b'2. Finding Niches: The globalized economy has5. Recirculating Tanks: Water ows have steadily made it dicult for sh farmers to compete withdeclined, leading to reduced trout production. low-price international imports; the U.S. importsYet, recirculating tanks, which reuse 80 percent more than 91 percent of the seafood it eats. Two ofof water, can help sheries maintain water ow the niches that have proved successful are raisingneeds, though the initial investment can be hefty.live tilapia and sturgeon and preparing boneless6. Fighting Disease: Coldwater disease and llets and cuts with specialty coatings. columnaris, caused by poor water quality, can be 3. A Growing Market for Sturgeon: Idaho isdevastating to sh farms. Thus, researchers and beneting from a growing market for live andsheries are teaming up to produce vaccines and processed sturgeon and caviar. White sturgeonprobiotics to ght disease.8is North Americas largest sh and llets can sell for about $15 per pound. A female sturgeon canAlmondscarry up to a half-million eggs, weighing up toIn the wake of severe droughts aicting Californian 17 pounds. However, it typically takes four yearsalmond orchards throughout the 2021 growing season, to raise a male for llet harvesting and femalesresearchers and growers are increasingly exploring are kept for 10 to 13 years for caviar production,the possibility of growing almonds commercially so signicant foresight and planning is needed toin Idaho. Many Californian growers are wanting to successfully run a sturgeon farm. relocate to southwestern Idaho to take advantage 4. Phosphorous Limits: Fish feed and fecesof the comparatively secure water supply, more contribute to excessive levels of phosphorusfavorable regulatory environment, and cheaper land in river waters, which causes excessive plantprices. University of Idaho fruit researchers have been growth and degrades ecosystems. As a result,conducting a major almond trial at the universitys government agencies have mandated shParma agricultural research and extension station since farms cut back on phosphorus levels. Some2014. UI researchers are examining dierent almond sheries have navigated this challenge byvarieties and studying yields, bloom and harvest altering sh feed and using waste as fertilizerdates, and quality attributes such as taste. While it in land applications. remains uncertain whether almonds can be grown Agriculture in Idaho 13'