Idaho
Iran war drives up fertilizer, diesel costs for Idaho farmers
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) —The war with Iran is driving up the cost of diesel and fertilizer for Idaho farmers at a critical time in the growing season.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global supply chains, with Saudi Arabia alone accounting for nearly 20 percent of global phosphate trade. According to Xiaoli Etienne, professor at the University of Idaho, nitrogen has taken the biggest hit.
“We have seen as much as 40% increase at the farm gate level for producers. And so for southern Idaho, the number might be a little different, but I suspect it’s very similar magnitude,” Etienne said.
The price increase is affecting farmers’ operating costs. Over 30 percent of operating costs are used to purchase fertilizer, Etienne said.
“You think about your operating costs, over 30% is used to purchase fertilizer. And we see 30 to 40% increase in the fertilizer prices. And combined, that’s a very big impact on the farmers,” she said.
The war with Iran is not the only factor affecting prices. China halted exports of fertilizer to secure their domestic planting season and stopped exporting phosphate as of a couple months ago, Etienne said.
While the U.S. doesn’t directly import phosphate from China, the reduced Chinese supply affects the global market, which ultimately impacts prices in the U.S.
Diesel is another commodity hit by the war that farmers are already feeling at the pump.
“For diesel, that’s a different story. This will probably have a more immediate impact for the producers,” Etienne said.
While farmers can battle fertilizer prices by planting different crops or reducing applications, diesel is different. There’s no substitute.
“They will need to reallocate, right? To make up this added cost, the higher expenses for the diesel. And I think, even a very small percentage change in prices, and let alone there’s a dollar or more than a dollar increase in diesel prices. This war, it’s a very tough situation for the farmers this year,” Etienne said.
Etienne said while 80 percent of farmers secured their fertilizer supply before the war started, a ceasefire won’t immediately solve the issue.
“Even with a ceasefire, or even if the war stops, the production time for fertilizer has already been lost. And that’s a very long supply chain. The impact will show up, still show up. It’s not going to go away,” she said.
Despite the current hardships for farmers, Etienne is optimistic.
“Farmers are resilient. We have seen over and over again farmers are able to overcome all those shocks they’re putting on them,” she said.
Copyright 2026 KMVT. All rights reserved.
Idaho
Idaho Man Chooses Chaos; Dives Off of Bridge With An Inflatable Unicorn
It’s one of the most legendary sights anywhere in the State of Idaho! The Perrine Bridge, in Twin Falls, Idaho!
If you have ever driven through Twin Falls, odds are that you have crossed it and maybe didn’t know its significance. The bridge is 1,500 feet long and it offers amazing views for drivers and pedestrians alike. That said, you can hike anywhere along the canyon and the bridge itself, from afar, is a sight!
Over the years, it has become a popular destination for base jumping! There’s nothing illegal about it, even Visit Idaho brags about its appeal for the adventure enthusiasts!
One base jumper that has made a real name for himself online for jumping the Perrine Bridge has taken his viral hobby to a new level–this time, but having a ‘colorful creature’ join him!
Take a look at these amazing shots captured as this Idahoan did the craziest leap imaginable!
Flying Unicorn? Only in Idaho!
Take a look at the journey this inflatable unicorn and one brave Idahoan took over the weekend
Gallery Credit: Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
Do you think you could do something like this?
One can find dozens and dozens of videos of base jumping from the bridge online but this one might just be the most unique and the most Idaho of them all.
We suppose if base jumping is such a normal activity for this guy, there are only so many ways to ‘spice it up’. He certainly found one!
You can watch this brave bridge-jumper and his unicorn friend take a leap of faith, below! Video posted by Jonathan Cox and DZONE Skydiving!
Man Jumping Off Perrine Memorial Bridge
He has done it over 160 times.
Gainer Off The Perrine Bridge
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Idaho
A New Strain of Norovirus Attacks Idaho
I was diagnosed with a norovirus once. A dozen years ago. It wasn’t pleasant. Driving home from work one day, I had to pull over and get out of the car, where I was unwell along the roadside. Too much information? Consider it a warning. I had GI issues for a couple of days, and was advised to avoid other people for a week. It was a boring stretch and a waste of personal time off.
