It was a big year for the forage harvesting industry, with both John Deere and Claas unveiling new series this summer. Several operators across southern Idaho had the opportunity to demo these machines while on tour in September.

Growers and community leaders, along with generations of the Simplot family and Gov. Brad Little, attended the event.

Since 1979, Double L has been recognized worldwide for its potato equipment – including planters, harvesters and conveying and handling systems. Now, the company begins a new chapter under the ownership of another longstanding Idaho business, BTR Manufacturing, based in Paul.

Since its arrival three years ago in Twin Falls, the Jae Foundation has built a footing from the ground up to preach the importance of affirming mental health. And by ground up, that goal starts straight from the boots.

Many of today’s youth are served well through 4-H and FFA programs throughout the state and nation, but those aren’t the only successful youth programs available in agriculture. Several commodity or livestock groups tailor specific programs to encourage youth involvement beyond 4-H or FFA, and Amalgamated Sugar Youth Grower Program is one example of these outstanding programs.

Steam-flaked corn and barley, and custom pelletized calf feeds, are three new options available to Idaho beef and dairy producers through Scoular’s latest expansion in Jerome.

How do we preserve the individual farm legacy while preparing the farm for future generations? It was this question that brought 10 potato farmers together in the late ’70s and early ’80s to attempt to operate a fresh-pack potato shed together.

Dairyman Jesus Hurtado’s fate was intertwined with the late John Reitsma and his dairies for nearly three decades. Now Hurtado and John’s son Dirk Reitsma and their dairy futures are connected again through co-investment in a new milk plant in Burley, Idaho.

The first line of fire defense in many rural areas are Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs). These groups of volunteers, mainly farmers and ranchers, are trained and authorized to respond to fires and help protect 9 million acres of Idaho lands.

“I couldn’t get it out of my head,” says Jarvis. “One day I sat down with Justin and told him, ‘I think we need to act on this. There’s a lot of opportunity here to help create a stronger industry – both in the present and in the future.’ We both decided to go all in on that. From June to December we spent our time building the platform that is Of The West and then launched in January of 2021.”