Wheat is the major crop of north Idaho. Other crops raised there are grass seed, wild rice, peas and lentils. Livestock is also raised in northern Idaho. Most of Idaho's crop farming takes place in the south.
Most towns along the Snake River Plain depend on agriculture. Click here for a demographic profile of the state, which includes agriculture statistics.
Southwestern Idaho is a major cattle producer, as well as growing sugar beets, potatoes and seed crops. Also important to southwestern Idaho are fruit orchards. Idaho ranks fifth in the nation in the production of sweet cherries. South-central Idaho is a mixture of very productive irrigated farms in the lowlands and pasture land for grazing in the upland regions.
A large variety of crops are grown in the irrigated areas including onions, corn and apples. Southeastern Idaho is the ideal place to grow the famous Idaho potato. Crops of hay, wheat and alfalfa, as well as livestock and dairy farming make the area one of the most productive in the state.
The natural vegetation of the state's plains is mainly sagebrush. Since sagebrush has no value to industry, such area has been converted to farming wherever possible.
There are still large areas of sagebrush land in Idaho, however, much of this land is owned by the government of the United States. Ranchers are allowed to use areas of the desert lands for rangeland where cattle and sheep graze during the summer months. In addition to public lands ranching, numerous private cattle ranches are in operation in the state.
There are also 24, crop farms operating in Idaho. Almost two-thirds of these farms are small farms where the families farm part-time and have other sources of income. Almost one-half of Idaho farms are less than acres in size, while the largest five per cent of the farms take in 51 per cent of all farmland.
Most of the farm and ranch income in Idaho comes from a suite of seven major products. These are cattle, potatoes, milk, wheat, barley, sugar beets and hay. Of these, cattle contributes the most economically, while potatoes are second.
The state ranks first in the nation in the production of potatoes and hatchery trout. Of all the potatoes in the United States, Principal crops include canola, safflower, mustard, rapeseed, sunflower, and flax.
Idaho ranks fourth in the nation for canola production. Flax seed and mustard seed are seeing explosive growth in health food sectors for their potential anticarcinogenic properties and omega-3 essential fatty acids. Our success lies largely in our unique climate as well as our strict quality control measures. Idaho also produces dry edible beans that are consistently disease-free thanks to our arid climate and high-tech irrigation.
The bright, light color of our edible pintos make them highly sought after in commercial markets. Production of new varieties, such as Pink Lady and Honey Crisp have seen tremendous gains as the market expands. Idaho fruit is primarily grown in our version of a banana belt, a cross section of southern Idaho that experiences an extended growing season. Cherries, apples, peaches, apricots, plums, pluots, and table grapes thrive here, where warm days and cool nights contribute to high sugar content.
Idaho fruits are prized for their superior color and flavor. Idaho farmers have grown it commercially since the s. Our 17, acres of mint equate to more than 2 million pounds of mint oil. Idaho mint oil is sold on national and global markets and is added to a variety of products, including toothpaste, mouthwash, gum, confections, and pharmaceuticals.
Nursery and greenhouse production is a top 10 Idaho crop sector. Our diverse output ranges from sod and bedding plants to shrubs and trees. Idaho is best known for its beef and potatoes. In fact, Idaho grows more potatoes than any other US growing region, annually producing about 12 billion pounds. Over 2 million head of cattle are raised on Idaho ranches and in feedlots producing high quality beef for restaurants and retailers throughout the country.
Idaho ranks among the top US producers of several commodities as well as specialty crops. Idaho leads the nation in production of trout, ranks second in barley and plums, and third in onions, sugarbeets and mint. Idaho is the fastest growing dairy state, and now ranks fifth in milk production and third in production of cheese. Rich volcanic soil, long warm summer days with cool nights combined with use of state-of-the-art technology allow Idaho farmers to produce sweet corn, cherries, peaches, apples, watermelon, asparagus, as well as peas, lentils and dry beans.
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