This is Sweeping the Country
A highly unusual strain of norovirus is afflicting some parts of the country, including California. Being that we’re at the start of the summer travel season, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes widespread in Idaho. You’ll know if you have it, and possibly 24 hours after exposure. My experience was that it came about fast, and it was furious.
Check out this link for more details. People don’t have much immunity to this particular strain. The usual advice is to wash your hands frequently. But we’re not always near a sink, and we share a lot of door handles. I was at a busy travel plaza a few days ago, and dozens of people were going in and out of the building in the few minutes I was there.
Disease of the Week
I can’t speak for every case, but what I had wasn’t pretty, but the worst was over in a couple of days. Then I self-quarantined for a few more days. It should sweep across the state quickly, and then be gone, and offer some immunity for the foreseeable future.
LIST: Norovirus Symptoms
If you begin to feel any or all of these symptoms, see your doctor to make sure youw on’t spread the bug to others!
Gallery Credit: CANVA
Idaho
America 250: Famous Idaho Ice Cream Potato helps put Boise landmark on the map
Westside Drive In has been serving burgers, fries, and milkshakes from its corner at State and 21st streets for decades. Many know them for their Famous Idaho Ice Cream Potato.
The dessert, which resembles a baked potato complete with toppings, has helped put Westside Drive In — and Idaho — in the national spotlight. The sweet treat has been featured on national television and has become one of the state’s most recognizable culinary creations.
“This is the greatest drive-in in the United States of America, bar none,” said longtime customer Victor Miller.
WATCH | “Food, fun and fifties”—
Famous Idaho Ice Cream Potato helps put Boise landmark on the map
The novelty dessert offers a sweeter version of Idaho’s most famous crop. Made to resemble a baked potato, it has attracted attention from customers across the country and around the world.
The restaurant’s roots stretch back decades, but its modern identity took shape after Chef Lou Aaron purchased the business in 1994.
“When I bought the West Side, I thought I got to make this 50s [themed],” Aaron said. “So we came up with a little slogan, and the slogan was, I mean, when you think of fun, and happy days, you think of 50s.”
Now, Aaron’s daughter Emily Bolton and son Josh Aaron help oversee operations, continuing the family legacy.
“We both grew up working, you know, I cashiered, he cooked, and we both laughed and said never again, and then here we are,” Bolton said.
The restaurant’s profile grew even larger when Food Network personalities, including Guy Fieri of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” featured Westside Drive In and its signature dessert.
“He says, you know, you better be ready because the people are gonna be flooding in here after this episode airs,” Josh Aaron recalled. “And he came here and really put Boise on the map by, you know, featuring us and all the other restaurants that he has the last few times he’s been here.”
For customers like Miller, the appeal goes beyond the food, “It’s a special Idaho place. It’s like a place that identifies Idaho, Boise, and it’s put us on the map.”
While families continue gathering at the restaurant for a classic American dining experience, Aaron says Westside Drive In also serves another purpose.
As someone in long-term recovery, Aaron has made hiring people facing difficult circumstances a core part of the restaurant’s mission.
“I’m an alcoholic, and I’ve been clean for 36 years now,” Lou Aaron said. “Someone picked me off the ground when I was in the gutter, and it helped change my life. So, almost 90% of our employees at both places are either out of prison, in prison, homeless, you name it. So, we try to help them to rehabilitate them.”
Customers say that commitment to helping others is part of what makes the restaurant special.
“That’s what West Side is about,” Miller said. “It’s about second chances and the lives that he has improved and saved in a lot of ways by giving people another chance in life.”
For the Aaron family, preserving that mission is just as important as preserving the menu.
“You have so many memories here. We have so many customers who’ve been coming here since they were kids,” said Lou Aaron. “It’s more of an institution than it is a restaurant. We will never sell it. I’ll always be in the family.”
Today, Westside Drive In continues serving customers at both its original State Street location and its Parkcenter Boulevard restaurant — carrying on a legacy built on food, family and second chances.
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