Montana Agriculture
A visit to Montana is a visit to the true American West, where vast skies, fresh, crisp air and crystal clear water welcome you. There’s no shortage of nature in its purest form, as the Big Sky State is home to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as well as Triple Divide Peak, where water flows freely into three separate oceans.
The abundance of natural resources creates an extremely fertile environment for Montana’s largest industry – agriculture. The state boasts almost 28,000 farms and ranches spread across 59.7 million acres. They are exceptionally large, averaging 2,134 acres each. Producing a wide range of commodities, wheat and beef top Montana’s list. However, you’ll also find sweet cherries, sugar beets, seed potatoes and hay, to name a few. Montana is a national leader in the production of certified organic wheat, dry peas, lentils and flax, and ranks No. 2 in the U.S. for its honey and pollination industry. Altogether, the Big Sky State’s agriculture industry brings an average of $5.2 billion to the economy annually.