Idaho’s top 10 ag commodities

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released Idaho’s top 10 agricultural commodities update (for 2021) with comparisons of 2021 to 2020.

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This is the second-highest value of milk production on record, with the highest being in 2014. Milk represented 37% of the total agricultural value compared with 36% in 2020. Cattle and calves remained in the second position and had a value of production totaling $1.42 billion dollars in 2021, up 13% from 2020. Potatoes ranked third in 2021 with a record-high value of production of $1.12 billion, up 145 from the previous year and surpassing the previous record-high value in 2019. Hay value of production was $946 million, up 16% from 2020, fourth in the state ranking. Wheat rounded out the top five with a value of $529 million, down 8% from the previous year. These five commodities had a combined value of $7.08 billion, or 85% of the 2021 value for all commodities (excluding government payments). The same five commodities in 2020 had a combined value of $6.61 billion, 79% of the total value. Sugarbeets, barley, corn for grain, hops, and onions rounded out the top 10.

In addition to potatoes, a record high value of production was established for hops. Value of hop production in 2021 increased for the ninth consecutive year to $105 million, up 5% from the previous record in 2020. There were commodities outside the top 10 that showed increases in value from the previous year. Honey production, with a value of $7.11 million in 2021, increased 8% from the previous year. Three of the top 10 commodities – wheat, sugarbeets and barley – declined in value from the previous year. Other notable commodities outside the top 10 that declined in value in 2021 were dry edible beans, down 25% to $40.3 million, and peppermint, down 8% to $32 million.

—USDA NASS press release Oct. 2022

National and state 2022 wheat winners

The National Wheat Yield Contest (NWYC) announced winners for the 2022 contest, which is the seventh year the National Wheat Foundation has held the contest. This year, a contest-record yield of 231.37 bushels per acre (bu/ac) was achieved by Rylee Reynolds in Twin Falls County, Idaho. Rylee’s 231 bu/ac tops the prior contest record of 211 bu/ac in 2019. Rylee and his dad, Gary, both placed as national winners in the winter wheat irrigated category. Additionally, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) had some great wheat this year; all four of the Bin Buster winners are from the PNW.

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National winners 2022

  • Winter wheat – dryland, Erik Olson, 4th place (Bonners Ferry)
  • Winter wheat – irrigated, Rylee Renolds, Bin Buster award (Castleford)
  • Winter wheat – irrigated, Gary Reynolds, 2nd place (Castleford)
  • Spring wheat – dryland, Trevor Stout, 1st place (Genesee)
  • Spring wheat – irrigated, Dallin Wilcox, 1st place (Rexburg)

Idaho state winners 2022

Winter wheat – dryland

  • 1st place - Erik Olson (Bonners Ferry), variety: McGregor M-Press, yield 138.67

Winter wheat – irrigated

  • 1st place - Rylee Reynolds (Castleford), variety: Syngenta SY Ovation, yield 231.37 – Bin Buster award
  • 2nd place - Gary Reynolds (Castleford), variety: Syngenta SY Ovation, yield 209.65
  • 3rd place - Rick Pearson (Buhl), variety: Syngenta AP Iliad, yield 180.25

Spring wheat – dryland

  • 1st place – Trevor Stout (Genesee), variety: WestBred WB9303, yield 116.40

Spring wheat – irrigated

  • 1st place – Dallin Wilcox (Rexburg), variety: WestBred WB7589, yield 160.63

—Excerpted from National Association of Wheat Growers press release

Idaho excels at National FFA Convention

The 95th National FFA Convention & Expo took place Oct. 26-29 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Idaho FFA members and chapters brought home these distinctions:

Agricultural Communications: Jerome FFA Bronze Emblem Team: Aidan Evans, Bryce Jensen (Silver Emblem Individuals), Vanessa Rodriguez, Annalee Elison (Bronze Emblem Individuals)

Agricultural Issues Forum: American Falls FFA Silver Emblem Team

Agricultural Sales: Nampa FFA Gold Emblem Team: Timothy Hebson, Montana Heine (Gold Emblem Individuals), Laney Volkers (Silver Emblem Individual), Savannah Kinney (Bronze Emblem Individual)

Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems: Meridian FFA Gold Emblem Team: Miles Peters, Cody Wilkerson, Weston Herman, Tristan Smillie (Gold Emblem Individuals)

Agronomy: Fruitland FFA Silver Emblem Team: Gracie Swope, Gabe Donahoo (Gold Emblem Individuals), Gerald Storey, Rylee Bake (Silver Emblem Individuals)

Conduct of Chapter Meetings: Kuna FFA Silver Emblem Team

Creed Speaking: Ethan Crump, American Falls FFA Silver Emblem Individual

Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management: Preston FFA Silver Emblem Team: Steven Roberts (Gold Emblem Individual), Ty Atkinson, Maura Atkinson, Jake Schumann (Silver Emblem Individuals)

Dairy Cattle Handlers’ Activity: Courtney Conley, Nampa FFA Silver Emblem Individual

