4-4 IAN Bullish on Ag

 Talk about an optimist regarding the future of agriculture, University of Idaho agricultural economist Garth Taylor and I had a recent chat. I called the U of I’s Dr. Garth Taylor on a dairy related matter the other day and one thing led to another. If you listen to the conversation, I think you will quickly agree with me that Garth is very bullish on the future of agriculture in Idaho. “Dave you are old enough to remember when things were not good... Things were just bleak year after year. I am old enough to remember when there wasn’t even production agriculture. ( Laughter). This is truly phenomenal area. At this rate of growth that we have experienced in cash receipts, we will double the size of agriculture in the state every 12 to  15 years. I am not guaranteeing that will happen, it is just extrapolating the growth rate we have had in the last 15 years. You and I have been around and listened to what I call the farmers whine. you know, this is the last year we are going to be in business and agriculture is almost gone. That is not borne out by farmers checking accounts or production. nor trips to Hawaii or Farm Bureau’s Caribbean vacations.