, Idaho, into an inland port and boosted energy, irrigation, and shipping. Concerns over the dams’ impact on salmon and steelhead quickly emerged and have persisted for decades. A Biden-era agreement to explore breaching the dams for fish recovery—backed by tribes and Northwest states—was recently ended by the Trump administration. Rep. Dan Newhouse supports keeping the dams, favoring alternative salmon recovery efforts. Nez Perce Tribal Chairman Shannon Wheeler argues that breaching is essential to honor treaty rights and restore salmon populations. The Pacific Northwest remains sharply divided over whether to prioritize economic benefits or ecological and tribal responsibilities.