Carbon County is located in the southern portion of the state, just to the east of Yellowstone National Park and bordering Wyoming.  Over 62% of land in Carbon County is classified as farm land. 

Overview

Population
10,714
County Size (acres)
1,310,531
Land in Farms (%)
62.2
Number of Farms
725 
Median Farm Size (acres) 202
Average Farm Size (acres) 1,125

 

 

 

 

 

 
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 $103 million while production expenses were $79 million.  Government payments were 1% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$99,023,000
Government Payments
$1,388,000
Farm-Related Income
$3,045,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$79,430,000
Net Farm Cash Income $24,027,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Carbon County was approximately $2 billion in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $44 million.  Agricultural Property (as defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 Property) comprised 5% of the county's taxable value.

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property   $2,061,851,663 $1,159,313,124
Taxable Value of All Property $44,145,790 $36,843,341
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property  $2,310,984 $2,032,352
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 5% 6%



 

 

 

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 40%, while the market value of livestock increased by nearly 54%, from 1997 to 2017.

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Carbon County

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

Crops and Livestock

Cattle (65%), other crops and hay (18%), and other (15%) comprised 78% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.

Crops and Livestock-Carbon County

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

 

Farm Size by Acres 

The percentage of smaller farms, less than 500 acres, decreased slightly from 67% to 66%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, increased slightly from 33% to 34% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms

%
Number of
Farms

%
1 to 9
49
7
41
6
10 to 49
154
21
136
19
50 to 179
150
21
153
21
180 to 499    
127
18
159
21
500 to 999
73
10
77
11
1,000 or more
172
24
160
22
TOTAL
725
100
726
100
Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017
  

Farm Size by Sales

The proportion of total sales from smallest farms with less than $100,000 in sales decreased from 80% to 77%, while the proportion of total sales from the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more increased from 20% to 23% from 2012 to 2017.

 
Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
Less than 2,500
196
27
220
30
2,500 to 4,999
49
7
59
8
5,000 to 9,999
62
9
68
9
10,000 to 24,999
87
12
82
11
25,000 to 49,999
91
13
79
11
50,000 to 99,999
71
10
70
10
100,000 or more
169
23
148
20
TOTAL
725
100
726
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
49
7
38
5
Reduced tillage
82
11
40
6
Intensive tillage
107
15
157
22
Cover crops
39
5
31
4
TOTAL
725
 
726
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices
  

Producer Profile

The county producer population was slightly older than the Montana producer population. Thirty-six percent of county producers were under 55 years of age, while 37% 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.
Sixty-two percent of producers in the county were males, while 60% of Montana producers were males. Farming was the primary occupation for 53% 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
22
2
570
1
25 to 34
87
7
3,285
7
35 to 44
179
14
5,179
11
45 to 54
184
14
7,309
15
55 to 64
342
26
13,838
29
65 to 74
343
26
11,469
24
75 and older
131
10
5,587
12
Gender
Male
803
62
28,563
60
Female
494
38
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
685
53
23,847
50
No
612
47
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS
1,297
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, barley, winter and spring wheat, and peas dry edible.


Tops Crops by Acre-Carbon County

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

Top Livestock

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

Livestock
Number of Head
Cattle
78,558
Chickens-Layers
1,680
Chickens-Broilers
263
Hogs
154
Turkeys
64

 

 

 

 

 


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

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 1,785 workers, or 32% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 1,228 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 523 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 34 workers were employed in other related businesses, such as grocery and drugs stores. For every 10 jobs on farms and ranches, 5 additional jobs are generated in the county.

 

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County Labor Force 5,499  
Direct Impact 1,228
Indirect Impact 523 0.43
Induced Impact 34 0.03
Total Impact 1,785 0.45
Agriculture Share (%) 32  

 

 

 

 

 

 


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

Value Added Impacts

 

Farms and ranches generated $59.3 million of value-added, or 21% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $286 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $37.8 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $19.7 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $1.8 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $0.57 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.


Impact Type
Value - Added
($1 million)

Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 286.0  
Direct Impact** 37.8
Indirect Impact** 19.7 0.52
Induced Impact** 1.8 0.05
Total Impact** 59.3 0.57
Agriculture Share (%) 21  











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

References


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