Idaho State Department of Agriculture

Last week, Idaho Governor Brad Little returned from what he called a productive seven-day trade mission to Taiwan and Japan.  The Idaho State Department of Agriculture, along with the state Department of Commerce, and 22 Idaho businesses and organizations joined Governor Little for his fourth official in-person trade mission as Governor.   “...

AMS and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture have awarded $5.5 million for 27 projects statewide through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program.   “The goal is to provide opportunities to support infrastructure and update equipment in the middle of the supply chain," said the ISDA's Sydney Kennedy.  "So, wha...

Idaho is one of 14 states reporting Highly Pathogenetic Avian Influence in dairy herds, and efforts continue to figure out how the virus is being spread.  Idaho state veterinarian doctor Scott Leibsle said H5N1 cases peaked in May and June.  He poin...

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture will start targeted quagga mussel treatment this week, in an effort to eradicate the small population of the invasive species in the Snake River near Twin Falls.  On Tuesday, ISDA and contractors will launch a 10-day comprehensive treatment from downriver of Hansen Bridge to Centennial Waterfront Park.  The tre...

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that a small number of quagga mussels were found in the Snake River in the Twin Falls area.  Quagga mussels were first discovered in the area September 2023, and since then, ISDA, working with a variety of partners, implemented a treatment of the River with a chelated copper product.  It was ...

Idaho farmers are on track to plant almost twice as many hemp acres as they did last year.  According to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, producers across the Gem State planted 1,273 acres of hemp in 2023, up from the 459 acres reported in 2022, the first-year hemp was a legal commodity within the state.   ...

It’s not just the state of Washington that is on the lookout for the Japanese beetle.   The Idaho State Department of Agriculture is again conducting a full-court press against the Japanese beetle.  This invasive pest is highly destructive, and feeds on more than 300 different commodities, such as hops, roses, grapes and more.   ISDA is cur...

Last week, Agricultural Marketing Service awarded over $2 million for Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding to Idaho for Fiscal Year 2024.  The Idaho State Department of Agriculture will take the money and fund projects focused on enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crop products and create new market opportunities for the state’s specialty crop producers.   “...

Homeowners, growers, dealers, and professional applicators across Idaho storing unusable or unwanted pesticides will have a safe and free opportunity to dispose of them this week.  The Idaho State Department of Agriculture will host a pair of pesticide disposal events, one Tuesday in Bonneville County, and the second taking place Wednesday in Twin Falls County.   “...

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture is alerting aquarium owners to inspect Marimo moss aquarium balls after invasive zebra mussels were detected in Washington earlier this month.  Zebra mussels were found on the product Marimo moss balls which was shipped to a wholesale aquarium company in Renton, WA.  Washing...