U of I Ag Outlook Conference examines 2025 challenges for crops, profits for livestock

BOISE, Idaho — Most Idaho crop farmers should finish 2025 either barely breaking even or slightly in the red, though it’s been another strong year for the state’s dairy and beef producers, according to University of Idaho Extension agricultural economist Brett Wilder.  

Wilder will highlight his findings when he presents his “Financial Conditions of Idaho Agriculture 2025” report during U of I’s annual Idaho Ag Outlook Seminar, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST Dec. 17 at the Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., Boise. The cost of registering for the event is $35 to attend in person, which includes lunch, or $10 to participate online.  

The seminar will also feature presentations on outlooks for the coming year regarding individual crops, input costs, water, regional agriculture and macroeconomic trends, as well as likely impacts of forthcoming policy changes.  

“It’s an all-star slate of people who are experts in their field,” Wilder said.  

Though Wilder’s report has not been finalized, it’s already clear to the economist that Idaho’s gross agricultural receipts will be marginally lower than last year’s $12 billion record total. Net farm income has trended downward due in part to rising costs of crop-production inputs.

Markets for potatoes, corn, sugar beets and alfalfa are especially dour, and though wheat and barley are in a better position than corn, prices for the small grains are still near the break-even point.  

“I don’t expect extremely rosy outlooks,” Wilder said. “We’re going to be realistic about the situation we have in front of us and hopefully give people a better feeling of where things sit.”

Dairy and beef are the strongest sectors of Idaho’s agricultural economy. A historically tight cattle inventory has driven up beef prices, and though dairy prices are down somewhat, lower feed costs have helped dairymen grow their profit margins.  

“The livestock sector might be a solid two-thirds of our gross cash receipts this year,” Wilder said.  

The seminar will also include the following presentations:

• Doug Robison, Idaho president of AgWest Farm Credit, will address global macroeconomic trends.  
• Dexton Lake, government affairs representative with Idaho Farm Bureau Federation, will cover new policies affecting Idaho agriculture.
• Xiaoli Etienne, associate professor and Idaho Wheat Commission endowed chair in commodity risk management, will provide an input-cost outlook.
• Colby Field, assistant professor and area Extension educator of risk management, will offer a grain outlook.  
• Reed Findlay, Extension educator, Bannock County, will give an alfalfa outlook.  
• A speaker with the National Weather Service, yet to be determined, will give a weather and precipitation outlook.  
• Patrick Hatzenbuehler, associate professor and Extension specialist of crop economics, will offer a potato market outlook.  
• Dustin Winston, director of business development for U.S. dairy with StoneX Group Inc., will offer a dairy outlook.  
• Wilder will also provide a beef market outlook.

Registration for the conference is requested by Dec. 12. For more information, visit uidaho.edu/extension/events/ag-outlook.

Media contact 

John O’Connell
Assistant director of communications 
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences 
208-530-5959 
joconnell@uidaho.edu

Brett Wilder 
Assistant professor and area Extension educator 
208-885-0263 
bwilder@uidaho.edu