IAMP Expected To Be Popular with Idaho Farmers

After a yearlong pause, USDA reinstated the University of Idaho’s five-year $59 million grant aimed at helping farmers test regenerative production and new marketing methods. U of I professor Erin Brooks says he expects the Innovative Agriculture and Marketing Partnership to be popular among the state's producers.

"We anticipate about 200 growers will be involved in enrolling across the state, and we are focused on seven commodities in the particular grant, including wheat, and barley, and potatoes, and sugarbeets, and hops, and chickpeas, and beef," Brooks said.

Eligible practices include reduced tillage, cover cropping, prescribed grazing, intercropping, the use of biochar and reducing synthetic fertilizers in favor of organic nutrient sources. Brooks said researchers will collect data on how those practices affect farm profitability, soil health and resilience.

"Part of it is, we incentivize producers to implement practices, conservation practices, that we particularly think they'll be beneficial in the long term and in the short term."

Data generated through IAMP will be shared at grower meetings, field days, regional conferences and other events catering to Idaho farmers.

This is the largest grant in University of Idaho history.