Wheat Research Ctr.

That was the sound of a ribbon cutting ceremony in Filer, Idaho which unveiled the newest research and development center for Idaho agriculture. “Our goal is to offer US wheat growers improved varieties to enhance and protect their wheat crop investment. To do what they do best, even better, in feeding the world.” Idaho Director of Agriculture Celia Gould says it’s a big deal for Idaho. “It is a big deal for us and you know and we know here that wheat is critical to all that we do in Idaho. In Idaho alone, $750 million of our farm gate receipts come from wheat.” Dr. Rob Fraley, Monsanto Executive Vice Pres. and Chief Technology Officer and a 2013 World Food Prize Laureate says wheat is one of the world’s most important crops. “ 50,000,000 plus acres of the United States and nearly half 1,000,000,000 acres around the world.” Fraley says the new center combined with in the field technology is what’s needed. “Tools that you see here are going to enable us understand the microbes and the health of soils. And then you add to that the incredible data science tools and the precision ag methods that are going to allow us to farm even better and more precisely in the future and that’s what we need.” Idaho wheat farmer Justin Place likes what he sees at the center. “On the wheat side of things, we are seeing a lot better varieties coming out. They yield well, they stand better, the straw strength is better on them, so it's a good thing for us.” In 2014 Idaho harvested over 93,000 bushels of wheat which is sixth in the nation.