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Agriculture In District III
District III, located
in south central Idaho could be considered the most diversified
agricultural district in Idaho. District III comprises eleven
counties from the highest mountain region to arid open plains.
The highly
agricultural productive soils are dependent upon valuable
irrigation water. This water is supplied by winter snow pack
run-off that recharges the aquifer and fills a great number of
mountain lakes, streams, rivers and man made reservoirs.
Because of the available surface and ground water sources, south
central Idaho is responsible for the production of 193,600 acres
of Wheat, 199,800 acres of Barley, 100,200 acres of Potatoes,
130,000 acres of Sugar beets, 105,00 acres of Corn, 443,200
acres of Oats, 410,200 acres of Alfalfa and 51,000 acres of dry
edible Beans.
In addition to the
high value crop production land in District III, a very large,
healthy livestock industry exists. The Beef and Dairy
industries combined totals over 942,000 head of cattle and
calves, which consume the majority of feed barley, corn silage
and alfalfa produced on the south central Idaho land. Sheep
industry numbers exceed 128,000 head of Rams, Ewes and lambs.
Beef and Sheep producers alike utilize large acres of BLM,
Forest service, and private range grazing rights. Although the
Pork industry is not a large production industry, it is a very
valuable economic commodity in south central Idaho, which
supports a profitable processing facility in District III.
Agriculture in
District III does not end with these major commodities;
additional amenities include retail and wholesale greenhouse
production, aquaculture production and processing, and orchard
and nursery production and sales.
South central Idaho
agriculture is a tremendous asset to the greater southern Idaho
economy, without the high dollar value commodity production, and
the love of the land our farmers and ranchers display, the well
being of small towns that make up District III would definitely
suffer.
We as
agriculturists are proud of what we produce and market and are
proud to be a part of the food production system in Idaho.
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