Madison County is a rural county located in the far southwestern part of the state. Over 40% of land in Madison County is classified as farm land. 

Overview

Population
8,768
County Size (acres)
2,296,422
Land in Farms (%)
40.2
Number of Farms
605
Median Farm Size (acres) 220
Average Farm Size (acres) 1,526

 

 

 

 

 

 
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 $92 million while production expenses were over $71 million. Government payments were 1.6% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$83,635,000
Government Payments
$1,458,000
Farm-Related Income
$7,097,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$71,436,000
Net Farm Cash Income $20,754,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Madison County was approximately $8 billion in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $146 million.  Agricultural Property (as defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 property) comprised 1.9% of the county's taxable value.

 

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property $8,843,805,607 $3,434,852,261
Taxable Value of All Property $146,959,805 $83,576,708
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property $2,796,937 $2,641,218
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 1.9% 3.16%



 

 

 

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 54%, while the market value of livestock increased by 56%, from 1997 to 2017.

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Madison County

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

Crops and Livestock

Cattle (67%) and hay and other crops (16%) comprised 83% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.


Crops and Livestock-Madison County

Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017

Farm Size by Acres 

The percentage of smaller farms, less than 500 acres, larger farms, 500 acres or more, remained virtually unchanged from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms
%
Number of
Farms
%
1 to 9
53
9
49
9
10 to 49
125
21
114
20
50 to 179
95
16
93
16
180 to 499    
112
19
101
18
500 to 999
48
8
50
9
1,000 or more
172
28
164
29
TOTAL
605
100
571
100
Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017
 

Farm Size by Sales

The proportion of total sales from the smallest farms with less than $100,000 in sales decreased from 77% to 74%, while the proportion of total sales from the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more increased from 23% to 26% from 2012 to 2017.

 
Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms
%
Number of 
Farms
%
Less than 2,500
212
35
212
37
2,500 to 4,999
30
5
35
6
5,000 to 9,999
81
13
44
8
10,000 to 24,999
43
7
52
9
25,000 to 49,999
44
7
37
6
50,000 to 99,999
38
6
57
10
100,000 or more
157
26
134
23
TOTAL
605
100
571
100

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

Tillage and Land Use

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

Tillage
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms
%
Number of 
Farms
%
No tillage
18
3
42
7
Reduced tillage
45
7
28
5
Intensive tillage
82
14
94
16
Cover crops
41
7
37
6
TOTAL
605
 
571
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices
 

Producer Profile

The county producer population was slightly older than the Montana producer population. Thirty-one percent of county producers were under 55 years of age, while 36% 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-one percent of producers in the county were males, while 60% of Montana producers were males. Farming was the primary occupation for 50% 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
18
2
570
1
25 to 34
83
7
3,285
7
35 to 44
123
11
5,179
11
45 to 54
133
11
7,309
15
55 to 64
341
30
13,838
29
65 to 74
262
23
11,469
24
75 and older
150
13
5,587
12
Gender
Male
691
61
28,563
60
Female
443
39
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
564
50
23,847
50
No
570
50
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS
1,134
100
48,161
100

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Top Crops by Acre

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

Tops Crops by Acre-Madison County

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

Top Livestock

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

Livestock
Number of Head
Cattle
80,763
Sheep
4,435
Chickens - Layers
902
Hogs
97

 

 

 

 

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

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 958 workers, or 22% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 632 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 258 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 68 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 4,393  
Direct Impact 632
Indirect Impact 258 0.41
Induced Impact 68 0.11
Total Impact 958 0.52
Agriculture Share (%) 22  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Value Added Impacts

Farms and ranches generated $54.8 million of value-added, or 15% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $364 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $35.1 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $15.3 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $4.4 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $0.56 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.


Impact Type
Value - Added
($1 million)

Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 364.0  
Direct Impact** 35.1
Indirect Impact** 15.3 0.44
Induced Impact** 4.4 0.13
Total Impact** 54.8 0.56
Agriculture Share (%) 15  











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

References


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