AgMinute: Dec. 7, 2011

Dec. 16 is the application cutoff date for two farm bill programs that provide Idaho farmers and ranchers millions of dollars in financial assistance each year to protect the environment or improve wildlife habitat. The Environmental Quality Incentive Program and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program are both voluntary programs that help agricultural producers complete natural resource conservation projects or conserve wildlife habitat on their land.

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AgMinute: Dec. 6, 2011

Participants in Idaho's Dec. 3-10 trade mission to Mexico and Brazil will be led by Lt. Gov. Brad Little, who runs a diversified farming and cattle operation. The trade mission includes meetings with several large grower groups and major retail chains, including La Huerta, an international fruit and vegetable company; supermarket chain Soriana, Mexico's largest retailer, and Grupo Altex, the main purchaser of wheat for Grupo Bimbo, Mexico's largest food company and one of the largest bakers in the world.

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AgMinute: Dec. 5, 2011

It's becoming increasingly clear that Idaho will set a record for total agricultural cash receipts in 2011. In fact, the previous state record for farm cash receipts in a single year -- $6.285 billion in 2008 -- will likely be blown away.

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Podcast: Banking profits, big local food, Idaho revenue, and export growth

In this podcast, editors and reporters highlight some of the stories in this week's edition. We'll talk about how changes in the lending climate and the Federal Reserve are affecting farming operations, big trends in local food, soaring revenue for Idaho growers, and growing overseas demand for American meat and dairy products. The Capital Press also congratulates Julie Fox and Al Drake of Eastern Washington on their sky-high engagement.

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AgMinute: Dec. 2, 2011

The Federal Reserve System has made it easier to borrow dollars overseas, theoretically boosting the prospects for U.S. crop exports while making fuel and fertilizer more expensive.

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AgMinute: Dec. 1, 2011

Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Mark Udall, D-Colo., hope to ease the “devastating” estate tax burden on farming families with legislation they recently introduced. Their American Family Farm and Ranchland Protection Act, SB1901, would enable a family inheriting agricultural property to place up to half of it, up to $5 million, under a tax-free easement, if it remains in agricultural use.

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