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Whether it’s agriculture, tourism or energy, a look at the industries that shape Idaho’s economy and how they are affected by state policies.

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March 8, 2012

Dairy Farmers Struggle To Make It In A Global Marketplace

If dairy farmers could predict their monthly profits or losses, the industry would likely be a more stable place. But as StateImpact Idaho reported last year, that uncertainty (among other things) is making the industry a tough place to do business. NPR‘s ‘Planet Money‘ co-founder and economics writer for The New York Times Magazine, Adam Davidson, […]

February 29, 2012

Canadian Company Plans To Explore, Develop Idaho Silver Mine

A Canadian mining company with operations in northern Idaho this week announced plans to explore and further develop the Crescent Silver Mine. The Crescent mine is located near Coeur d’Alene between the well-known Bunker Hill and Sunshine mines. According to United Silver Corp.’s press release, the four-year, $23 million exploration project could yield a “significant […]

High-End Homeowners May Fare Better In Foreclosure Process

The national foreclosure system appears to favor borrowers whose home loans total $1 million or more. That’s according to a new analysis for The Wall Street Journal. “Nationally, borrowers with loans of at least $1 million were in default for an average 792 days last year before banks repossessed their homes, according to an analysis […]

February 28, 2012

Proposed Ag Subsidy Cuts Won’t Touch Most Idaho Farmers

President Obama’s budget proposal, released earlier this month, outlines cuts to ag subsidies. That’s a potential hot button issue for rural and agricultural states, including Idaho. The Los Angeles Times summarized those cuts this way: The White House wants to cap direct payments to farmers — which flow mainly to producers of corn, soybeans, cotton […]

February 24, 2012

20 Percent Of Working Idaho Households Have “Severe” Housing Costs

A fifth of working households in Idaho spend more than half of their income on housing costs, according to a new study from the Center for Housing Policy. That’s slightly better than the national proportion of working households that have a “severe housing cost burden.” That number stands at 23.6 percent. According to the study, […]

February 22, 2012

A Temp Agency Is The Top Employer In Rural Owyhee County

One of Idaho’s largest private employers is a company with a name that doesn’t really explain what it does. It’s called Marsing Agricultural Labor Sponsoring Committee Inc. It’s basically a temp agency for farm workers. The company employs between 500 and 600 people in Owyhee County according to data from the state. And that’s a […]

February 17, 2012

Mitt Romney To Tour Idaho Business

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will tour a Boise company before his public rally this afternoon. Romney is speaking at and will tour Guerdon Enterprises, a modular building company. According to the Idaho Department of Labor, Guerdon has 320 employees, making it one of Ada County’s top private employers.

February 16, 2012

Phosphate Drives Rural Caribou County’s Economy

The top employer in more than half of Idaho’s 44 counties is a local, state or federal government entity. Sixteen counties have a private company as the largest employer. We’re looking at who some of those private companies are, and in some cases, they’re a bit unexpected. Shoshone County for instance, known for its rich […]

Idaho’s Foreclosure Rate Posts Dramatic Drop Over Last Year

Idaho’s foreclosure rate ticked up slightly in January, by about 6 percent. That’s according to new numbers from RealtyTrac, which analyzes housing and foreclosure data. That said, the current rate represents a dramatic 68 percent decrease from January of 2011. Moreover, Idaho’s foreclosure rate has now fallen to 16th in the nation, after remaining in […]

February 15, 2012

Car Sales Are Big Business in One Rural Idaho County

Shoshone County is known as the Silver Valley because of its long history of metal mining, but mines aren’t the top employer anymore. A car dealership is. Dave Smith Motors employs about 400 people, according to data from the state. Hecla Mining, the operator of the Lucky Friday Mine comes in a close second, with […]

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