Golden Valley County is a rural sparsely populated county located in central Montana. Over 90% of land in Golden Valley County is classified as farm land. 

Overview

Population
826
County Size (acres)
751,631
Land in Farms (%)
90.9
Number of Farms
157
Median Farm Size (acres) 1,244
Average Farm Size (acres) 4,351

 

 

 

 

 

 
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 nearly $23 million while production expenses were almost $19 million. Government payments were 13.4% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$18,601,000
Government Payments
$3,049,000
Farm-Related Income
$1,092,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$18,876,000
Net Farm Cash Income $3,867,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Golden Valley County was approximately $183 million in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $6 million.  Agricultural Property (as
defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 property) comprised 16.97% of the county's taxable value.

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property $183,450,768 $135,710,982
Taxable Value of All Property $6,768,785 $5,285,505
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property $1,148,476 $1,225,726
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 16.97% 23.19%



 

 

 

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 decreased by 25%, while the market value of livestock increased by 5%, from 1997 to 2017.

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Golden Valley County

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

Crops and Livestock

Cattle (53%) and grain (13%) comprised 66% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.

Crops and Livestock-Golden Valley 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 from 39% to 36%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, increased from 61% to 64% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms

%
Number of
Farms

%
1 to 9
4
3
6
4
10 to 49
13
8
8
5
50 to 179
20
13
24
15
180 to 499    
19
12
23
15
500 to 999
19
12
22
14
1,000 or more
82
52
74
47
TOTAL
157
100
157
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 decreased from 69% to 68%, while the proportion of total sales from the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more increased from 31% to 32% from 2012 to 2017.

 
Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
Less than 2,500
55
35
63
40
2,500 to 4,999
3
2
4
3
5,000 to 9,999
8
5
10
6
10,000 to 24,999
16
10
6
4
25,000 to 49,999
9
6
12
8
50,000 to 99,999
16
10
14
9
100,000 or more
50
32
48
31
TOTAL
157
100
157
100

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

Tillage and Land Use

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

Tillage
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
No tillage
24
15
29
18
Reduced tillage
14
9
10
6
Intensive tillage
9
6
20
13
Cover crops
6
4
3
2
TOTAL
157
 
157
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices
 

Producer Profile

The county producer population was older than the Montana producer population. Twenty-seven percent of county producers were under 55 years of age, while 40% 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-one percent of producers in the county were males, while 60% of Montana producers were males. Farming was the primary occupation for 58% 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
2
1
570
1
25 to 34
21
8
3,285
7
35 to 44
20
7
5,179
11
45 to 54
33
12
7,309
15
55 to 64
90
32
13,838
29
65 to 74
76
27
11,469
24
75 and older
37
13
5,587
12
Gender
Male
171
61
28,563
60
Female
109
39
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
163
58
23,847
50
No
117
42
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS
280
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, winter wheat and spring wheat.


Tops Crops by Acre-Golden Valley County

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

Top Livestock

The top livestock were cattle and sheep.

Livestock
Number of Head
Sheep
16,684
Cattle
16,484

 

 

 

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

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 194 workers, or 52% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 142 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 48 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 4 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 374  
Direct Impact 142
Indirect Impact 48 0.34
Induced Impact 4 0.03
Total Impact 194 0.37
Agriculture Share (%) 52  

 

 

 

 

 

 


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

Value Added Impacts

Farms and ranches generated $10.7 million of value-added, or 36% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $30 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $7.6 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $2.8 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $0.3 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $0.40 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.


Impact Type
Value-Added
($1 million)

Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 30.0  
Direct Impact** 7.6
Indirect Impact** 2.8 0.36
Induced Impact** 0.3 0.04
Total Impact** 10.7 0.40
Agriculture Share (%) 36  











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.