Talk of rivaling last year's Idaho record 35.5-tons-per-acre average sugar beet yield ended with mid-April killing frost, but the state's growers are pleased by the progress of their replants, facilitated by better May weather.
According to Amalgamated Sugar Co.'s recent estimates, a string of te ...
Friday, May 24, 2013 10:13 AM
A vote in the U.S. Senate on Thursday to reduce the federal crop insurance premium subsidy for large producers is concerning to grower groups and crop insurers.
In its farm bill debate, the Senate voted 59-33 to reduce the government's share of crop insurance premiums to growers with an average ...
Friday, May 24, 2013 3:45 PM
U.S. sugar producers are pleased the U.S. Senate struck down a proposal to gut U.S. sugar policy on Wednesday, and consumers should be as well, said a representative of the sugar industry.
Gutting U.S. policy would make U.S. food manufacturers dependent on a volatile foreign sugar supply, which ...
Friday, May 24, 2013 10:54 AM
POCATELLO, Idaho -- Officials with the Portneuf Valley Farmers' Market, based in Old Town Pocatello, say a Food Network reality television series has put their operation in the national spotlight.
"The Great Food Truck Race" is scheduled to make a stop in Pocatello for Memorial Day weekend, inc ...
Friday, May 24, 2013 3:45 PM
BOISE -- An Idaho animal rights coalition that tried unsuccessfully last year to qualify an animal welfare initiative for the ballot is hesitating to give it another try.
Facing a funding challenge, Idaho 1 of 3 is in a holding pattern at the moment, president Virginia Hemingway said.
One of ...
Friday, May 24, 2013 11:44 AM
POCATELLO, Idaho -- A 23-year-old employee of a Kansas company died May 22 from injuries sustained while mixing fertilizer in a mobile production unit on the grounds of the J.R. Simplot Don Plant in eastern Idaho.
Derrick E. Martinez worked for Blick's Phosphate Conversions of Garden City, Kan. ...
Friday, May 24, 2013 3:55 PM
CALDWELL, Idaho -- A coalition of farm groups has grave concerns about a proposal to move the Canyon County Fair from Caldwell to an 80-acre site located in the middle of thousands of acres of farmland.
After an initial review, the Coalition for Agriculture's Future believes the $40 million pro ...
Thursday, May 23, 2013 10:23 AM
As they continue moving a 2012 crop marked by overproduction and dismal prices, Idaho potato farmers see reasons for guarded optimism about their next harvest.
A cool spring has delayed crop emergence throughout much of potato country, and most Idaho growers anticipate there will be at least a sl ...
Thursday, May 23, 2013 10:02 AM
Staff and wire report
WASHINGTON -- The Senate Wednesday defeated a farm bill amendment that would have ended the federal sugar program.
The Senate farm bill being debated this week keeps the federal sugar program intact.
But a proposed amendment by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Pat Too ...
Thursday, May 23, 2013 8:32 AM
Dry pea acres in Idaho are expected to be up significantly from last year, as pea prices have reached levels not seen in 40 years.
That increase in pea acres will come at the expense of lentil acres, which are expected to be down from last year.
"We're seeing dry pea prices at their ...
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 10:21 AM
A University of Idaho animal scientist will lead the UI's animal and veterinary science department.
Mark McGuire, who specializes in dairy cow physiology, has served as interim department head since 2012.
In a press release, John Foltz, interim dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences ...
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 10:00 AM
The Idaho Cattle Association has scheduled time at its June 27 summer meeting in McCall for members to debate a controversial proposal to expand state trichomoniasis testing requirements into the Northern Panhandle.
The ICA board came out last September in favor of making the testing requirement, ...
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 11:51 AM
BOISE -- A new Idaho law that takes effect July 1 aims to prevent people from using drones to spy on farmers and ranchers.
A bill that has been signed into law by Gov. Butch Otter restricts people from using drones to spy on anyone but was crafted specifically with agriculture in mind, said its s ...
