Richland County is located in the far eastern portion of the state, bordering North Dakota to the east.  Over 95% of land in Richland County is classified as farm land.

Overview

Population
10,913
County Size (acres)
1,333,941
Land in Farms (%)
95.2
Number of Farms
527
Median Farm Size (acres) 1,000
Average Farm Size (acres) 2,410

 

 

 

 

 

 
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 $120 million while production expenses were $92 million. Government payments were 8.5% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$100,103,000
Government Payments
$10,227,000
Farm-Related Income
$10,241,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$92,239,000
Net Farm Cash Income $28,331,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Richland County was approximately $2 billion in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $56 million.  Agricultural Property (as defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 Property) comprised 8% of the county's taxable value.

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property $2,087,471,183 $1,213,071,434 
Taxable Value of All Property $56,658,262 $46,109,965 
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property $4,546,955 $3,764,091 
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 8.03% 8.16%



 

 

 

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 4%, while the market value of livestock increased by 56%, from 1997 to 2017.

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Richland County

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

Crops and Livestock

Cattle (44%) and hay and other crops (26%) comprised 70% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.


Crops and Livestock-Richland 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 33% to 38%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, decreased from 67% to 62% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms

%
Number of
Farms

%
1 to 9
28
5
29
5
10 to 49
43
8
40
7
50 to 179
44
8
45
8
180 to 499    
84
16
64
12
500 to 999
61
12
88
16
1,000 or more
261
51
278
51
TOTAL
527
100
544
100
Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017

Farm Size by Sales

The percentage of the smallest farms with less than $100,000 in sales increased from 62% to 65%, while the percentage of the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more decreased from 38% to 35% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
Less than 2,500
161
31
144
26
2,500 to 4,999
18
3
13
2
5,000 to 9,999
29
6
32
6
10,000 to 24,999
31
6
41
8
25,000 to 49,999
39
7
46
8
50,000 to 99,999
64
12
61
11
100,000 or more
185
35
207
38
TOTAL
527
100
544
100

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

Tillage and Land Use

The percentage of farms using reduced tillage 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
112
21
118
22
Reduced tillage
102
19
90
17
Intensive tillage
85
16
152
28
Cover crops
34
6
35
6
TOTAL
527
 
544
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices
 

Producer Profile 

The county producer population was slightly older than the Montana producer population. Thirty-three percent of county producers were under 55 years of age, while 32% 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-five 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
2
0
570
1
25 to 34
95
10
3,285
7
35 to 44
94
10
5,179
11
45 to 54
120
13
7,309
15
55 to 64
294
32
13,838
29
65 to 74
194
21
11,469
24
75 and older
99
11
5,587
12
Gender
Male
604
65
28,563
60
Female
326
35
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
495
53
23,847
50
No
435
47
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS

930

100
48,161
100

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Top Crops by Acre

The top crops were spring wheat, hay & haylage, durum wheat, peas dry edible, winter wheat, lentils, canola, barley and safflower.

Tops Crops by Acre-Richland County

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

Top Livestock

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

Livestock
Number of Head
Cattle
63,288
Sheep
4,613
Chicken - Layers
573
Chicken - Broilers
23
Hogs
19

 

 

 

 



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

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 1,007 workers, or 17% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 612 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 301 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 94 workers were employed in other related businesses, such as grocery and drugs stores. For every 10 jobs on farms and ranches, 7 additional jobs are generated in the county.

 

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County Labor Force 5,970  
Direct Impact 612
Indirect Impact 301 0.49
Induced Impact 94 0.15
Total Impact 1,007 0.65
Agriculture Share (%) 17  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Value Added Impacts

Farms and ranches generated $63.2 million of value-added, or 7% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $852 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $35.1 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $21.4 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $6.7 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $0.80 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.


Impact Type
Value-Added
($1 million)

Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 852.0  
Direct Impact** 35.1
Indirect Impact** 21.4 0.61
Induced Impact** 6.7 0.19
Total Impact** 63.2 0.80
Agriculture Share (%) 7  











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

References


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