Idaho water officials projected a 75,300 acre-foot shortfall for Twin Falls Canal Co., up 19.5% from April due to a dry spring and early snowmelt. Under Idaho’s conjunctive water management system, junior groundwater users must prove by July 25 they can mitigate their share or face curtailment. Users participating in an approved mitigation plan will avoid curtailment. The updated methodology, revised in 2023, requires that water owed to senior users be delivered the same year, prompting an earlier curtailment deadline ahead of the September 30 season close.

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and Indonesia’s flour milling association APTINDO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in which APTINDO committed to doubling its U.S. wheat purchases to 1 million metric tons annually over the next five years. The agreement aims to strengthen trade relations, meet Indonesia’s growing demand for high-quality wheat, and support the country's milling sector. Indonesia has historically imported about 500,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat annually but exceeded 792,000 metric tons in the 2024/25 marketing year. Under the MOU, Indonesia will purchase at least 800,000 metric tons in 2025 and scale up to 1 million metric tons annually—valued at $250 million—through 2030.

The Idaho Wheat Commission hosted the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Summer Board Meeting in Boise this week, where Idaho Wheat Commissioner Clark Hamilton was recognized for his service as Chairman of the Board. USW, the export market development organization for the U.S. wheat industry, promotes the reliability, quality, and value of U.S. wheat to buyers, millers, bakers, food processors, and government officials in over 100 countries. During his time as Chair, Clark focused on listening to and engaging with customers, making sure USW was meeting their needs. He pushed for smart marketing strategies that helped strengthen both the U.S. and Idaho wheat industries. Clark will now serve as past chairman, while Jim Pellman, a wheat farmer from North Dakota, has assumed the role of chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates

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.

Despite a 10% decline in global wheat trade in 2024–25, Sub-Saharan Africa saw a 7% increase in imports, reaching 30 million tonnes—a significant rise from 22 million tonnes a decade ago. This growth is driven by population expansion, economic development, and affordable grain prices. Key importing countries include Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. While the EU and Russia supply most of the region’s wheat, Canada and the U.S. are expanding their presence, especially as demand grows for higher-quality wheat.

Renewed conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global fertilizer markets, with Iran shutting down seven urea and ammonia plants after Israeli missile strikes and attacks on gas infrastructure. Iran, a top global urea exporter, halted production alongside Egypt, which lost access to Israeli natural gas. While U.S. farmers are currently shielded from immediate price impacts, prolonged disruptions could lead to significant complications later. Analysts say peace in the Middle East and progress in Ukraine could help stabilize global fertilizer markets.

Stripe rust season is mostly over for winter wheat and poses low risk to spring wheat due to continued dry weather, according to USDA plant pathologist Xianming Chen. Fungicide is only recommended for susceptible spring wheat varieties in irrigated or moist areas. Commercial fields saw reduced rust levels due to fungicide use and resistant varieties. Chen also warned of global concerns: new stripe rust strains virulent to the resistance gene Yr15 have emerged in Europe, causing crop damage. Although the U.S. hasn't seen these virulent strains, ongoing monitoring is essential.