Employment Skills: Fernando Montelongo, American Falls FFA Bronze Emblem Individual

Environmental and Natural Resources: Madison FFA Silver Emblem Team: Tate Bloomfield (Gold Emblem Individual), Diego Rodriguez, Carter Swenson, Cooper Wolfe (Silver Emblem Individuals)

Extemporaneous Public Speaking: Kamille Mirkin, Jerome FFA Silver Emblem Individual

Farm and Agribusiness Management: Rigby FFA 7th place Gold Emblem Team: Colby Barry, Jada Thurber, Hailey Albertson (Gold Emblem Individuals), Tobee Holman (Silver Emblem Individual)

Floriculture: American Falls 1st place Gold Emblem Team: Lauryn Aiken, Kami Brown, Cody Carlon, Francisco Hernandez (Gold Emblem Individuals)

Food Science and Technology: American Falls FFA Silver Emblem Team: Jasmin Hernandez, Martin Hernandez, Lola Leslie, Alyssa Hernandez (Silver Emblem Individuals)

Forestry: Kuna FFA Silver Emblem Team: Kacie Wooten (Gold Emblem Individual), Cambree Floyd, Daniel Middelhoven, Chase Wooten (Silver Emblem Individuals)

Horse Evaluation: Rigby FFA Silver Emblem Team: Rainey Bell, Sydney Holloway, Pryce Romriell, Hailey Wilson (Silver Emblem Individuals)

Livestock Evaluation: Hagerman FFA 10th place Gold Emblem Team: Gus Hooper, Danica Knapp (Gold Emblem Individuals), Josiah Knapp, Saree Hillstead (Silver Emblem Individuals)

Marketing Plan: American Falls FFA Bronze Emblem Team

Meats Evaluation Technology: Rigby FFA Gold Emblem Team: Hallee Miller, Brianna Bohney (Gold Emblem Individuals), Lucy Barney, Jade Rhodes (Silver Emblem Individuals)

Milk Quality and Products: Fruitland FFA 3rd place Gold Emblem Team: Braden Griffith 6th place, Kaden Mackenzie 10th place, Reese Garcia, Austin Tesnohlidek (Gold Emblem Individuals)

Nursery/Landscape: American Falls FFA 9th place Gold Emblem Team: Katherine Bischoff, Cooper Brown, Sayde Porath (Gold Emblem Individuals), Laila Alvarez (Bronze Emblem Individual)

Parliamentary Procedure: Fruitland FFA Silver Emblem Team

Poultry Evaluation: Preston FFA Silver Emblem Team: Addilee Carter, Erwin Jenkins, Jacob Smith (Silver Emblem Individuals), Taeg Christensen (Bronze Emblem Individual)

Prepared Public Speaking: Elizabeth Blattner, Meridian FFA Silver Emblem Individual

Veterinary Science: Meridian FFA 5th place Gold Emblem Team: Mason Hall, Mckenna Gibbens, Gavin Sternes, Taylor Sutton (Gold Emblem Individuals)

National Proficiency Finalists: Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication – Delfina Murillo (American Falls); Agricultural Mechanics Repair – Levi Smuin (Rigby); Beef Production – Morgan Edwards (Rigby); Outdoor Recreation – Brooklyn Lowe (Kuna)

National FFA Agriscience Fair: Animal Systems – Samantha Ty Smith and Simon Salisbury (Moscow)

National Chapter Awards: American Falls, Cambridge, Highland-Craigmont, Rigby (3 stars); Kuna, Mackay, Meridian, Vallivue (2 stars); Marsing, Parma (1 star)

American Degree recipients: Elizabeth Bearden, Kamryn Orr (Mountain Home); Blake Black, Trace Whitaker, Kagen Knudsen (Raft River); Rylee Black (Fruitland); Kayla Browning (Kuna); Sadie Buck, Kennedy Farden, Noah Vantrease, Mikayla Hinson (New Plymouth); Macey Buescher, Samuel Kerner (Weiser); Lindzy Mikkel Christensen, Tanner Doman, Isaac Troy Hanson, Porter Hanson, Brigham Nelson, Tad Nelson, McKay George Olaveson, Brayden Thomas, Madison Joy Weiers, Benjamin Wells (Rigby); Justis Crossley (Preston); Makenna DeWitt, Ainslee Evans (Homedale), Zoe Ertel, Jarret Mink (Cambridge); Joshua Eli Evans (Jerome); Josune Jaca (Melba); Madison Kelley (Lakeland); Garrett Marshal, Gracie Nelson (American Falls); Mackenzie Saenz (Emmett); Emma Sanford (Notus); Travis Wells (Castleford); Audrey Ziegenfus (Meridian)

National Band: Evelynn Chaney (Bonners Ferry), Haven Harley (Cambridge)

National Chorus: Claudia Bishop, Isabelle Penuelas, Joshua Nelson (Troy)

—Results provided by Idaho FFA Foundation