Idaho passes New York in milk production race
POSTED: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 07:42 AM PTBY: Associated Press
Tags: Agriculture, Idaho Dairymen's Association
A production increase in July has helped Idaho surpass New York as the nation’s third leading milk producer.
The Idaho Dairymen’s Association says milk production in the state was up 5.2 percent in July compared to July 2009 and up 4 percent compared to June.
Federal figures show Idaho dairy owners produced 1.12 billion pounds of milk [...]
Payette Brewing Co. to target distribution segment 
POSTED: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 04:37 PM PTBY: Brad Carlson
Tags: manufacturing
Mike Francis plans to open Payette Brewing Co. by late fall at 111 W. 33rd St., Garden City. Interior build-outs are under way in the 7,000-square-foot space, where he plans to open a tasting room after beer production begins.
“There’s already great beer in the valley, and there is room for a few more (brewers),” he [...]
Idaho roads agency appeals wide-loads ruling
POSTED: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 10:21 AM PTBY: Associated Press
Tags: Environment, highways, Idaho Supreme Court
The Idaho Supreme Court has granted a request to speed the appeal of a judge’s decision to halt four oversized shipments of oil equipment along a scenic, curvy highway across northern Idaho.
The justices scheduled an Oct. 1 hearing in a case involving ConocoPhillips and the Idaho Transportation Department.
Earlier this month, 2nd District Judge John Bradbury [...]
US Ecology acquires southern California plant
POSTED: Monday, August 30, 2010 at 03:34 PM PTBY: Anne Wallace Allen
Tags: U.S. Ecology, waste disposal
Boise-based waste disposal company US Ecology Inc. has bought a Siemens Water Technologies Corp. plant in Vernon, Calif.
US Ecology employs 36 people at its corporate office in Boise and 64 at a waste disposal site in Grand View. The acquisition won’t likely have any impact on the company’s employment at its waste disposal sites at [...]
Boise visitors bureau moves out of Front Street office
POSTED: Monday, August 30, 2010 at 12:28 PM PTBY: Simon Shifrin
Tags: Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Boise Auditorium District
UPDATED - The Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau moved into a new office last week under the threat of eviction by the Greater Boise Auditorium District.
The district, which is cutting off its $1.3 million annual grant to the bureau starting Sept. 1, wanted the group out of its Front Street space to make room for [...]
Federal grant that propped up alt power due to expire
POSTED: Monday, August 30, 2010 at 07:28 AM PTBY: Associated Press
Tags: alternate energy, Mike Crapo, U.S. Geothermal
The wind always seems to blow on the Snake River plain, keeping this high-desert landscape of sage, potatoes and sugar-beet plants forever in motion.
Still, General Electric Co. executives said the consistent gusts weren’t enough for them to take a majority stake in Idaho’s largest wind farm, a 122-turbine, $500 million complex due to produce enough [...]
ConocoPhillips appeals Idaho judge’s wide-load ruling
POSTED: Friday, August 27, 2010 at 08:32 AM PTBY: Associated Press
Tags: Environment, Transportation
Oil company ConocoPhillips is appealing an Idaho judge’s ruling this week that revoked special state permits allowing four oversized loads of oil refinery equipment through a federally protected river corridor.
Opponents of the shipments on U.S. Highway 12 say the notice of appeal was filed Aug. 25 in the Idaho Supreme Court.
In Tuesday’s ruling, 2nd District [...]
Stepped-up trade efforts could help Idaho ag industry
POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 09:13 AM PTBY: Brad Carlson
Tags: Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, Darci Vetter, exports, Mike Crapo, National Export Initiative, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA
Exports provide an opportunity for small- and mid-sized businesses, but many aren’t accessing the larger agencies to get the help they need.
Darci Vetter, U.S. Department of Agriculture deputy under secretary of farm and foreign agricultural services, addressed the issue for farmers and ag advocates Aug. 24 at USDA’s service center in Caldwell.
“Some smaller producers think [...]
GE wind project adding to Idaho’s power capacity
POSTED: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 02:01 PM PTBY: Anne Wallace Allen
Tags: GE Energy Financial Services, Idaho Power, Magic Valley, wind power
Connecticut-based investor GE Energy Financial Services plans to start building 122 wind turbines this year in Idaho’s Magic Valley.
The project will cost as much as $500 million and will yield about 24 permanent technician jobs, said Andy Katell, a spokesman for GE Energy Financial Services, a majority partner in the project with Atlantic Power of [...]
Prices rebound for Idaho’s top commodities
POSTED: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 10:26 AM PTBY: Associated Press
Tags: Agriculture, commodies, Idaho Cattle Association, University of Idaho
POCATELLO - Prices are rising for Idaho’s top four agricultural commodities - dairy, beef, potatoes and wheat.
That bodes well for the state’s struggling economy and is a reversal from last year, when prices were depressed and the agricultural sector experienced its largest decline in cash receipts in more than 40 years.
Fresh potato growers this year [...]
