by Farm Flavor to Idaho, Idaho Crops & Livestock
Download Idaho Census of Ag Infographic PDF
Idaho might be known for its potatoes (after all, the state produces about a third of the nation’s total potato crop), but that’s just one piece of the thriving Idaho agriculture industry. The Gem State also produces more than 185 other commodities, ranking among the top states for production of barley, peppermint, hops, sugarbeets, milk, cheese, onions and more. According to the USDA’s most recent Census of Agriculture, Idaho has 22,877 farms with a market value of agricultural products sold totaling more than $10.8 billion. (The 2022 Census of Agriculture data released in February 2024 and is the most recent census data available.)
The number of farms in Idaho has decreased by 8.5% since 2017 and by 8.6% since 2002. However, there are still more than 11.5 million acres of farm land in Idaho, and the state’s average farm size is 505 acres.
The market value of crops grown in Idaho, including nursery and greenhouse crops, totaled nearly $4.8 billion in 2022. The market value of livestock, poultry and their products, including beef, pork, chicken, dairy and eggs, came to more than $6.1 billion.
What Are Idaho’s Top Agricultural Products?
According to the most recent available cash receipts (the total amount of crops or livestock sold in a calendar year), Idaho’s top agricultural products include milk and other dairy products, cattle and calves, potatoes, hay, and wheat, to name a few.
See More: Idaho Agriculture
Who Owns Idaho Farms?
The Census of Agriculture calculates farm ownership by the farm’s legal status for tax purposes. Like many states, Idaho farms are primarily owned and operated by families or individuals, with 18,427 family farms as of 2022, or about 80.5% of all farms in the state. Corporations accounted for 2,145 farms, or 9.4%, while 1,752 farms, or 7.7%, are owned by partnerships. Other farms, such as estates or trusts, prison farms, grazing associations, American Indian Reservations, etc., make up about 2.4% of farms in Idaho.
Idaho farmers are predominantly men. According to the Census of Agriculture, there were 26,384 male farmers in Idaho in 2022, making up 61% of the state’s total producers. Idaho’s 16,949 women farmers accounted for 39% of the total.
See More: 19 Must-Visit Stops on the Boise Potato Trail
How Old Are Idaho Farmers?
Out of 43,333 farmers in Idaho, most are over the age of 55. In fact, the average age of an Idaho farmer is 56.6 years old, up from 56.4 years in 2017.
Just under a quarter of Idaho farmers (23.4%) fall into the age group of 55 to 64 years, and 23.3% of farmers are aged 65 to 74. Farmers ranging from 45 to 54 years old account for 16.9%, followed by farmers aged 35 to 44 (15.9%), then farmers aged 75 or above (11.6%). Only 7% of farmers are aged 25 to 34, and just 832 Idaho farmers are under 25, or about 1.9%.
See More: Discover What’s In Season With This Idaho Produce Calendar
More Idaho Farm Facts
Though the state counts more than 43,000 agricultural producers, 59% of Idaho farmers have a primary occupation other than farming. Only 17,793 respondents to the Census of Agriculture said their primary occupation was farming.
Active duty military members and veterans also account for some farmers, as Idaho has 3,662 farmers with current or past military service.
Idaho’s 1,341 producers of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin farmed 534,607 acres of land in 2022.
Idaho is home to 14,798 new and beginning producers, up from 13,033 in 2017.
There are 1,682 farms in Idaho using renewable energy-producing sources, up from 1,232 in 2017.
Idaho counts 233 USDA-certified organic farms, down from 261 in 2017.
Finally, Idaho lives up to its reputation as the top state for potato production. Idaho farmers cultivated a whopping 301,157 acres of potatoes across 529 farms in 2022.
