NATIONAL
AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS
SERVICE

MONTANA

USDA, NASS, MT FIELD OFFICE
10 W 15TH STREET, SUITE 3100
HELENA, MT 59626
406-389-3600 OR 800-835-2612
www.nass.usda.gov/mt
nass-mt@nass.usda.gov

AGRICULTURAL FACTS
2018

April 2019

Montana Facts and Figures
Montana's 2010 population, at 989,415, was up 9.7 percent from 2000. Population density, measured in people per
square mile, was 6.8 in 2010--third lowest in the United States. Montana's 58.0 million acres of land in farms and ranches
ranks second in the nation behind Texas.

Montana Population 1

Land and Land Utilization

Total, 2010 Census

989,415

People Per Square Mile

6.8

Montana Total Land Area, Square Miles 1
Montana Total Land Area, Acres

All Land in Farms & Ranches, Acres

93,149,312
2

Proportion of Land in Farms & Ranches
1
2

145,546

1

58,122,878
2

62.4%

2010 U.S. Population Census.
2017 U.S. Census of Agriculture.

Farm Financial Indicators
Number of Farms & Ranches

Average Size of Farm or Ranch
Gross Farm Income

(1,000)

1

26,900
1

1
2

2,156 Acres

2

Value of Agriculture Sector Production

Value of Crop Production

$4.39 Billion
2

$4.02 Billion

2

$1,475,312

Value of Animals & Products Production
Farm-Related Income
Net Farm Income

2

2

$1,588,241
$954,550

2

$351,014

Places with annual sale of agricultural products of $1,000 or more.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Farm Financial Indicators State Rankings, 2017 figures.

Land in Farms & Ranches:
Utilization as a Percentage of Total

Harvested Cropland
17.0%

Pasture & Range
66.2%
Cropland
28.2%

Woodland
4.4%

Other Pasture & Grazing Land
That Could Have Been Used
for Crops
1.1%
Other Cropland
10.1%

Source: 2017 Census of Agriculture
Land in Farmsteads, Homes, Buildings and Livestock Facilities
1.2%

Source: 2017 Census of Agriculture

 Montana Annual Crop Summary, 2017 & 2018
Crop

Winter Wheat (Bu) ................... 2017
2018
Durum Wheat (Bu) ................... 2017
2018
Spring Wheat (Bu) ................... 2017
2018
All Wheat (Bu) .......................... 2017
2018
Barley (Bu) ............................... 2017
2018
Oats (Bu) .................................. 2017
2018
Corn for Grain (Bu) 1 ............... 2017
2018
Corn for Silage (Ton) ............... 2017
2018
Flaxseed (Bu)........................... 2017
2018
Sugar Beets (Ton) ................... 2017
2018
Alfalfa Hay (Ton) 2 ................... 2017
2018
Other Hay (Ton) 2 .................... 2017
2018
All Hay (Ton) 2 ......................... 2017
2018
Fall Potatoes (Cwt) .................. 2017
2018
All Dry Beans (Cwt) ................. 2017
2018
Pinto Beans (Cwt) .................... 2017
2018
Garbanzo Beans (Cwt) ............ 2017
2018
Lentils (Cwt) ............................. 2017
2018
Dry Peas (Cwt)......................... 2017
2018
Austrian Winter Peas (Cwt) ..... 2017
2018
Canola (Lbs) ............................ 2017
2018
Mustard Seed (Lbs) ................. 2017
2018
Safflower (Lbs) ......................... 2017
2018

Planted
Acres

Harvested
Acres

(1,000)

(1,000)

Season
Production Average
Price
(1,000)

(Dollars)

1,750.0
1,650.0
890.0
840.0
2,500.0
2,900.0
5,140.0
5,390.0
770.0
790.0
70.0
70.0
115.0
115.0
--52.0
39.0
42.9
43.5
------11.1
11.1
275.0
395.0
6.0
3.0
269.0
390.0
730.0
500.0
525.0
335.0
20.0
12.0
155.0
120.0

1,590.0
1,570.0
785.0
775.0
2,290.0
2,820.0
4,665.0
5,165.0
565.0
600.0
18.0
23.0
65.0
68.0
25.0
37.0
38.0
37.0
42.7
42.4
1,650.0
1,900.0
850.0
1,000.0
2,500.00
2,900.00
11.1
11.1
265.0
386.0
6.0
2.6
259.0
382.0
670.0
450.0
470.0
310.0
4.0
8.0
137.0
117.0

42.0
50.0
16.0
30.0
21.0
34.0
27.3
38.3
51.0
56.0
47.0
43.0
70.0
85.0
20.0
20.0
9.0
17.0
32.7
31.1
2.10
2.05
1.50
1.70
1.90
1.93
340.0
345.0
1,000.0
1,350.0
2,500.0
2,400.0
960.0
1,350.0
650.0
1,080.0
820.0
1,620.0
710.0
950.0
860.0
1,120.0

66,780
78,500
12,560
23,250
48,090
95,880
127,430
197,630
28,815
33,600
846
989
4,550
5,780
500
740
342
629
1,396
1,319
3,465
3,895
1,275
1,700
4,740
5,595
3,774
3,830
2,643
5,214
150
62
2,493
5,138
4,355
4,860
3,854
5,022
28
76
117,820
131,040

(3)

(3)

(3)

(3)

(3)

(3)

(3)

(3)

39.0
42.0

28.0
36.0

610.0
990.0

17,080
35,640

-- Not Available.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
Planted for all Purposes.
2
Price of baled hay.
3
Data published at National level only.

