We are teaming up with Idaho Barley and the Idaho Grain Producers Association for Idaho Grain Night with the Idaho Falls Chukars on Saturday, July 19, 2025. The first pitch will be thrown at 7:05pm. Scan the QR code or click the link below to reserve your FREE tickets now.

Vince Peterson, retiring president of U.S. Wheat Associates, reflected on major global wheat market shifts during his 50-year career, including the EU and former Soviet Union moving from major importers to exporters—a 120 million-ton trade shift. With global wheat demand expected to grow significantly as the world population nears 10 billion, Peterson emphasized the need to maintain strong international partnerships. He also highlighted rising market volatility driven by financial and algorithmic trading, and called for greater investment in technology and yield improvements, while reaffirming U.S. wheat’s commitment to premium quality.

The Idaho Water Resource Board has approved over $30 million to fund water sustainability projects in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) region, supporting a 2024 settlement between junior groundwater and senior surface water users. Funding is split evenly between the east and south-central regions and includes grants for groundwater-to-surface water conversions, surface water efficiency, recharge infrastructure, and monitoring. The projects aim to reduce groundwater use, boost efficiency, and enhance aquifer recharge. State leaders praised the collaborative effort to ensure long-term water sustainability for Idaho’s agricultural communities.

Longstanding partnerships between Idaho’s wheat industry and customers throughout Asia were reaffirmed at U.S. Wheat Associates’ (USW) 2025 North Asia and South and Southeast Asia Marketing Conferences held last month in Da Nang, Vietnam. Fittingly themed “Legacy of Success,” the conferences brought together more than 300 millers, wheat buyers, U.S. wheat farmers, state wheat commission leaders, exporters, and experts in milling, wheat-based foods, and transportation.

Through the support from grower dollars, the Idaho Wheat Commission and the Idaho Grain Producers Association hosted members of the Idaho Legislature and wheat industry partners on the Pacific Northwest Legislative Export Tour in Portland. The tour provided lawmakers a comprehensive look at Idaho’s wheat industry—from production and research to key policy issues such as dam preservation and the critical role of waterways in facilitating wheat exports.

As climate shifts and export challenges reshape wheat production, U.S. breeders are adapting their strategies to meet regional needs and farmer priorities. Drs. Marla Barnett and Dylan Larkin of Limagrain Cereal Seeds emphasize how breeding goals differ: Larkin, based in the Pacific Northwest, focuses on drought and cold tolerance while navigating export restrictions—especially regarding gene editing. Barnett, working in the Central Plains, highlights the importance of dual-purpose wheat for profitability, ensuring it still meets baking standards.

Southern Idaho’s water reservoirs are well-stocked heading into the irrigation season, offering a promising outlook despite a dry and warm early spring that has accelerated snowmelt and reduced runoff. Idaho Water Supply Committee officials warned that the state may need to rely more heavily on its reservoir systems this summer. Reservoirs across the state are in strong shape: the Owyhee River system is full, and reservoirs along the Boise and Payette rivers are expected to reach full capacity. The Upper Snake system is currently 88% full while eastern Idaho’s Henrys Fork, Island Park, Ririe, and American Falls reservoirs are all between 96% and 100% full. North Idaho’s snowpack and runoff are also improved compared to last year’s low levels.