This Is A Concerning Year For SE Idaho Growers

The start of summer is still days off, and already this season has been a difficult one for growers in Southeast Idaho. And the fear is it will only get more difficult when the dog days of summer arrive.

It's Not A Question Of If Water Will Be Shut Off

University of Idaho Professor Juliet Marshall notes the region is facing significant water shortages. She said thanks to the low snowpack, and reservoirs that were tapped earlier that normal, there were many growers across the region that set out acres because they realized the reduction in available irrigation would likely lead to an early shutoff.

“And we're even talking about call on water and significant reductions in irrigation availability even for small grains. So that is not an if, it's just a matter of when the water is going to be shut off. And then, of course, the majority of the crops that need the water later in the season, like potatoes and sugarbeets, they're going to be significantly affected. So that is not a possibility, it’s a probability of limited irrigation availability to our growers in this area.”

This Will Be A Difficult Season In Multiple Ways

And it’s not just water that has Marshall concerned. She noted that this is going to be a very hard season for area producers economically and emotionally.

“I am very concerned about the economic viability of growers in Southeast Idaho. There's a lot of pressure, there's low prices, and I'm very concerned about the economics this year. So, I think it's important for us to be paying attention to the current situation in Southeast Idaho.”

Marshall is also the Associate Director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station in Twin Falls.

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