Idaho spud giant bets on biotech potatoes
POSTED: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 08:54 AM PTBY: The Associated Press
A dozen years after a customer revolt forced Monsanto to ditch its genetically engineered potato, an Idaho company aims to resurrect high-tech spuds. This month, tuber processing giant J.R. Simplot Co. asked the U.S. government to approve five varieties of biotech potatoes. They’re engineered not to develop ugly black bruises — McDonald’s, which gets many [...]
USDA: Despite late start, record corn crop likely
POSTED: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 02:47 PM PTBY: The Associated Press
The wet start to the corn planting season is expected to reduce the amount each acre produces this year, but farmers are planting so much of the crop that they’re still likely to bring in a record amount. In a report released May 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated farmers will bring in 14.1 [...]
Dairy abuse video causes worker education push
POSTED: Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 10:51 AM PTBY: The Associated Press
More education for dairy employees on animal welfare is planned following an undercover video at a south-central Idaho dairy showing mistreatment of animals, an associate professor and extension dairy specialist at the University of Idaho says. “I look at it as an opportunity to educate our workers and provide the materials for them to do [...]
Idaho seeking new Oil and Gas commissioners 
POSTED: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 09:22 AM PTBY: Brad Iverson-Long
The state of Idaho is now taking applications for a newly formed Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Appointed commissioners will replace statewide elected officials, including Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, on the board. Lawmakers and Otter this year approved a law to change the composition of the commission to five appointed individuals, rather than five [...]
Idaho Power parent company earned $33.5 million
POSTED: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 11:33 AM PTBY: Brad Iverson-Long
Idacorp, the parent company of electric utility Idaho Power, reported net income increased nearly 35 percent to $33.5 million in three months of 2013, compared to 2012. Company officials called it the best first quarter for the company in more than a decade. The Langley Gulch Power Plant, which opened near New Plymouth in June [...]
Forest Service to states: Give subsidies back
POSTED: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 10:53 AM PTBY: The Associated Press
The U.S. Forest Service is in the business of preventing fires, not starting them. Yet the agency set off alarms in Congress and state capitols across the West by citing the automatic spending cuts as the basis for demanding that dozens of states return $17.9 million in federal subsidies. And it’s all come down to [...]
EPA issues new permit for suction dredge miners
POSTED: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 01:59 PM PTBY: The Associated Press
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a new permit and rules for recreational miners who use small-scale suction dredging equipment to explore for gold in rivers and creeks across Idaho. The federal agency’s permit imposes a set of new rules, best practices and limits on how and where suction dredging can occur, including an outright [...]
Shoshone Bannock, Yakamas urge feds to consider horse slaughter
POSTED: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 11:42 AM PTBY: The Associated Press
A Northwest Indian tribe urged federal officials to explain their position against slaughtering horses in the United States, calling it “absurd” to prohibit the practice. The question of equine slaughter has been a hot-button issue in the West, where horses hold an iconic role as loyal companions. Animal welfare groups have expressed outrage at the [...]
Oil company with megaloads to start production
POSTED: Monday, April 1, 2013 at 08:19 AM PTBY: The Associated Press
The Canadian company that set off about three years of legal wrangling with its plan to move gigantic oil equipment loads across Idaho and Montana is close to producing oil. Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil officials said the processing equipment has been assembled at the Kearl Lake Oil Sands project in northern Alberta. Imperial spokesman Pius Rolheiser told [...]
Coeur d’Alene Mines moving headquarters to Chicago
POSTED: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 02:32 PM PTBY: The Associated Press
Gold and silver producer Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. will move its headquarters from Idaho to downtown Chicago this year and hire at least 60 employees, state and city officials announced March 27. In a joint news release, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn said they offered the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho-based company a package [...]
