Growing in the Magic Valley
Welcome to south central Idaho and the beautiful Magic Valley that we call our mountain home! The Sawtooth Mountains boarder us to the north and the South Hills in the opposite direction. Ancient lava fields have broken down into rich, basalt soil fed by the mountain waters through irrigation. This is the West- after all- and our water is stored and regulated to ensure successful growing seasons for crop and range lands.
On our farm, we grow row crops like corn (field and sweet), sugar beets, carrots for seed; grains such as barley and wheat; and forage like alfalfa hay. A small herd of beef cattle and heifer replacement cows keep our pastures trimmed and the chickens provide eggs and meat for our neighbors and our growing boys.
We feel that soil health is equal to crop health and rotate our crops, apply water with targeted nozzles, and use conservation tillage practices where applicable. We marvel both at the technological advances in our tractors as well as in the seeds we plant. Every progressive application on our farm allows us to contribute more to our nation’s food supply, which is the cheapest, safest, and most versatile of any food chain in the world.
It is an exciting time to be in agriculture and also challenging. Markets, popular opinion, and an anti-science movement make us stretch to educate and cooperate while trying to be successful in our every day. We only get one chance per growing season and we have to make each acre and animal count. Join us in the tractors!