Idaho Reports Top Per Capita Farm Numbers In 2019

Earlier this month, the USDA released 2019 farm income numbers, which showed Idaho tops in a variety of categories. Sean Ellis with the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation pointed out the Gem State is tops out of the 11 western states when it came to per capita Farm Cash Receipts in 2019. Ellis pointed out agriculture is king across Idaho.

“A University of Idaho study from two years ago, the most recent one, found that agriculture is the most important sector in the state’s economy.  Accounts for one in every eight jobs in the state, 13% of the Idaho’s gross state products and $26 billion in annual sales.  So, really, agriculture is really important to Idaho.”

Ellis added when it comes to per capita farming in the West, it’s truly tough to beat Idaho. Per capita Cash Receipts in 2019 for Idaho came in a $4,562. Second best in the West was Montana at $3,498. Washington's Cash Receipts came in at $1,226 while Oregon’s Receipts totaled $1,201. And that didn’t stop with Cash Receipts, which only shows the money coming in.

“When you throw in expenses and everything like that, you come up with what you call a Net Farm Income, and that’s pretty much the farmer’s paycheck.  We’ll Idaho also ranked #1 per capita for Net Farm Income in the West last year as well.”

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