Idaho is particularly well-known for its potato production – in fact, Idaho produces more potatoes than any other state in the US!
Other important agricultural products grown in Idaho include wheat, barley, hay, milk, cattle, onions, sugar beets, beans, peas, lentils, mint, and nursery products.
In total, the value of Idaho’s agricultural production was estimated at $7.1 billion in 2021. This made up around 85% of the state’s overall production value for all commodities that year.
US Plant Hardiness Zone for Idaho
Let us first take a look at the US Plant Hardiness Zone Map of the state of Idaho.
Plant Hardiness Zone Map for Idaho
Climate
Idaho has diverse climate types, with a predominantly continental flavor in the central and eastern regions.
The western portion has a maritime influence from the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures above 100°F are rare in the summer.
Summers have the highest difference between day and night temperatures, which sees cooler nights even when days are hot.
Winters are cold, but temperatures below 0°F are rare for extended periods.
Precipitation
The average annual precipitation ranges from 10 inches in the arid southwest regions, much of the Snake River and Central Plains to 50 inches at higher elevations and Clearwater, Payette, and Boise river basins.
Snowfall is abundant in the high mountains, with the annual total in Shoshone County at 500 inches.
Soil Type
The shown map gives the distribution of ecoregions across the state.
Now, let us see the soil orders present in the state.
Soil Order For Idaho
| Soil / Sub Order | Location | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Andisols/Cryands and Vitrands | In the Okanogan Highlands and | 1. Cryands have a cryic temperature regime. 2. Vitrands, which are the more or less well-drained, coarse-textured Andisols that have a udic or ustic moisture regime, a temperature regime warmer than cryic, and low content of water held too tightly for plants to use. |
| Aridisols/Cambids, Durids, Argids and Calcids | Mostly found in the southern part of the state. | 1. Cambids are characterized by the least degree of soil development. 2. Durids are the Aridisols that have a duripan. 3. Argids have an argillic or natric horizon. 4. Calcids have a calcic or petro-calcic horizon and have calcium carbonate in the layers above. |
| Inceptisols/Xerepts, Cryepts, and Udepts | Xerepts in the Okanogan highlands, and Cryepts and Udepts in the northern and central part of the side. | 1. Xerepts are mainly freely drained Inceptisols that have a xeric moisture regime. 2. Cryepts are the cold Inceptisols of high mountains or high latitudes. 3. Udepts are mainly freely drained Inceptisols that have a udic or perudic moisture regime. |
| Entisols/Orthents | In the Idaho batholith and Owyhee uplands. | 1. These soils occur on recent erosional surfaces. |
| Alfisols/Xeralfs and Cryalfs | Xeralfs in Palouse prairie and Owyhee uplands while | 1. Xeralfs have a xeric soil moisture regime. |
