Idaho Farms Remain In Hands Of Families

The family farm often is described as an endangered institution, but that does not seem to apply in Idaho.

Idaho’s farms have been relatively stable for the last 10 years with roughly the same amount of land remaining in production. And while there have been retirements and consolidations, farms generally have remained in the hands of families.

“You can argue about the definition of a family farm,” said Jim Nelson, head of the University of Idaho Agricultural Economics Department. “There’s so much social and emotional meaning attached to it. But if you look at Idaho’s farms, most of them are owned, operated and controlled by family units.”

Since the economic shakeout of the early 1980s, the number of farms in Idaho has fluctuated around 21,000. From 22,500 in 1988, the number dipped to 20,500 in 1993 before climbing back to 22,000 this year.

Meanwhile, the average Idaho farm grew in size from 608 to 658 acres, then slipped back down to 613 acres.

“What that probably means is that we’ve sort of found the right size for the most profitability,” Nelson said.

He predicted that in the long term, commercial farms will continue to grow in size while specialty or hobby farms grow in number.

It is a “bi-modal” picture that is emerging, says Neil Meyer, the University of Idaho’s agriculture policy specialist in Moscow.

In some cases, a landowner will use the farm designation to take advantage of tax laws when he buys pickups, horse trailers and all-terrain vehicles. Sales tax does not apply to farm equipment.

Such farms can generate $30,000 to $40,000 a year in cash income, even when both spouses work at other jobs, Meyer said.

At the other end of the scale, the number of farms with assets of more than $1 million are growing. However, Meyer said, “I think we have less of the giant corporate agriculture than you see in California and the Pacific Northwest.”