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 1:10 PM
BLACKFOOT, Idaho -- Aspiring beekeepers come from throughout Idaho and surrounding states for the annual spring demonstration and sale hosted at 2 J Honey Farms in southeast Idaho.
2 J Farms has carved a niche selling bee nucs -- or nuclear colonies -- for novices to start their own hives. Beekee ...
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:29 AM
BOISE -- After increasing significantly in 2012, Idaho wheat exports to Mexico dropped considerably during the first quarter of 2013.
The drop was caused by very high corn prices last year that resulted in a lot of Idaho wheat being sent through feed channels, according to industry experts. ...
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:19 AM
CALDWELL, Idaho -- An Idaho farm coalition's initial review of a proposal to move the Canyon County Fair to a new 80-acre site in the middle of farmland indicates the move would harm the county's agricultural economy.
The proposed new $40 million fair site would launch commercial and reside ...
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 10:19 AM
Dairy producers wanting the California Department of Food and Agriculture to raise minimum prices for milk going to cheese makers took a different tack in their argument at a CDFA hearing on Monday.
Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross called the hearing to consider extending emergency price relief ...
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 2:10 PM
Proponents of the Dairy Security Act, included last week in farm bills passed by the House and Senate ag committees, say they are pleased the proposal remained intact.
But opponents of the milk supply management portion of the bill anticipate a different outcome when the House bill is debated on ...
Monday, May 20, 2013 10:48 AM
BOISE -- A new Idaho law that takes effect July 1 will prevent people from using drones to spy on farmers and ranchers.
A bill that has been signed into law by Gov. Butch Otter restricts people from using drones to spy on anyone but it was crafted specifically with agriculture in mind, said its ...
Monday, May 20, 2013 11:09 AM
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho -- Matt Gellings thought his prayers were answered when showers arrived a few days after he planted his hard red spring wheat.
Looking back, he blames that late-April storm for causing one of the greatest early season challenges he's faced in 40 years of farming.
Gellings is a ...
Monday, May 20, 2013 10:08 AM
WENDELL, Idaho (AP) -- A weekend barn fire in south-central Idaho claimed the lives of 14 calves.
Wendell Fire Department Assistant Chief Crystal Houser tells The Times-News (http://bit.ly/16JDAs1 ) the fire appeared to have been caused by a controlled burn that spread to the concrete and wooden b ...
Monday, May 20, 2013 8:28 AM
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho -- Traffic was detoured for about two hours around southbound Interstate 15 at exit 119 Friday afternoon when a truck hauling straw tipped, according to Idaho Falls Fire Capt. Paul Radford.
Radford said the truck was pulling two flatbed trailers loaded with straw and apparentl ...
Sunday, May 19, 2013 3:58 PM
BOISE, Idaho -- Recently retired Idaho Farm Service Agency Executive Director Dick Rush sees short-term relief on the horizon for his former staff members, who have been asked to do more with less, but he anticipates they'll assume new duties in the long term.
In the past four years, federal cuts ...
Friday, May 17, 2013 9:46 AM
BOISE -- Many farmers in Idaho are bracing for another increase in power costs this season.
Idaho Power is seeking to recover $140.4 million in unexpected power supply expenses over the past year. If the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approves the request in full, it would mean a 15.38 perc ...
Friday, May 17, 2013 10:27 AM
KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) -- State wildlife officials have confirmed that wolves killed 31 sheep on a south-central Idaho ranch over the weekend, including a ewe in the process of having triplets.
Carey-area rancher John Peavey tells the Idaho Mountain Express (http://bit.ly/12gMOWE ) that the ewe, one ...
Friday, May 17, 2013 9:36 AM
MORELAND, Idaho -- J.B. Hoge worked 17 years raising potatoes on a large farm in Fort Hall, Idaho. This summer, however, he'll be cultivating the next generation of farmers and agronomists, teaching a unique, new elective science class at Snake River High School.
The first-year teacher made a car ...
Thursday, May 16, 2013 10:15 AM