From the Field: Farm Chat with Idaho Wheat

The complexity of grain markets can feel overwhelming and hard to grasp, but it doesn't have to be. Watch our conversation with Dr. Xiaoli Etienne, University of Idaho Endowed Chair of Grain Marketing and Risk Management as she shares her knowledge and expertise about futures markets, futures hedging, and cost of carry and basis.

Nutrient stratification commonly refers to a distribution of nutrients that are non-uniform with soil depth, and especially to situations with higher concentrations of nutrients (such as phosphorus or potassium) near the soil surface. Learn more about this and other tips and tricks by joining us for From the Field: Farm Chat with Idaho Wheat. We will break it all down with Jared Cook from Rocky Mountain Agronomics and find out how he assists farmers in helping them maximize crop yields by analyzing soil nutrient antagonisms, biological functions, and environmental stresses to produce a healthy crop.

Take a seat at the table as we sit down with National Association of Wheat Growers’ Mariah Wollweber, Director of Communications and Partnerships, and Jake Westlin, Vice President of Policy and Communications, for a chat about how IWC leverages your assessment dollars to expand political reach. We will be digging into the Farm Bill, the wheat lifecycle assessment study, trade, and the policies and efforts in D.C. that affect your bottom line.

The amount of technical skill to crush wheat kernels into useable flour is often surprising. Join us for as we chat with Shawn Thiele from the International Grains Program (IGP) at Kansas State University who will broaden our understanding of the grind of milling.

We sit down with Idaho Wheat Commissioner Bill Flory, who joins us from Seoul, South Korea, to talk about market development strategies and opportunities for U.S. wheat in the Pacific Rim.

About half of Idaho's wheat and the wheat grown in the United States is exported.  How are our trade relationships with countries around the world and what do you need to know on your farm to make sure the wheat gets to the buyer, miller, and the baker?  We sat down with Dalton Henry and Peter Laudeman, U.S. Wheat Trade Policy experts, for a Q & A about getting wheat from Idaho's fields to family dinner tables around the world.

Wheat digestibility issues may not be solely related to gluten sensitivity.  FODMAPs are fermentable sugars, such as oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, which are short-chain carbohydrates.  ATIs are proteins called amylase-trypsin inhibitors.  These ‘anti-nutrients’, tolerated by most people, are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and have been identified as triggers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).    Dr. George Annor, Dr. Jim Anderson, and others at the University of Minnesota have been investigating FODMAP and ATI concentrations related to bread processing techniques and wheat varieties.  Although concentrations are small, Anderson has found variations in FODMAP and ATI levels among wheat varieties.  Under complex genetic control, it may be possible to reduce concentrations through screening and selection.  Annor has found long fermentation periods (12 hours) can dramatically reduce FODMAP’s and ATIs in sourdough breads.  Increasing fermentation time may be key to making more wheat products available to people that have experienced digestibility issues in the past. Research to reduce anti-nutritional components of wheat is essential to increase demand and consumption of wheat products.

Nitrogen management in semi-arid dryland winter wheat production systems in Southeast Idaho is particularly complicated due to year-to-year variability in precipitation. High precipitation in the spring and preceding fall increase wheat production but insufficient nitrogen, coupled with partial loss of nitrogen from abundant precipitation, can cause low protein levels in wheat, resulting in considerable loss in value at market. In low precipitation years, excess nitrogen fertilization represents an unnecessary expense in a year when yields are down. Join us to talk with the team of USU researchers whose work on this topic is funded by Idaho wheat grower dollars.

Curious about wheat's role in gut health?  Not sure how to distinguish between science and "science" when it comes to wheat foods?  Listen in on this recording when we talked with Dr. Corrie Whisner, a nutrition scientist at Arizona State University, about the myths and facts of wheat nutrition and the effects of wheat foods on the gut.

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing a variety to plant each fall and spring. Do you consider end-use and end-use quality when you make your planting decisions? Listen in as we talk to Mike Moran, Executive Director of the Wheat Marketing Center, and Dr. Jayne Bock, Technical Director of the Wheat Marketing Center, about why the variety you plant matters when it comes to production and use.

As harvest gets into full swing, we want to share some important information with you about grain storage safety.  Grain bin accidents are a leading cause of death and injury in the agricultural community each year.  We want to keep Idaho farmers, their families, and employees safe.  Please take a few minutes to listen to Carol Jones chat about grain bin safety on this month's episode of From the Field.

