The U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) board of directors elected new officers for the 2025/26 fiscal year during their January 2025 meeting in Washington, D.C. Mike Carstensen of Almira, Washington, was elected as the organization’s next Secretary-Treasurer and will assume office in July 2025. Current Chairman Clark Hamilton of Ririe, Idaho, will transition to Past Chairperson. Hamilton and his wife Kristi own Hamilton Triple C Farms, a diversified operation in eastern Idaho, where they farm alongside their two sons. Their crops include four classes of wheat, as well as barley, potatoes, pulses, and alfalfa. He currently serves as a commissioner on the Idaho Wheat Commission, where he has also served as chair.

The potential introduction of U.S. tariffs on Canadian wheat could disrupt trade. Canadian wheat exports to the U.S. have surged, nearing record levels. While the U.S. is the sixth-largest importer of Canadian wheat, the diversity of Canada’s export markets—spanning 50 countries, including Japan, Indonesia, and South American nations—provides resilience for Canadian wheat prices. If tariffs are imposed, U.S. domestic wheat consumption would likely increase, reducing its export capacity, which could create opportunities for Canadian wheat in global markets. While tariffs on Canadian wheat might provide a temporary boost to Idaho’s domestic market, the long-term effects will depend on global trade adjustments and Idaho’s ability to maintain competitiveness in export markets.

In 2020, the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided against removing the dams on the Lower Snake River but announced in December their intent to prepare a new supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS). Conservation groups, tribes, and anglers argue the dams are the main reason salmon and steelhead populations have declined in Idaho. The dams play a crucial role in the economy, particularly for Idaho farmers who rely on the river's barge system to transport wheat, a significant crop. Removing the dams could raise costs for farmers, potentially driving them out of business. As discussions continue, the focus remains on balancing salmon recovery with economic stability, with several ongoing studies to address energy, transportation, water, and recreation impacts.

In 2024, Idaho's agriculture sector experienced mixed financial results, as highlighted in the University of Idaho’s The Financial Condition of Idaho Agriculture report. Total farm-gate receipts reached a record $11.3 billion, marking a 4% increase from 2023. However, this overall growth concealed significant disparities between the crop and livestock sectors. Receipts for Idaho wheat fell 7% from the previous year, totaling $564 million. Despite these challenges, agriculture remains a cornerstone of Idaho’s economy, generating $38 billion in annual sales, accounting for 17% of the state’s economic output, and supporting one in nine jobs.

Group 1 and Group 2 herbicides, once essential tools for controlling weeds in wheat and other crops, are losing their effectiveness due to widespread resistance, according to Washington State University weed scientists. For Idaho wheat farmers, whose crops thrive in an exceptional growing environment, this growing challenge highlights the need for proactive and diversified weed management strategies.

The American Relief Act of 2025, passed in December, 2024, just before a potential government shutdown, allocates $31 billion for disaster and economic aid to farmers and ranchers. It also includes a second extension of the 2018 farm bill, which has been expired since September 30, 2024. While the relief act provides essential support, the absence of funding for orphan programs and reliance on ad hoc aid underscore the need for a comprehensive new farm bill in 2025. A modernized farm bill could provide a more effective safety net, reducing the necessity for emergency interventions in the future.

A new rapid test for measuring starch damage in wheat, known as the TotalTarget for Sprout Damage, is expected to be commercially available by the first quarter of 2025. Developed by EnviroLogix, the test targets grain elevators and wheat mills, with limited use anticipated by farmers. It directly measures the activity of the amylase enzyme, which indicates sprout damage or low falling number issues caused by pre-harvest sprouting or alpha-amylase activity. The introduction of this test is particularly significant for Idaho’s wheat industry, where high-quality soft white wheat is a major export. By helping preserve the premium value of sound wheat, the TotalTarget test could benefit Idaho wheat growers, enabling better segregation and reducing the risk of contamination.