2

Yield
per
Acre

4.76
5.15
6.32
5.30
6.21
5.50
5.34
5.30
4.34
4.70
2.86
2.90
3.41
3.50
--8.73
9.00
41.30
-142.00
148.00
136.00
131.00
141.00
145.00
12.80
13.00
33.80
24.60
----25.30
15.20
11.00
9.70
(D)
(D)
15.70
14.80
--(D)
22.00

Value of
Production
($1,000)

317,873
404,275
79,379
123,225
298,639
527,340
695,891
1,054,840
125,057
157,920
2,420
2,868
15,516
20,230
--2,986
5,661
57,655
-492,030
576,460
173,400
222,700
665,430
799,160
48,307
49,790
89,333
128,264
----110,182
73,872
42,394
48,814
(D)
(D)
18,498
19,394
--(D)
7,841

U.S. Total
Production
(1,000)

1,270,282
1,183,939
54,777
77,287
415,851
623,232
1,740,910
1,884,458
143,258
153,082
49,585
56,130
14,609,407
14,420,101
127,434
121,361
3,842
4,466
35,317
33,145
55,812
52,634
72,395
70,966
128,207
123,600
406,800
420,281
35,961
37,494
13,617
8,792
7,057
12,742
7,482
8,408
14,195
15,929
100
124
3,055,410
3,616,560
58,820
73,078
176,025
236,380

 Selected Montana Livestock
Item

January 1, 2018

All Cattle & Calves .................................. (Head)
Cows & Heifers That Have Calved .......... (Head)
Beef Cows ........................................... (Head)
Milk Cows ............................................ (Head)
Heifers 500 Pounds & Over
For Beef Cow Replacement ................ (Head)
For Milk Cow Replacement ................. (Head)
Other Heifers ....................................... (Head)
Steers 500 Pounds & Over ..................... (Head)
Bulls 500 Pounds & Over ........................ (Head)
Calves Less Than 500 Pounds ............... (Head)
Cattle On Feed ........................................ (Head)
Calf Crop 1 .............................................. (Head)
Item

Item

2

2,500,000
1,460,000
1,448,000
12,000

98%
97%
97%
92%

390,000
7,000
223,000
210,000
105,000
105,000
45,000
1,480,000

380,000
8,000
232,000
240,000
100,000
80,000
40,000
1,450,000

97%
114%
104%
114%
95%
76%
89%
98%

January 1, 2019

Percent of Previous Year

225,000
195,000

215,000
183,000

96%
94%

150,000
6,000
39,000
30,000
1,000
29,000
190,000
1,750,000
195,000
9.0

141,000
6,000
36,000
32,000
2,000
30,000
180,000
1,610,000
180,000
8.9

94%
100%
92%
107%
200%
103%
95%
92%
92%
99%

December 1, 2017

All Hogs & Pigs ....................................... (Head)
Kept for Breeding .................................... (Head)
Market ..................................................... (Head)
Sows Farrowing Dec-Nov 2 .................... (Head)
Pig Crop Dec-Nov 2 ................................ (Head)
Pigs per litter Dec-Nov 2 ......................... (Head)

Percent of Previous Year

2,550,000
1,510,000
1,497,000
13,000

January 1, 2018

All Sheep & Lambs.................................. (Head)
Breeding Sheep ...................................... (Head)
One Year Old & Older
Ewes ................................................... (Head)
Rams ................................................... (Head)
Replacement Lambs ........................... (Head)
Market Sheep & Lambs ........................... (Head)
Sheep .................................................. (Head)
Lambs ................................................. (Head)
Lamb Crop 1 ........................................... (Head)
Wool Production 1 ...................................... (Lbs)
Number of Sheep Shorn 1 ...................... (Head)
Average Pounds per Fleece 1 ................... (Lbs)

1

January 1, 2019

December 1, 2018

179,000
25,000
154,000
47,500
522,000
10.99

Percent of Previous Year

192,000
33,000
159,000
53,000
581,000
10.96

107%
132%
103%
112%
111%
100%

Previous year, January - December.
Previous year, December - November.

