Idaho
Despite loss of farmland, Idaho’s agriculture industry is still producing more than ever • Idaho Capital Sun
Two years ago, Galen Lee was trying to buy a plot of land in Fruitland to farm, but he was outbid by a housing developer for twice as much as he could offer.
Lee is a fourth generation farmer in Payette County, and he raises sugar beets, peppermint, asparagus, alfalfa, corn and beef.
This year, those developers converted 20 acres of that piece of land in Fruitland into housing developments. Next year, they will develop it into more housing, Lee said.
“It’s frustrating as a farmer, but it makes sense economically,” he told the Idaho Capital Sun.
Lee is one of many farmers who is competing against other industries for land.
Between 2017 and 2022, Idaho lost 2,119 farms and 144,000 acres of farmland, according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture’s 2022 data, which was released in February.
And the main reason behind Idaho’s loss in farmland is an increase in population growth and the demand for development, Sean Ellis, spokesperson for the Idaho Farm Bureau told the Sun.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Idaho’s population increased 17% between 2010 to 2020, or by about 272,000 people. That population growth has increased the demand for housing in Idaho, he said.
Kootenai County, the Treasure Valley, Twin Falls County, Franklin County and counties near Idaho Falls had the highest increase in housing units to supplement population growth, census data shows.
“In a lot of cases, developers are offering someone a pretty penny for their land, and what they’re offering is too much and too attractive to turn down,” Ellis told the Sun.
Despite Idaho’s loss in farmland, Idaho’s agricultural sector still runs strong as modern farming practices have helped farmers produce more with less land.
Idaho farmers produce more with less
Idaho State Statistician Ben Johnson told the Sun that the data in the agricultural census won’t show causation for loss in farmland, but it may support certain claims such as urban sprawl or conversion to other environmental uses.
“A couple of data points that could be concerning, in Idaho it shows 60% of farms are reporting net losses and 60% of producers’ primary occupation is not farming,” he said. “The largest loss in farm numbers are in the smaller farm categories, which could suggest that it’s not economically prudent to keep putting money into a ‘hobby farm’ especially with the rise in costs and the incentive to sell with record high land values.”
Idaho is not alone in having a decrease in farmland.
Idaho and neighboring states are a part of a national trend of decreasing farmland. According to the latest data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture, the country lost more than 20 million acres of farmland, and about 142,000 farms between 2017 and 2022.
“Farmland in the U.S. has continued to shrink for decades, but if you look at the facts, farmers right now in the U.S. as a whole are producing a lot more food on a lot less land than they did four decades ago,” Ellis told the Sun.
Agricultural census data shows the country sold more than $540 billion worth of agricultural products in 2022, an increase from $388 billion in 2017 — when there was more farmland. While the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation jumped prices to record highs in 2022, Johnson said the cost of production for farms also jumped up 30% nationally and 40% in Idaho in comparison to 2017.
This increase in sales is possible because farmers have partnered with research institutions such as the University of Idaho to find ways to increase yields, Ellis said.
Some examples include researching methods to reduce tillage, exploring which soil organisms can enhance wheat yields, and developing tools to manage farm water from a smartphone, John O’ Connell, spokesperson for the University of Idaho told the Sun.
“So, that’s a good thing, but the loss in farmland is not a good thing,” Ellis said. “It certainly is concerning, but it’s not catastrophic because we are producing more food than we ever had.”
Jan Roeser, an economist with the Idaho Department of Labor, affirmed Ellis’ thoughts in a July report. While Idaho’s loss in farmland sounds alarming, Roeser said the decrease in farmland is the result of Idaho farmers using more automation and practices learned through research and development to create higher yields.
“While Idaho’s agricultural acreage continues to face ongoing development challenges, human ingenuity and consumer demand for niche products are creating opportunities and advancing efficient farm practices for future generations,” she said in the report.
According to the agricultural census, Idaho produced $10.8 billion worth of agricultural products, a spike up from $7.6 billion in 2017.
“The automation and adapting practices have kept our levels of production resilient,” Roeser told the Sun in an email.
Lee, who owns 1,200 acres of land, said he recognizes the role agricultural research has played in helping increase production.
“Absolutely, we’re improving all the time,” he said about modern farming tactics. “Our yields are getting better. But once the land comes out of production and goes to houses, it never goes back. As we lose this farm ground, we’re losing the capability to produce food.”
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho lawmakers have introduced legislation that would phase out state funding for the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs while keeping the commission in place.
The proposal, introduced by Rep. Jeff Ehlers, would gradually eliminate general fund support for the commission by July 1, 2028. The commission would continue to operate but would need to rely on private funding.
Rep. Ehlers told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Thursday that the proposal came from recommendations by Idaho’s DOGE Task Force, which reviewed government programs and spending.
READ MORE | Idaho DOGE Task Force recommends defunding Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs
The bill would also eliminate the commission from a list of organizations eligible for a state income tax charitable contribution credit.
Rep. Steve Berch questioned why the legislation would remove both state funding and the tax credit option, saying it could make it more difficult for the commission to raise money.
“I hate to use this word, but I’m really offended by this specific effort to make it that much more difficult for private citizens to be able to contribute to the Hispanic commission,” Rep. Berch said in committee. “I don’t think this can be justified from a financial point of view, and quite frankly, I don’t think it can be justified from a moral point of view.”
