THE IDAHO STATESMAN — TOO OFTEN, IDAHOANS HEAR about the differences between rural and urban Idaho. These differences are regularly couched as the state's old economy versus its new economy, and specifically as agriculture vs. technology. In a time of declining state revenues and a tough federal economic situation, it is more important than ever for Idahoans to focus on our similarities and on how we can work together to weather the current economic crisis.
Idahoans are fortunate to live in a state with a diverse economy. In 2007, a downturn in the state's high-tech manufacturing was offset by job growth in food processing, mining, and record farm receipts. In other years, high-tech manufacturing has offset downturns in agriculture and natural resource-based industries. This economic diversity has long been a strength of our state.
But these two important sectors are not only important in terms of the diversity they bring to our economy. Agriculture and technology are more intimately linked than one might think, and Idaho companies are also finding new ways to marry the state's influential industries.
Advances in technology -from plant breeding to specialized machinery -have always been utilized by agriculture. Today we are seeing Idaho companies use technology to improve energy use, monitor agriculture inputs and help farmers better feed a more populous world.
For example, M2M Communications in Boise is using technology to remotely monitor and control energy use at irrigation pump sites. During the summer, as much as one third of power consumption in rural areas is devoted to irrigation systems. Rocky Mountain Power utilizes M2M's sophisticated program to shift energy from irrigation pumps to power more than 40,000 homes during times of peak energy demand. M2M's technology reduces customer energy bills, the strain on power plants and transmission, air pollution and electricity prices.
Monsanto, which has a presence in both eastern and western Idaho, is testing an approach that "marks" genes which help plants use water most efficiently. This technology will result in more drought-tolerant crops and better opportunities to feed those in areas suffering from famine. In the past, Monsanto has used this technology to increase yields while decreasing outputs, and to develop soy and canola oil with reduced levels of LDL cholesterol.
Farmers are increasingly turning to global positioning technology to control equipment and cut down on overlap during chemical applications. For example, Pine Creek Precision in Kendrick uses unmanned aerial vehicles similar to military drone planes to map and analyze fields. Mapping helps farmers strategically apply fertilizer, herbicides and water.
Rural Idaho is poised to take advantage of the need for renewable energy sources including woody biomass, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, wind and solar. Idaho's growing dairy industry contributes millions of dollars to the state's economy, and technological advances such as methane digesters create energy while addressing waste and odor concerns.
Technology and agriculture are coming together to feed an expanding population on decreasing farm acres, to help farmers become better environmental stewards, and address the nation's energy and water crisis.
The intersection between the two industries is providing opportunities for innovation by Idahoans -who have a long entrepreneurial history. Agriculture and technology are intrinsically linked, as are the economies of urban and rural Idaho. In these times of economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever that we focus on commonalities and how all sectors are necessary to grow our economy, produce jobs and create a better future for all Idahoans.
Shelby Kerns is executive director of the Idaho Rural Partnership.