Market-Year-Average Prices Received by Montana Farmers 1
Item
All Wheat ...................... (Bu)
Winter Wheat ................ (Bu)
Spring Wheat ................ (Bu)
Durum Wheat ............... (Bu)
Barley............................ (Bu)
Oats .............................. (Bu)
Alfalfa Hay .................... (Bu)
Milk, All ....................... (Cwt)
Wool............................ (Lbs)

1995
4.63
4.62
4.59
5.09
3.00
1.75
67.50
13.30
1.23

2000
3.02
2.87
3.03
3.52
2.38
1.13
86.50
12.80
0.37

2005
3.63
3.51
3.80
3.45
2.92
1.63
71.00
15.30
0.98

2010
6.29
5.81
6.87
6.22
4.08
2.66
79.00
16.90
1.60

2015
4.83
4.59
4.80
6.88
5.82
3.33
125.00
14.90
1.90

2016
4.43
3.88
4.76
5.93
5.12
3.20
134.00
15.80
1.90

2017 2
5.34
4.76
6.21
6.32
4.34
2.86
142.00
17.50
1.90

2018 3
5.30
5.15
5.50
5.30
4.70
2.90
148.00
-2.50

-- Not Available
1
Crops are season average prices for each crop's respective marketing year. Other prices are averages weighted by monthly sales.
2
Revised.
3
Preliminary.

3

 Rank & Quantity Produced, Selected Commodities – Montana & United States: 2018
Commodity

Montana

Unit

Field Crops
Barley ............................................................ (1,000 Bu)
Beans, Dry Edible ....................................... (1,000 Cwt)
Garbanzo Beans ..................................... (1,000 Cwt)
Pinto Beans............................................. (1,000 Cwt)
Dry Edible Peas .......................................... (1,000 Cwt)
Austrian Winter Peas .............................. (1,000 Cwt)
Canola ......................................................... (1,000 Lbs)
Corn, Grain ................................................... (1,000 Bu)
Corn, Silage .............................................. (1,000 Tons)
Flaxseed ....................................................... (1,000 Bu)
Hay, All ...................................................... (1,000 Tons)
Hay, Alfalfa............................................ (1,000 Tons)
Hay, Other............................................. (1,000 Tons)
Lentils .......................................................... (1,000 Cwt)
Oats .............................................................. (1,000 Bu)
Potatoes, Fall .............................................. (1,000 Cwt)
Safflower ..................................................... (1,000 Lbs)
Sugarbeets................................................ (1,000 Tons)
Wheat, All...................................................... (1,000 Bu)
Wheat, Other Spring ................................. (1,000 Bu)
Wheat, Durum ........................................... (1,000 Bu)
Wheat, Winter ........................................... (1,000 Bu)
Livestock 1
All Cattle & Calves ................................... (1,000 Head)
All Cows 2 ............................................ (1,000 Head)
Calf Crop ...................................... (1,000 Head)
Beef Cows 2 .................................... (1,000 Head)
Milk Cows 2 ..................................... (1,000 Head)
Milk Production .................................... (Mil Lbs)
Cattle on Feed ..................................... (1,000 Head)
All Chickens (Excl. Broilers) ..................... (1,000 Head)
All Layers ............................................. (1,000 Head)
Egg Production 3 ...................................... (Mil Eggs)
All Hogs & Pigs ........................................ (1,000 Head)
Breeding Hogs & Pigs .......................... (1,000 Head)
Pig Crop 3 ........................................ (1,000 Head)
Market Hogs & Pigs ............................. (1,000 Head)
Honey Production (2017) ............................ (1,000 Lbs)
All Sheep & Lambs .................................. (1,000 Head)
Breeding Sheep & Lambs .................... (1,000 Head)
Lamb Crop ....................................... (1,000 Head)
Market Sheep & Lambs ....................... (1,000 Head)
Wool Production ..................................... (1,000 Lbs)
Miscellaneous
Farms ............................................................. (Number)
Land in Farms .......................................... (1,000 Acres)
Average Size of Farm ........................................ (Acres)

Rank

Production

United States

2
2
1
8
2
1
2
38
29
2
5
3
17
1
15
12
2
6
3
2
2
3

33,600
5,214
5,138
62
5,022
76
131,040
5,780
740
629
5,595
3,895
1,700
4,860
989
3,830
35,640
1,319
197,630
95,880
23,250
78,500

153,082
37,494
12,742
8,792
15,929
124
3,616,560
14,420,101
121,361
4,466
123,600
52,634
70,966
8,408
56,130
420,281
236,380
33,145
1,884,458
623,232
77,287
1,183,939

11
9
8
7
37
36
23
33
33
33
23
22
23
23
4
8
7
7
10
7

2,500
1,460
1,450
1,448
12
274
40
1,236
1,000
293
192
33
581
159
10,440
215
183
180
32
1,610

94,760
41,119
36,403
31,766
9,353
217,575
14,371
527,573
396,870
109,192
74,550
6,326
133,176
68,225
147,638
5,230
3,820
3,235
1,410
24,400

30
2
2

26,900
58,000
2,156

2,029,200
899,500
443

1

Inventory January 1, 2019 for cattle and sheep; December 1, 2018 for hogs and chickens.
Cows and heifers that have calved.
3
Pig crop & egg production for the marketing year December 1, 2017-November 30, 2018.
2

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