In response, Rep. Jason Monks said that it would be more “offensive” to not allow further discussion of the bill before a final decision is made.
The proposal comes after an earlier attempt this session to eliminate the commission entirely. In January, Rep. Heather Scott presented a draft bill that would have removed all references to the commission from Idaho law and dissolved it by July 1, but that measure failed to advance out of committee.
The committee ultimately voted on Thursday to introduce the legislation, allowing it to be printed and advanced for further debate.
This story has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Shanea Fulks is the owner of Seven Sisters Closet Revival, a new consignment store at 260 South Woodruff in Idaho Falls. Take a look inside in the video above. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com
Do you want to know what’s happening in the eastern Idaho business scene? We’ve got you covered. Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley.
BIZ BUZZ
IDAHO FALLS
New consignment shop in Idaho Falls offers vintage clothes for customers and booth space for sellers
IDAHO FALLS – Curating vintage clothing is Shanea Fulks’s passion, and she’s sharing it with the community through a new business venture.
Seven Sisters Closet Revival opens Saturday at 260 South Woodruff inside Parkwood Plaza in Idaho Falls. It offers racks of vintage clothes for customers and booth space for others to sell their items.
“You get a rack with shelves, and you can come in throughout the week and sell things,” Fulks tells EastIdahoNews.com. “The things you’ll see in the middle of the store are pieces that I have curated. I hand-pick all the things I bring to the store.”
See some of the items in the video above.
Fulks says she’s had multiple people walk in already who are excited about the shop.
The store will have a grand opening this weekend. Fulks is partnering with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting and open house at noon on Friday. A local band will be performing during the event.
Then on Saturday, a grand opening celebration will begin at 2 p.m. Several vendors and live entertainment will be available. Fulks says she’s looking forward to interacting with the community.
Fulks has been selling items from her personal collection online for years. After helping a mother and daughter find a formal dress during an interaction at another shop in town several years ago, Fulks says she realized there was a need for a store like this.
After about a year of working with real estate agents, Fulks says the Parkwood Plaza space formerly occupied by a beauty salon called Blush became available, and it was an ideal fit.
“It’s just been a whirlwind and we’re just trying to get it going,” says Fulks.
Fulks’ interest in fashion stems back to childhood. She lost her dad and stepdad to suicide at a young age and grew up in a household that struggled to make ends meet. As a result, she says they bought clothes at Goodwill and other secondhand stores.
She remembers being made fun of because of the clothes she wore. In time, she learned to embrace her uniqueness and developed an interest in vintage clothes.
“I’ve just always been attracted to old sweaters, military jackets (her dad served in Vietnam),” Fulks says. “I like to help people feel confident wearing something unique, even if it’s not trendy. Be bold and wear whatever you want.”
The idea of making the most of your circumstances and embracing who you are is inspired by her experience with suicide, and it’s reflected in the art that’s on display in her store.
“Part of the theme in my store is ‘Stay. We need you,’” she says.
The business name refers to her family. She comes from a blended family of six girls and four boys. When she and her husband were married, they had a daughter — the seventh sister.
Fulks says she’s looking forward to offering great deals to customers. She has two sons with autism who love art, and she wants to host art-themed events for people with special needs. She’d also like to host tea parties and other events in the future.
“I want people to come and feel like they belong,” she says. “I’m going to allow people to do karaoke. When you’re here, I want you to feel like you can have fun.”
Seven Sisters Closet Revival will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
Women’s-only gym offers ‘unintimidating and beginner-friendly’ atmosphere
New surgeon at Idaho Falls clinic does oral, jaw and facial work
Elsie’s Closet in downtown Idaho Falls is a ‘whole vibe’ and tells a story
Pocatello-based transportation company acquires competitor Yellowstone Transportation
=htmlentities(get_the_title())?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=get_permalink()?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=htmlentities(‘For more stories like this one, be sure to visit https://www.eastidahonews.com/ for all of the latest news, community events and more.’)?>&subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20EastIdahoNews” class=”fa-stack jDialog”>
Gov. Brad Little has signed House Bill 533, which would remove the need for license plate stickers on Idaho vehicles.
The legislation, introduced earlier this session by Rep. Jon Weber (R) of Boise, eliminates the requirement for registration stickers on Idaho license plates. Weber stated during the bills intorduction that officers can verify the status of license plates without the stickers, potentially saving the state around $300,000.
During the bill’s introduction, some lawmakers argued that it could increase the workload for law enforcement.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The new law is set to take effect in July.
Commentary: As ‘The Pitt’ suffers a digital meltdown, a human with analog experience saves the day
Britney Spears Open to Treatment Plan as Team Weighs Options
Anxiety grows among California Democrats as gubernatorial candidates rebuff calls to drop out
Owners of fire-destroyed Palisades mobile home park seek to displace residents for development deal
Fatigue a factor as early matches begin at Indian Wells
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Fact check: Did French border guards mock influencers returning from Dubai amid Iran war?
Iran’s fight for survival / The widening war / Trump’s nebulous goals : Sources & Methods
Map: 4.9-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Louisiana
Paxton vows he’s ‘staying in this race’ even if Trump backs Cornyn in Texas GOP clash
Which Kurdish groups is the US rallying to fight Iran?
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Wisconsin4 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Maryland5 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Florida5 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Oregon6 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling