Goal: (A=Tourism, B= Entrepreneurial Development, C=Attracting Retirees & Lone Eagles s1
Action Strategy
Goal: T = TourismED = Entrepeneurial DevelopmentRLE = Attracting Retirees & Lone EaglesAG = Value-Added AgricultureCI = Community ImprovementsOC = Organizational CapacityVCA = Volunteers & Community AttitudeStrategy AG1 Organic Potatoes and/or Barley
Background/Concept:
Commercial agriculture remains an important part of the Fremont County economy, with potatoes and barley two of the principal crops. With recent development pressure, farmers need more profitable alternatives to remain in business. Certified organic acres in Idaho grew by 22% from 2004 to 2005 to a total of 97,031 acres. Prices for organic potatoes and barley are much higher. A recent study by the USDA Economic Research Service showed the highest margin for an organic crop was for potatoes. Organic potatoes grew from 240 acres in 2006 to an estimated 490 acres in 2007. There were 12,500 acres of organic barley grow in 2006 for both feed and malting. Anheuser Busch is said to be actively seeking contracts for organic malt barley, and organic feed barley is in demand by organic dairies. Yet there are no organic growers north of Blackfoot.
Potential Partners:
Mike Health, organic potato producer, King Hill, 543-4107
Lou Anderson, S&L Commodities, organic feed barley, Fairfield 764-3913, 539-2245 cell
Anheuser-Busch Co, Idaho Falls 524-1080, organic malting barley contracts
Margaret Misner, ID Dept of Ag, 332-8620
Don Morashita, USDA Ag Research Service, Kimberly, works on organic weed control
USDA-RD Value-Added Producer Grants offer 50% match for feasibility studies, etc.
Concerns:
The main concern expressed in Fremont county concerns weed control. Nematodes may also be an issue for spuds.
There is a time period for which a field must be chemical-free before it can be certified for organic production.
Are a few Fremont County growers willing to try something new?
Ranking Score
Plausibility (To what degree will a success fix the problem? i.e. size of community reward) Score 1-10 / 4
Feasibility (Can we access the resources to succeed? i.e. probability of success) Score 1-10 / 8
Community Readiness (Score 1-5; 1=Not Ready, 5= Very Ready) / 3
Total Score = Plausibility x Feasibility x Community Readiness / 96
Action Steps
a. Talk with producers, grower groups, Farm Bureau to assess interest / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going
b. Work with ISDA, Mike Health, Lou Anderson to organize a workshop on organic commodity crops / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going
c. Consider a Value Added producer Grant as a way to get organized and assess potential / Not Done* = In ProgressX = DoneOn-going