Broadwater County is a rural sparsely populated county located in central Montana, between the major towns of Bozeman and Helena.  Over 61% of land in Broadwater County is classified as farm land.

Overview

Population
6,085
County Size (acres)
763,110
Land in Farms (%)
61.2
Number of Farms
296 
Median Farm Size (acres) 149
Average Farm Size (acres) 1,577

 

 

 

 

 

 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 1: County Summary Highlights: 2017

Farm Revenue

Farm revenue (which includes the market value of products sold, government payments, and farm-related income) were $45 million while production expenses were $33 million.  Government payments accounted for 5.8% of revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$39,688,000
Government Payments
$2,336,000
Farm-Related Income
$2,935,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$32,890,000
Net Farm Cash Income $12,069,000



 

 

 

Source: Census of Agriculture: Tables 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6:  2017 

Taxation


The market value of all property in Broadwater County was approximately $856 million in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $17 million.  Agricultural Property (as defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 Property) comprised 9% of the county's taxable value.

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property   $856,715,760 $474,467,647
Taxable Value of All Property $17,629,297 $13,157,599
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property  $1,631,508 $1,297,720
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 9% 10%



 

 

 

Source: Montana Dept. of Rev. Montana Taxes by County in2018and Montana Taxes by County in2014 

Market Value of Crops and Livestock

After adjusting for inflation, the market value of crops increased by 1%, while the market value of livestock increased by nearly 69%, from 1997 to 2017.

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Broadwater County

Sources: Census of Agriculture: Table 1: County Summary Highlights: 2017 and St. Louis Fed Producer Price Index

Crops and Livestock

Cattle (37%), other crops (30%) comprised 75% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.

Crops and Livestock-Broadwater County

Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017

 

Farm Size by Acres 

 

The percentage of smaller farms, less than 500 acres, increased slightly from 61% to 65%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, decreased from 39% to 36% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms

%
Number of
Farms

%
1 to 9
8
3
14
5
10 to 49
67
23
48
17
50 to 179
91
31
72
25
180 to 499    
25
8
39
14
500 to 999
17
6
24
8
1,000 or more
88
30
90
31
TOTAL
296
100
287
100
Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017
  

Farm Size by Sales

The proportion of total sales from the smallest farms with less than $100,000 in sales increased from 73% to 77%, while the proportion of total sales from the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more decreased from 27% to 23% from 2012 to 2017.

 
Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
Less than 2,500
119
40
96
33
2,500 to 4,999
14
5
17
6
5,000 to 9,999
22
7
23
8
10,000 to 24,999
25
8
30
10
25,000 to 49,999
22
7
28
10
50,000 to 99,999
26
9
15
5
100,000 or more
68
23
78
27
TOTAL
296
100
287
100

Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 1: County Summary Highlights: 2017 

Tillage and Land Use

The percentage of farms using no till, reduced tillage, or cover crops increased, while the percentage of farms using intensive tillage decreased from 2012 to 2017.
 
Tillage
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
No tillage
47
16
35
12
Reduced tillage
19
6
18
6
Intensive tillage
35
12
51
18
Cover crops
11
4
8
3
TOTAL
296
 
287
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices
 

Producer Profile

The county producer population was younger than the Montana producer population. Thirty-seven percent of county producers were under 55 years of age, while 31% were over 65 years of age. Thirty-four percent of the Montana producer population were under 55, while 36% were over 65 years of age. Fifty-eight percent of producers in the county were males, while 60% of Montana producers were males. Farming was the primary occupation for 51% of county producers, while farming was the primary occupation for 50% of Montana producers.

Characteristics
County
State
Number of 
Producers

%
Number of 
Producers

%
Age
18 -25
12
2
570
1
25 to 34
51
10
3,285
7
35 to 44
49
9
5,179
11
45 to 54
88
16
7,309
15
55 to 64
157
29
13,838
29
65 to 74
122
23
11,469
24
75 and older
43
8
5,587
12
Gender
Male
311
58
28,563
60
Female
223
42
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
272
51
23,847
50
No
262
49
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS
534
100
48,161
100

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 45 Selected Operation and Producer Characteristics

Top Crops by Acre

 

The top crops were hay and haylage, spring and winter wheat, barley, and potatoes.

Top Crops by Acre-Broadwater

 Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 1: County Summary Highlights: 2017

Top Livestock

The top livestock were cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry (chickens and turkeys).

Livestock
Number of Head
Cattle
23,154
Sheep
2,425
Chickens-Layers
820
Hogs
279
Chickens-Broilers
138
Turkeys
12

 

 

 

 

 




Source: Census of Agriculture: Tables 11 (Cattle), 13
(Sheep) and 19 (Poultry)

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 695 workers, or 27% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 508 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 165 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 22 workers were employed in other related businesses, such as grocery and drugs stores. For every 10 jobs on farms and ranches, 4 additional jobs are generated in the county.

 

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County Labor Force 2,584  
Direct Impact 508
Indirect Impact 165 0.32
Induced Impact 22 0.04
Total Impact 695 0.37
Agriculture Share (%) 27  

 

 

 

 

 

 


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/#cntyaa and IMPLAN Estimates  

Value Added Impacts


Farms and ranches generated $26.6 million of value-added, or 20% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $136 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $17.9 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $7.4 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $1.4 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $0.49 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.


Impact Type
Value - Added
($1 million)

Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 136.0  
Direct Impact** 17.9
Indirect Impact** 7.4 0.41
Induced Impact** 1.4 0.08
Total Impact** 26.6 0.49
Agriculture Share (%) 20  











Sources:  * St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, ** IMPLAN Estimates 

References


Montana State University Extension is an ADA/EO/AA/Veteran’s Preference
Employer and Provider of Educational Outreach.