Idaho

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden along with Idaho's Mike Crapo introduced bipartisan legislation Tuesday they said would improve wetland habitats in the Pacific Northwest.  The Northwest Wetlands Voluntary Incentives Program Act would establish a federal grant and assistance program empowering government agencies, tribes, nonprofits, landowners, among other entities to work together in both restoring and

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...

USDA's upcoming Ag trade mission this month looks to expanded export opportunities in Hong Kong and southeast Asia.   “In 2024, Hong Kong ranked as the 18th largest market for U.S. Ag products, importing $1.4 billion in goods as a freeport and gateway to South China, Macau and southeast Asia, Hong Kong offer strategic access to broader markets, said Foreign Agricultural Service acting Associate Ad

On Friday, several Northwest lawmakers sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin supporting the agency's plans to review the Biden Administration's tailpipe emissions standards.  The Multi-Pollutant Emission Standards for Model Years 2027 and later, finalized by the EPA in March 2024, looked to reduce emissions of from light-duty and medium-duty vehicles.  Those s...

While it’s just by the slightest of margins, the national planting progress when it comes to sugarbeets is officially past the 1/5 mark.  The latest numbers from USDA have plantings nationwide at 21%, which is slightly ahead of the five-year-average for this time of year at 20%, but behind last year’s 23%.   “Idaho has h...

A $14 million class action lawsuit has been filed against Lamb Weston, alleging the company did not provide meal or rest breaks.  Lamb Weston, which produces frozen potatoes and other foods, is accused of failing to provide 10-minute breaks, and half-hour lunches to its Washington workers.  The sui...

A team of buyers from major Japanese beef importers recently visited Idaho, as well as Kansas and Colorado to learn about the beef supply chain, from ranch to feedlot, processing to retail.   “We had about a dozen buyers that represented four of the major beef importing companies in Japan come to visit us here in Idaho," said Agri Beef’s Jay Theiler, one of the hosts of the tour.  "We ha

The value of U.S. industrial hemp production reached $445 million in 2024, representing a 40% year-over-year jump.  According to the National Hemp Report, released last week, total planted area for hemp jumped to almost 45,300 acres, 64% increase from 2023, with harvested area also rising to just under 32,700 acres.  Floral ...

“The heading progress for winter wheat, nationally, 8% of the U.S. winter wheat crop headed by April 13th.  That's right on par with the five-year average, two points behind last year's 10%," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey recapping the latest numbers from the USDA’s crop progress report.  He noted that most ...