Hosting trade teams from around the world is an integral part of what the Idaho Wheat Commission does to bolster market demand.  Britany and Casey sat down to talk about their experiences with trade teams and why trade teams matter to Idaho wheat farmers.

Do you know how much wheat is distributed through the USDA and USAID food aid programs?  How the wheat is sourced?  How food aid donations impact wheat markets?  We sat down with U.S. Wheat Associates Director of Trade Policy, Shelbi Knisley, to answer common questions and chat about food aid programs.

We sat down with Paul Arrington, Executive Director of the Idaho Water Users Association, to talk about drought, curtailments, reservoir levels, and all things Idaho water during this farm chat with Idaho Wheat episode.

From price increases up to 300% to cancer claims and lawsuits, using glyphosate is being met with increasing challenges.  Dr. Albert Adjesiwor, University of Idaho extension weed scientist gives some viable alternatives for pre-plant burndown and weed control in wheat during this episode of From the Field.

Britany and Casey break down the war in Ukraine and what it means for Idaho wheat farmers, from supply to input costs to market prices and everything in between.

97% of Idaho's farms are family owned and operated. Do you have a plan to keep your operation in the family for generations to come? We chatted with Peter Christofferson, an Idaho attorney whose expertise in estate planning and real estate law, about what Idaho farmers need to know* to get a succession plan in place.  

*Neither the Idaho Wheat Commission nor any of its affiliates or partners offer legal advice.  Legal questions are detail-specific and should be discussed with your attorney before decisions are made.  We also recommend consulting with your local Farm Service Agency office before making any significant changes to your operation.  

Mr. Christofferson can be reached at 208.523.0620

The people behind Idaho agriculture have a lot to be proud of, but they also face a lot of challenges. This episode of From the Field features Lesley Kelly, farmer and mental health advocate, for a chat across industries about how keeping Idaho's farmers and ranchers healthy keeps Idaho agriculture going strong. For local resources visit: http://agri.idaho.gov/farmcenter/stress-management-resources/ or http//:domore.ag

We were joined by Jerry Brown and Tony Brown, CPAs and wheat farmers in Soda Springs, Idaho, to talk about the tax regulations that hit the farm the most.  While neither the Browns nor the Idaho Wheat Commission are giving tax advice, this episode is full of valuable and pertinent information that will impact the bottom line of your operation.

We chatted with Shawn Nield, State Soil Scientist with USDA-NRCS and Marlon Winger, Regional Soil Scientist, NRCS about soil health, how that term is defined, how to improve the health of your soil, and how to work with what you've got.

Dry, hot summers create the perfect environment for grasshopper infestations, and that’s no fairytale. Join us for the conversation with Dr. Arash Rashed, University of Idaho entomologist, while we chat about the moral of Aesop’s famous tale — plan for tomorrow today — and reduce grasshoppers in your wheat fields next summer.

Catch up on our chat with Dr. Howard Neibling, Water Management Engineer and Extension Specialist at UI about final irrigation in small grains.

Nitrogen Management: Improving Efficiency in the Field
Nitrogen management and precision application is critical in wheat production. We chatted with Jared Spackman, University of Idaho extension agronomist, about how to dial in the nitrogen levels in the field.

There are always a lot of questions about the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA).  Jeremy Tamsen, Director of the Office of Technology Transfer at University of Idaho, answers your questions about the PVPA and breaks down the buy, sell, and trade details of plant seed procurement.

In this From the Field: Farm Chat with Idaho Wheat, we talk with Dr. Albert Adjesiwor, Weed Management Specialist at University of Idaho Extension Center in Kimberly, about how to reduce or rid cheatgrass in your wheat.  This topic was one of our most requested topics for Farm Chat, and with popular hashtags like #CheatgrassIsTheDevil and #CheatgrassSucks, it's no surprise why.

Ben Thiel, U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, breaks down the basics of crop insurance for the University of Idaho Ag Talk Tuesday.

How do common agricultural practices on your farm affect wheat getting to global markets?  We talk with Dalton Henry, Vice President of Policy at U.S. Wheat Associates, about this topic and find out that tariffs are only a small part of trade policy.

We know marketing is a headache and it seems like the price goes up the day after you sell.  Join us for a conversation with Scott Hansen, Grain Merchandising Specialist with White Commercial Corp., and get some tips on how to navigate markets, make a plan, and sell for profitability.

Join as we visit with Dr. Albert Adjesiwor, Extension Weed Management Specialist with the University of Idaho Research and Extension Center in Kimberly about what you can do to control the invasion of China lettuce in your fields.