Agriculture in Idaho
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Agriculture in Idaho represents a substantial portion of the state's economy and impacts in excess of 100,000 jobs. Sixteen percent of private sector employment in Idaho is directly related to agribusiness.[1] Agricultural products for 2005 were valued at $4,484,275,000, with sightly over half of that from the sale of livestock and dairy products. The 2002 Census of Agriculture by the USDA reports that twenty-two percent of the land or 11.77 million acres (47,630 km²) in Idaho is used for agricultural purposes. The average farm size is 470 acres (1.9 km²) and the average age of the farm operator is 54.1 years.[2]
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[edit] Top 5
In 2002, the top five counties in agricultural sales are Cassia, Gooding, Elmore, Twin Falls, and Jerome counties. The top five commodities in value of receipts for 2005 are dairy products, cattle and calves, potatoes, wheat, and hay.[2] According to a 2006 census, the top five fruit products in production are apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, and plums.[3]
[edit] Crops and plants
[edit] Cut Christmas trees and short-rotation woody crops
[edit] Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas
Idaho ranks first in U.S. production of barley. In 2006, the value of the crop was $134,946,000.
[edit] Fruits, tree nuts, and berries
[edit] Viticulture
In a 2006 report, a total of sixty-six farms were included in a census taken by the Idaho Department of Agriculture. These operations reported a total of 1,270 acres (5 km²) in production with 1,013,812 vines of bearing age This represents a growth of 85.8% over the 1999 survey.[4] Canyon County vineyards contain 81% of the state's total inventory of grape vines.[3]
[edit] Hay and silage crops
[edit] Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod
[edit] Vegetables, melons, potatoes, beets and sweet potatoes
[edit] Livestock and animals
Photo courtesy of J. R. Simplot Company
- Aquaculture
- Cattle and calves
- Dairy
- Hogs and pigs
- Horses, ponies, mules, burros, and donkeys
- Poultry and eggs
- Sheep, goats, and their products
[edit] Specialty products
[edit] Wild game
[edit] Kobe style beef
Snake River Farms in Boise, Idaho is the leading producer of American-raised, Japanese-style wagyu or kobe beef.[citation needed] Snake River Farms started its kobe beef project with the importation of the famous bull Fukutsuru from Japan in the early 1990s. The company has also revolutionized the cross-breeding of traditional wagyu beef genetic stock with the premium American "Black Angus" cattle breed.
[edit] Organic Farming
The first year statistics were reported in the Fact Sheets on organic farms by USDA was in 2002. According to published reports, there are one-hundred and fifty-two certified organic farms in the state on a total of 22,487 acres (91 km²). The total value of the crops raised is valued at $25,328,000.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Taylor, Garth R. (2001). Contribution of the Agribusiness Industry to Idaho's Economy. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho. Bulletin 836.
- ^ a b c USDA Economic Research Service (2002). Farm characteristics (Idaho Fact Sheet). Washington D.C.: USDA.
- ^ a b National Agricultural Statistics Service (Idaho Field Office) (2007). Idaho Fruit Tree Census 2006. Washington D.C.: USDA NASS, p.1, 12.
- ^ National Agricultural Statistics Service (Idaho Field Office) (1999). Idaho Fruit Tree Census 1999. Washington D.C.: USDA NASS, p.1-2.
