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.

Australia, the driest inhabited continent. Despite this, the Land Down Under is one of the world’s top wheat exporters, and some of their practices gaining momentum in the United States and Canada. Farmers and researchers in Australia have spent more than four decades working together to increase yields by benchmarking water-use efficiency, implementing no-till methods, re-engineering soils, and introducing innovations in seed technology. These practices have turned poor agricultural land into profits.

Mike Spier, the new president and CEO of U.S. Wheat Associates, says global demand for high-quality wheat continues to rise, outpacing production at times over the past decade. While international competition has grown, particularly from the Black Sea and Australia, Spier believes U.S. wheat stands out for its quality. He acknowledges ongoing market volatility driven by geopolitics and economic shifts but says U.S. Wheat helps overseas buyers manage risk through timely, transparent information. Despite low wheat prices and rising input costs challenging U.S. farmers, demand from millers for consistent, high-performance wheat provides opportunity.

Four bulk carriers full of U.S. wheat landed in Colombia this summer, the first commercial sales traced directly to a monetization project under the Food for Progress supported by U.S. wheat farmers. The Food for Progress monetization program enabled U.S. Wheat Associates overseas staff to demonstrate the quality and versatility of U.S. wheat. This access to hands-on education resulted in commercial purchases of U.S. wheat by Colombian buyers. Colombia has the second-largest population in South America, where there has been a historical preference for Canadian Western Red Spring over U.S. classes. Programs like Food for Progress and the expertise and relationships buyers, millers, and bakers have with U.S. Wheat staff have created a demand for U.S. wheat

A team of four wheat buyers from Ecuador visited Idaho in July with Miguel Galdos, U.S. Wheat regional director for South America. The team visited Wayne Hurst’s farm in Burley and Clark Hamilton’s farm in Ririe during their two-day visit in the Gem State. The trade team was funded by USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) and Idaho wheat-growing families. Ecuador’s demand for wheat is projected to reach 73.5 million bushels this calendar year, up from 22 million bushels a decade ago. Ecuador imports soft white, hard red winter, and soft red winter wheat classes.

Southern and eastern Idaho wheat and barley growers are reporting exceptional winter grain yields, however, herbicide-resistant wild oats are causing major problems. These weeds can slash wheat yields by over 24% at high densities. UI Extension experts report rapidly growing resistance to pinoxaden (Axial), particularly in southeast Idaho, making control difficult and costly. Weed scientists recommend rotating to broadleaf crops like potatoes or sugar beets, planting CoAXium or Clearfield wheat varieties, or using triallate in tilled systems. Resistance to quizalofop and imazamox is emerging but less severe than pinoxaden resistance.

Japan remains one of the largest and most loyal markets for U.S. wheat thanks to a relationship built over 70 years on trust, quality, and collaboration. In 2025, U.S. Wheat Associates leaders made their first official visit to Japan, meeting top milling companies, bakers, and government officials to reinforce shared goals for quality and reliability. Earlier, Japanese flour millers toured U.S. wheat farms and facilities in Montana, Washington, and Oregon, gaining firsthand insight into breeding, production, and export systems. These reciprocal visits keep communication strong, build personal connections, and ensure Japan’s continued confidence in U.S. wheat.