JACKSON, Wyo. — On Tuesday, March 18, the U.S. celebrates National Ag Day, honoring the agricultural industry and its significance.
A variety of industry groups across the state put together an article packet on agriculture in Wyoming for Ag Day 2025. Below, Buckrail shares some highlights from the press release to celebrate the state’s third-largest industry; according to the Economic Impact of Agriculture report, Wyoming generated around $2.0 billion in agricultural cash receipts in 2023.
Hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural land impacted by fires in 2024
Doug Miyamoto, Director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA), writes that hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural land across Wyoming were impacted by fires this past year. According to Miyamoto, the restoration and revitalization of Wyoming’s rangelands depends heavily on limiting the growth of invasive plants like cheatgrass that thrive in conditions after a wildfire.
Miyamoto also stresses the importance of good grazing practices across landscapes that are recovering from fires.
“An area that used to be able to graze 100 cattle may not be suited for that number in the upcoming year,” Miyamoto writes. “This isn’t the first time that our producers have had to adjust and adapt their operations depending on the health of the range and it won’t be the last.”
Read more about the economic impacts of 10 invasive weeds in Wyoming and how cheatgrass poses the most economically damaging current and future threat to the state’s agriculture here.
Help is available through the AgriStress HelpLine for Wyoming producers
According to the WDA, agriculture in Wyoming is a “tough” business that includes unpredictable and often extreme weather, changing markets, rising costs, regulatory burdens and working alone. Because of this, the WDA has launched the AgriStress HelpLine, a free service available to Wyoming producers and rural families seeking
mental health support.
The hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and producers and their families can call 833-897-2474 for professional support. The Farm Aid hotline (1-800-327-6243) is also a national free service where producers can find help Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 988 can also be called for help.
Science an integral part of agriculture
The WDA emphasizes that science is a large part of solving problems and facing challenges presented by agriculture. This includes feed testing to make sure animals are reaching their nutrient goals, forage analysis to assist in determining the nutrient values of hays, silages and forage products and dairy and meat testing to provide regulatory oversight.
On the crop side of things, fertilizer and pesticide testing helps confirm these products meet standards or label guarantees, in addition to promoting soil health and crop success. Water testing also supports livestock, crops and human consumption.
“Sound scientific data helps producers know what they are feeding their animals, trust the fertilizer and pesticide products they are applying to their crops and provides information for regulatory oversight that protects the industry,” the WDA writes.
“The world needs more ranchers and farmers”
The Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts emphasizes that agriculture plays an essential role in Wyomingites’ daily lives, providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy, meat and many other products.
According to Madeline Holmes of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, the world doesn’t just need more cowboys, but more ranchers and farmers too in order to provide not just food but fuel, cosmetics and sports that rely on agricultural production in a myriad of ways.
