WYOMING — The University of Wyoming Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics has published a first-of-its-kind state and county-wide comprehensive economic report, outlining the impact of agriculture production in Wyoming.
According to the University of Wyoming, economic activity related to agricultural
production contributed $2.526 billion to Wyoming’s economy in 2021. This total includes direct farm-gate sales from 11 agricultural industries as well as related business-to-business purchases and spending by agricultural households.
“Everyone recognizes that agriculture is big in Wyoming. Now we have a single publication that allows us to support our comments concerning the importance of ag in Wyoming with economic data,” Director of the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station Eric Webster said.
Roger Coupal, a professor in the UW Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, and Amy Nagler, a research scientist in the department, co-authored the report, which presents both statewide and county-specific data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and US Census Bureau.
According to 2021 agricultural statistics for Teton County, hay, including alfalfa, and barley accounted for all the harvested crops, totaling 12,516 in acres, and cattle and calves predominated livestock production at 4,000 cattle and 142 operations in the region. Total economic output from agricultural sales in Teton County in 2021 totaled $16,780,348.00.
Coupal and Nagler found that cattle, other livestock (including sheep and hogs)
and hay production dominated Wyoming’s agricultural production values. In total, business-to-business ag supply chain purchases, such as feed and fencing, contributed an additional $476 million to the state’s economy. Household spending of agricultural industry labor income in local restaurants, retail stores and other establishments added another $338 million.
“This report from Dr. Coupal and Ms. Nagler clearly shows the importance of agriculture to the economy of Wyoming and the vibrancy of rural economies anchored by our ranching families,” Dean of the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources Barbara Rasco said.
A more detailed breakdown of Teton County’s agricultural economic output can be found here.
