Gallatin County is a heavily populated county located in the southwestern part of the state, near Yellowstone National Park, and contains the town of Bozeman. Over 42% of land in Gallatin County is classified as farm land. 

Overview

Population
111,876
County Size (acres)
1,667,195
Land in Farms (%)
42
Number of Farms
1,123
Median Farm Size (acres) 32
Average Farm Size (acres) 624

 

 

 

 

 

 
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 over $126 million while production expenses were over $102 million. Government payments were 2.5% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$112,104,000
Government Payments
$3,106,000
Farm-Related Income
$11,028,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$102,528,000
Net Farm Cash Income $23,709,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Gallatin County was approximately $22 billion in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $361 million.  Agricultural Property (as defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 property) comprised 0.99% of the county's taxable value.

 

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property $22,778,691,598 $10,044,053,236
Taxable Value of All Property $361,550,394 $257,001,000
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property $3,575,824 $3,099,621
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 0.99% 1.21%



 

 

 

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 47%, while the market value of livestock increased by 1%, from 1997 to 2017.


Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Gallatin County

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

Crops and Livestock

Other crops (54%), which includes potatoes; and cattle (21%) comprised 75% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.

 

Crops and Livestock-Gallatin 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 from 81% to 85%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, decreased from 19% to 15% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms

%
Number of
Farms

%
1 to 9
139
12
130
11
10 to 49
505
45
425
37
50 to 179
173
15
224
19
180 to 499    
142
13
168
14
500 to 999
51
5
66
6
1,000 or more
113
10
150
13
TOTAL
1,123
100
1,163
100
Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017
 

Farm Size by Sales

The proportion of total sales from the smallest farm with less than $100,000 in sales, and the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more were unchanged from 2012 to 2017 from 2012 to 2017.

 
Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
Less than 2,500
575
51
496
43
2,500 to 4,999
89
8
104
9
5,000 to 9,999
97
9
111
10
10,000 to 24,999
83
7
132
11
25,000 to 49,999
75
7
77
7
50,000 to 99,999
39
3
64
6
100,000 or more
165
15
179
15
TOTAL
1,123
100
1,163
100

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

Tillage and Land Use

The percentage of the smallest farms with less than $100,000 in sales, and the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more were unchanged from 2012 to 2017 from 2012 to 2017.

 

Tillage
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
No tillage
83
7
74
6
Reduced tillage
58
5
57
5
Intensive tillage
149
13
222
19
Cover crops
44
4
46
4
TOTAL
1,123
 
1,163
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices

 

Producer Profile

The county producer population was about the same age as the Montana producer population. Thirty-six percent of county producers were under 55 years of age, while 35% 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 37% 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
30
2
570
1
25 to 34
106
5
3,285
7
35 to 44
231
12
5,179
11
45 to 54
347
17
7,309
15
55 to 64
558
28
13,838
29
65 to 74
464
23
11,469
24
75 and older
233
12
5,587
12
Gender
Male
1,160
58
28,563
60
Female
829
42
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
726
37
23,847
50
No
1,263
63
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS
1,989
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, spring wheat, winter wheat, potatoes, peas dry edible, lentils, canola, chickpeas, durum wheat and other vegetables.


Tops Crops by Acre-Gallatin County

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

Top Livestock

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

Livestock
Number of Head
Cattle
41,043
Sheep
3,115
Chicken-Layers
2,415
Hogs
181
Chicken-Broilers
32
Turkeys
16

 

 

 

 

 

 


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

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 2,696 workers, or 4% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 1,330 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 920 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 446 workers were employed in other related businesses, such as grocery and drugs stores. For every 10 jobs on farms and ranches, 10 additional jobs are generated in the county.

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County Labor Force 64,527  
Direct Impact 1,330
Indirect Impact 920 0.69
Induced Impact 446 0.34
Total Impact 2,696 1.03
Agriculture Share (%) 4  

 

 

 

 

 

 


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

Value Added Impacts

Farms and ranches generated $131.6 million of value-added, or 2% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $5,421 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $51.8 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $48.4 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $31.4 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $1.54 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.  This significant contribution to the local economy is because Bozeman is an economic hub for the south western region.

 


Impact Type
Value-Added
($1 million)

Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 5,421.0  
Direct Impact** 51.8
Indirect Impact** 48.4 0.93
Induced Impact** 31.4 0.61
Total Impact** 131.6 1.54
Agriculture Share (%) 2  











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

References


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