Glacier County is located in the northwest part of the state, bordering the east end of Glacier National Park and containing the Blackfeet Reservation. Over 61% of land in Glacier County is classified as farm land.

Overview

Population
13,747
County Size (acres)
1,916,746
Land in Farms (%)
61.9
Number of Farms
637
Median Farm Size (acres) 350
Average Farm Size (acres) 1,862

 

 

 

 

 

 
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 $123 million while production expenses were over $94 million. Government payments were 4.8% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$106,537,000
Government Payments
$5,948,000
Farm-Related Income
$10,828,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$94,553,000
Net Farm Cash Income $28,761,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Glacier County was approximately $904 million in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $27 million.  Agricultural Property (as
defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 property) comprised 10.92% of the county's taxable value.

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property $904,746,820 $1,292,861,500
Taxable Value of All Property $27,609,120 $23,564,576
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property $3,014,676 $2,814,587
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 10.92% 11.94%



 

 

 

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 35%, while the market value of livestock increased by 86%, from 1997 to 2017.

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Glacier County

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

Crops and Livestock

Grain (43%) and cattle (28%) comprised 71% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.

Crops and Livestock-Glacier 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 slightly from 52% to 57%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, decreased from 48% to 43% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms

%
Number of
Farms

%
1 to 9
31
5
40
7
10 to 49
71
11
37
6
50 to 179
108
17
96
16
180 to 499    
153
24
137
23
500 to 999
76
12
50
8
1,000 or more
198
31
242
40
TOTAL
637
100
602
100
Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017
 

Farm Size by Sales

The proportion of total sales from the smallest farm with less than $100,000 in sales increased from 74% to 80%, while the proportion of total sales from the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more decreased from 26% to 20% from 2012 to 2017.

 
Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
Less than 2,500
231
36
219
36
2,500 to 4,999
30
5
22
4
5,000 to 9,999
51
8
39
6
10,000 to 24,999
54
8
70
12
25,000 to 49,999
85
13
52
9
50,000 to 99,999
58
9
46
8
100,000 or more
128
20
154
26
TOTAL
637
100
602
100

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

Tillage and Land Use

The percentage of farms using no till, reduced tillage, or intensive tillage decreased, while the percentage of farms using cover crops was unchanged from 2012 to 2017.

Tillage
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
No tillage
92
14
104
17
Reduced tillage
14
2
48
8
Intensive tillage
33
5
61
10
Cover crops
17
3
17
3
TOTAL
637
 
602
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices

Producer Profile

The county producer population was somewhat younger than the Montana producer population. Thirty-nine percent of county producers were under 55 years of age, while 29% 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 45% 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
30
3
570
1
25 to 34
84
8
3,285
7
35 to 44
137
13
5,179
11
45 to 54
168
16
7,309
15
55 to 64
284
26
13,838
29
65 to 74
189
18
11,469
24
75 and older
125
12
5,587
12
Gender
Male
700
65
28,563
60
Female
378
35
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
486
45
23,847
50
No
592
55
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS
1,078
100
48,161
100

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Top Crops by Acre

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


Tops Crops by Acre-Glacier County

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

Top Livestock

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

Livestock
Number of Head
Chicken-Layers
172,403
Cattle
43,839
Hogs
20,195
Chicken-Broilers
3,260
Turkeys
740
Sheep
617

 

 

 

 

 



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

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 1,040 workers, or 18% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 676 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 303 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 61 workers were employed in other related businesses, such as grocery and drugs stores. For every 10 jobs on farms and ranches, 5 additional jobs are generated in the county.

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County Labor Force 5,719  
Direct Impact 676
Indirect Impact 303 0.45
Induced Impact 61 0.09
Total Impact 1,040 0.54
Agriculture Share (%) 18  

 

 

 

 

 

 


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

Value Added Impacts

Farms and ranches generated $47.7 million of value-added, or 13% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $372 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $26.5 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $17.1 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $4.2 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* 372.0  
Direct Impact** 26.5
Indirect Impact** 17.1 0.64
Induced Impact** 4.2 0.16
Total Impact** 47.7 0.80
Agriculture Share (%) 13  











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

References


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