Land and Legacy: Farming in Idaho
Over a five-year period, from 2017 to 2022, there was a seven percent decline in the number of farms in America. That meant a loss of 20 million acres of farmland, roughly the size of the state of Maine.
In Idaho, more than 2,000 farms disappeared.
What kind of impact is that having, on cities and counties? What does that mean for the farmers who are left? How will future growth affect the agricultural industry in Idaho? And how are farmers, and their advocates, working to preserve their community and identity for the future?
Idaho Matters is exploring these questions with a new series we’re calling Land and Legacy: Farming in Idaho. We’re sitting down with farmers and planners, city managers and experts to cover a wide array of topics, including the challenges farmers face, how growth is affecting farming, urban farmers, and younger farmers, land use policy and community identity and how it affects planning and farming.
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What's next for farmers in Idaho and how are they trying to protect their land for the future?
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A Caldwell farm is safeguarding its 35 acres for future generations, using sustainable practices to preserve farmland as Idaho's growth marches on.
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The future of Idaho's farms, and the food they grow, is being shaped by today's growth and land use decisions.
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Who’s working to protect agriculture and help their communities grow?
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Meet the next generation of Idaho farmers - young growers tackling rising costs and development pressures while finding innovative ways to keep the state's agricultural legacy alive.
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A new farm incubator in the Treasure Valley is helping Idaho's next generation of farmers overcome land access challenges and build a more sustainable future for local agriculture.
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Meet the urban farmers in the heart of Idaho's cities that are turning small plots into hubs for food and community.
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Over the past five years, Idaho has lost thousands of farms, prompting urgent conversations about the preservation of agricultural communities and the future of farming in our state.