Idaho ranked No. 2 among the 11 Western states for total net farm income in 2013, despite trailing No. 3 Washington in total farm cash receipts by $1.6 billion. California remained an unchallenged No. 1 in both categories. Click here for the full story
Opportunities for U.S. dairy exports to South Korea center mainly on cheese and butter, followed by value-added ingredients such as whey proteins and lactose for food. Click here for the full story
Rabobank expects further decline in global prices for dairy products in the first half of 2015, a gradual tighting of supply in the second half and price recovery momentum in the fourth quarter. The downturn in U.S. prices has lagged that of other exporting regions, and U.S. recover could lag as well. Click here for the full story
Food safety rules leave some farm sectors with questions about on-farm processing. Click here for the full story
Container terminal operators are asking for federal mediators to intervene in labor contract negotiations with the longshoremen's union. Click here for the full story
A highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza has been found in guinea fowl and chickens in a small backyard flock in Southern Oregon, the state Department of Agriculture said today. Click here for the full story
More than 8,000 agricultural landowners throughout the West are receiving surveys this month from the National Agricultural Statistics Service gauging the economic health of their industries. Click here for the full story
Commodity group leaders say the outlook for improved relations between the U.S. and Cuba bodes well for Northwestern food producers, especially those who raise hard red winter wheat. Click here for the full story
Farm groups on Wednesday welcomed congressional extension of tax breaks for 2014 equipment purchases and biodiesel production incentives, but said the last-minute action doesn’t solve long-term problems. Click here for the full story
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agricultural advocates say the recently approved $1.1 trillion federal spending bill contains several provisions that are good for farmers. Click here for the full story
Snowpacks are inadequate in Oregon and Washington but Idaho has fared better so far. Click here for the full story
J.R. Simplot Co. and University of Idaho have renewed an agreement that has helped the university's Parma research and extension station in Southwestern Idaho remain open. Under the agreement, Simplot provides the Parma station $330,000 a year. Click here for the full story
The Food and Drug Administration typically has shied away from the subject, leaving the issue of labeling the genetically modified organisms — foods grown from seeds engineered in labs — to the states. But Congress has weighed in as the food industry has faced a potential patchwork of state laws requiring the labeling. Click here for the full story
Potatoes have been included in the WIC nutrition program in a new congressional spending bill. Click here for the full story
Various proposals to increase transportation funding will likely be introduced during Idaho's 2015 legislative session, which begins next month, and lawmakers could also be asked to appropriate money for the proposed Bear River Basin water adjudication. Click here for the full story
University of Idaho has a new agronomist with expertise in water-use efficiency at its Aberdeen Research and Extension Center. Click here for the full story
Washington State University wolf researcher Robert Wielgus has released a report that killing wolves leads to increased depredations. Click here for the full story
Public pressure has been mounting, especially because the movement of cargo — several billion dollars’ worth on an average day, mostly to and from Asia — has been slowed. Click here for the full story
The U.S. has filed an appeal of the World Trade Organization's second ruling against its country-of-origin meat-labeling regulation, which will give Congress time to amend or repeal the rule in the coming months. Click here for the full story
Idaho's wine industry is excited about the possibility the state could have two new American Viticulture Areas this time next year. Idaho currently has one AVA, which is a federally designated wine growing region. Click here for the full story
A beef analyst predicts beef supply will be tighter next year, but increased pork and poultry production will lead to an overall increase in animal protein production. Click here for the full story
SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Idaho ranchers have seen a decrease in livestock killed by wolves for a second consecutive year, according to Todd Grimm, state director of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Service. Click here for the full story
The world’s biggest farm equipment supplier says its annual net income will drop about 40 percent and revenue from agricultural and turf equipment will fall further than it did in fiscal 2014. Click here for the full story
U.S. dairy exports slowed significantly during the third quarter of 2014 compared to the first half of the year and they are expected to slow even more during the fourth quarter. However, global dairy demand remains strong and U.S. cheese exports are still a bright spot for the industry. Click here for the full story
