Ag Facts

I am all about agriculture and have learned that I need to be more of a promoter of all ag, since my entire livelihood depends on it. I have a unique situation since my family and/or myself have had cattle my entire life and for the past 8 years I have worked in the ag lending field, so literally my livelihood depends on agriculture and it's success.

Since completing my last session and graduating from Leadership Idaho Agriculture I have come to the conclusion that I have lived with blinders on my eyes for quite some time. I have always assumed that people in Idaho know where their food comes from, how it's produced, grown and harvested! WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! There are people of all ages right here in Idaho that don't know where their food comes from and granted due to our overwhelming exports from other countries a majority of our food does not come from Idaho, yep I said it, we have got to buy Idaho. Here's a couple interesting facts provided by Idaho State Department of Agriculture:

If Idahoans had to consume all products produced within the state in 2012, every Idaho resident would need to consume EACH DAY:

• 210 slices of bread
• 55 potatoes
• 2 lbs. of cheese or 43 glasses of milk
• 1.5 lbs. of beef
• 2 onions
• 3 cups of beans and more......

Amazing? Yes, why are eating food that is not grown in Idaho? How much safer and fresher can you get than grown right here in our beautiful state?

Top 5 Countries we Export to:

• Canada
• Mexico
• China
• Japan
• Korean Republic

2012 Top Idaho Commodities as a Percentage in US Market:

• Potatoes
• Trout
• Hay
• Austrian Winter Peas
• Barley

We are #1 in he US for the production of: potatoes and trout; #2 in Hay, winter peas, barley, sugar beets and wrinkled seed peas and the list goes on......
Another growing industry that many don't know about is the wine industry. The first grapes were grown in Idaho in 1864! We now have over 1600 acres of vineyards with over 50 wineries producing wine!!!

Top 5 Idaho Commodities:

• Milk
• Cattle/Calves
• Potatoes
• Wheat
• Hay

A little shocked that potatoes are #3, join the club. We produce many crops in Idaho in larger quantities than many are aware of; dry beans, onions, mint, trout, lentils, peaches and mink - just to name a few.

Anyone know what the average age of an Idaho farmer is?  57
Nothing against these 57 year olds, we wouldn't have much of what we all have today without them, but this says to me that we need young farmers/ranchers to step up, take control and start producing.

This is my vent subject for today. We need to buy Idaho, grow Idaho and support the young producers entering the market.

SUPPORT LOCAL AGRICULTURE