Idaho farm income is down 30 percent from last year

Idaho’s net farm income is expected to drop 30 percent this year from last.

It’s still better than the national number which is down 38 percent from 2014.

Price for a lot of crops are down while the cost for production is up. That’s what brings a farmer’s income down.

Ben Eborn, an agricultural economist with the University of Idaho says while everyone across the board was hit, the one industry is hurting the most.

“Milk prices are down, and they’re down about 28 percent this year,” he said. “They were really good in 2014, but tanked this year. Dairy farmers are barely breaking even right now.”

Eborn says while it’s a significant drop in income, it’s important to remember there’s a stabilizing effect in agriculture. He says when one industry is hurting, another is doing fine.