Feeding America, the nations largest hunger-relief organization, has found that 11.4% of Idahoans are food insecure, and 14.5% of children are food insecure. This is a significant increase from 8.2% of Idahoans who were food insecure last year. Idaho is known for its agricultural productivity, however, food insecurity remains a concern in Idaho.

Proposed legislation from the House Agricultural Committee for the Farm Bill presents a remarkable initiative; the allocation for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) and Market Access Program (MAP) funding would be doubled. It has been 20 years since FMD and MAP have seen an increase, and the much needed change would be beneficial for Idaho wheat growers.

Wheat farmers in the Pacific Northwest may see higher yields this year thanks to a transition from drought to optimal growing conditions. Wheat yields peaked in 2020 throughout the Pacific Northwest, but have been declining since. With the arrival of cooler temperatures and sufficient moisture, Idaho wheat farmers can look forward to a promising growing season ahead.

Farmers in certain regions of Idaho are facing issues like cold damage, nitrogen leaching, and a few cases of stripe rust. Significant cold damage has been observed in the early stages of some early, tender cereal grain crops in southeast Idaho, showing up as tip burning. This can get worse with cool temperatures and not enough water. Overall, extended cool conditions can be promising for cereal grain growth.

Farming is a stressful way of life with increasing challenges. Multiple studies show that farmer suicide rates are up to five times higer than the national average. Natural disasters, extreme weather events, financial uncertainty, fluctuating markets, labor shortages, trade disruptions, and other factors all contribute to extreme stress or mental health issues for farmers and ranchers who often live in a very isolated setting. Work has been introduced by two U.S. based organizartions to provide crucial mental health services to those dependable people who supply wheat to the world.

Weather plays a significant role in agricultural markets, particularly for commodities like wheat. Shifting weather patterns have prompted a recent reversal on wheat prices. Since April of 2024, wheat futures contract has surged from $5.53 per bushel to $6.87 per bushel as of May 13, reaching its highest level since August of 2023. Weather will continue to influence markets, but the futures contract surge is encouraging news for Idaho wheat growers.

The growing season is well underway in most cropping regions of Idaho. At this time of year, discussions among wheat farmers often revolve around yield projections, both at the field and farm level. Profitablity mapping is an extension of yield mapping in which information on inputs applied, input cost, and sales prices are all encompassed into a map. These profitability maps can be helpful for Idaho wheat farmers in determining what areas of a field can be profitable.