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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Despite a great harvest for Idaho’s agriculture industry, many farmers are struggling to make ends meet. In a stark paradox, farm income in Idaho was down substantially last year, even as the industry harvests more crops than ever.

The question is, how can a successful season still lead to financial hardship, and what can farmers do about it?

According to a USDA report released last month, the total value of agricultural production in Idaho in 2024 was $12.6 billion, a 3% increase from the previous year. Sean Ellis of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation says while 2025 looks to be a good year for yield as well, expenses are not going down.

Intermediate farm production expenses in Idaho totaled $7.2 billion in 2024, according to the USDA report, a significant 6% jump from 2023.

“The problem is the commodity prices are so low that even with the great yields, it’s still a struggle,” says Alan Clark, owner and manager of Clark Farms. “You know, you’re just barely able to make payments and things like that.”

Ellis breaks down the long and rising list of expenses facing farmers today: “Labor costs are never going to go down. And fertilizers, fuel, electricity, the cost of irrigation, just general inflation—it all adds up,” Ellis explains.

Both industry leaders and farmers agree that action is needed. For Ellis, the primary fix lies in federal policy, specifically an updated Farm Bill.

“Passing a new Farm Bill [could help],” Ellis said. “Our current Farm Bill, I believe, is seven years old. You’re supposed to have a new one roughly every five years. The current one is way outdated. So updating it, which does provide a minimum safety net for agriculture, would be a great start.”

He noted that recent legislation has offered some relief, but it is not a comprehensive solution. “If you remember that one big beautiful bill that was passed a month or so ago, there were a lot of wins for agriculture in that, but it’s not a substitute for a new Farm Bill,” Ellis explained.

On the other side, the idea of government assistance is viewed with mixed feelings. Clark acknowledges the need for a new solution but is wary of overreach:

“I think there can be government fixes, but I hate to see the government put their fingers in too many things because you don’t know where it’s going to go from that,” Clark stated.

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The missing 9-year-old, Adria Huerta, has been safely located by an officer with help from the Idaho Falls community.

“Thank you to the great community members who reported sightings of Adrian that helped our officers know which direction to look for him,” stated IFPD in a release.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Police Department is seeking the public’s help in their search for 9-year-old Adrian Huerta, who has been missing since late this afternoon, Wednesday, October 8.

Adrian was last seen around 4:30 p.m. today at the basketball court located at 1325 Hoopes Avenue.

When he was last seen, Adrian was wearing a blue shirt, jeans, and orange Nike shoes. He was also seen riding a scooter. The boy is approximately 4 ft tall, 60 pounds, and has dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. 

Police are asking anyone who has seen Adrian or who has any information regarding his current whereabouts to immediately call dispatch at (208) 529-1200.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls City Council candidates Jordan Bardsley, Mosy Moran, Teresa Dominick, Christopher Brunt, and Brad Whipple, participated in a public forum put on by Stand Up Idaho, answering questions from residents on topics ranging from city growth and government shutdowns to public transportation.

One question that stood out was how the city council and government can better engage youth in local politics. Each candidate offered unique perspectives on this critical issue.

Christopher Brunt emphasized the importance of making young people feel heard by those in positions of power. He noted that the perception of an apathetic city council can discourage involvement at any age.

“If you knew that people in a position of power and authority had to listen to you, that would probably make it a priority to be involved,” Brunt said.

Brad Whipple took a different stance, arguing that it’s not the government’s responsibility to directly address youth engagement.

“There’s a limited amount that we can do, and it’s nice to say we’re going to solve it, but the taxpayers have to pay for it,” Whipple stated.

Jordan Bardsley shared a personal approach, drawing from her experience as a parent. She encouraged his children to participate in student government, with his oldest serving as senior class president and his youngest involved in student leadership.

“You’ve got to connect with the younger generation, with the older generation too, and bridge that gap,” Bardsley said.

Mosy Moran proposed actionable solutions, emphasizing the use of modern tools like social media and video content to reach younger audiences.

“It’s not that hard. We have the ways to do this,” Moran said, noting that creating and sharing engaging content, such as videos shot on a smartphone, is both cost-effective and immediate. He stressed the importance of practical plans to connect with youth effectively.

Teresa Dominick advocated for direct communication between council members and local schools. She suggested that each council member could be assigned one or two schools to visit regularly and engage with students.

“The Compass Academy forum has been a fantastic experience working with the students,” Dominick stated.

The full forum, featuring these discussions and more, is available on Stand Up for Idaho’s Rumble page. Stay informed and get involved in shaping the future of Idaho Falls!