Barley is sometimes known as the underappreciated crop, but to breweries across the nation, barley is essential. Laura Wilder, Executive Director of the Idaho Barley Commission, talks about how Idaho has become the #1 barley-producing state, helping give it the unofficial title as the “Beer State.”
Laura gives us a look at how an ag commodity commission works—covering research, marketing, and coordination, including the vital role of bringing in foreign clients. Finally, she shares how rough the markets are right now and how farmers are going to have to stick together to get through the next few years.
