Row Crop

It's a big day for sugarbeet farmers in Salem, where they’ll be connecting with policymakers and discussing what really matters for their industry.

Sugarbeet planting recently wrapped up across Idaho.  Samantha Parrott, Executive Director of the Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association said the spring weather was beneficial in a variety of ways.   “Generally, Mother Nature cooperated, which is fantastic," she said.  "It was a little w...

Across rural America, farmers, regardless of commodity, are sending a clear message to Congress: pass a five-year farm bill now, before it’s too late.   Congress hasn’t updated the farm bill since 2018.  Instead, it’s patched together a pair of year-long extensions that do not address the current economic realities of farming in the U.S.  Fourth-generation Minnesota ...

As we get closer to the conclusion of sugar beet plantings, nationally 91% of the crop is in the ground.   “ is  far ahead of the five-year average of 69% and slightly ahead of last year's 90%," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "Sugar beet p...

Tariffs can have short-term and long-term impacts on the agriculture industry.  The short-term may mean higher fertilizer prices, or fewer exports markets for a season or two.  The long-term impacts can change the make-up of the global market.  No where is that ...

Once the national leader in asparagus, Washington is expected to see less than 3,000 acres harvested this year.  Alan Schreiber, Executive Director of the Washington Asparagus Commission, said it’s all about dollars and cents.   “The m...

A new study commissioned by Clean Fuels Alliance America shows the U.S. biomass-based diesel industry generated $42.4 billion in economic activity in 2024, supported 107,400 jobs and paid $6 billion in annual wages.  According to the report, nearly half of the total economic impact—$19.9 billion and 41,500 jobs—...

When compared to 2024 numbers, Idaho’s potato acres are projected to decrease by 15,000 in 2025.  If realized, that would be a 5% year-over-year drop, according to the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.   In addition, total U.S. potato acres are ...

According to NASS, potatoes held in storage on April 1st, totaled 131 million cwt, down 6% year-over-year.  Potatoes in storage accounted for 31% of the 2024 crop, virtually unchanged from the number reported in April 2024.   As far as storage in the Northwest, Idaho had 47,000 cwt in storage, down from the 53,000 cwt reported last year.  Washington's...

The potato industry is hopeful good news on the trade front could be right around the corner.  The Trump administration has reportedly begun talks with Japan to eliminate tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.   “Since it became obvious that there was going to be a negotiation, specifically with Japan, we have been pushing the administration," said Kam Quarles, National Potato Council CEO.  &q