Park County is located in the southern part of the state, and borders Yellowstone National Park and the northern border of Wyoming. About 39% of land in Park County is classified as farm land.

Overview

Population
16,736
County Size (acres)
1,793,588
Land in Farms (%)
39.7
Number of Farms
575
Median Farm Size (acres) 159
Average Farm Size (acres) 1,238

 

 

 

 

 

 
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 nearly $40 million while production expenses were over $36 million. Government payments were 2.4% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$33,515,000
Government Payments
$935,000
Farm-Related Income
$5,298,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$36,749,000
Net Farm Cash Income $2,999,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Park County was approximately $3 billion in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $53 million.  Agricultural Property (as defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 property) comprised 4% of the county's taxable value.

 

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property $3,323,936,376 $1,719,905,389
Taxable Value of All Property $53,672,718 $40,408,311
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property $2,154,767 $2,054,554
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 4.01% 5.08%



 

 

 

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 was unchanged, while the market value of livestock increased by 11%, from 1997 to 2017.

 

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Park 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 (19%) comprised 86% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.


Crops and Livestock-Park 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 from 64% to 66%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, decreased from 36% to 34% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms

%
Number of
Farms

%
1 to 9
57
10
43
8
10 to 49
172
30
160
28
50 to 179
81
14
75
13
180 to 499    
71
12
82
15
500 to 999
64
11
45
8
1,000 or more
130
23
159
28
TOTAL
575
100
564
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 increased slightly from 83% to 84%, while the proportion of total sales from the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more decreased slightly from 17% to 16% from 2012 to 2017.

 
Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
Less than 2,500
234
41
210
37
2,500 to 4,999
49
9
32
6
5,000 to 9,999
61
11
55
10
10,000 to 24,999
53
9
68
12
25,000 to 49,999
35
6
57
10
50,000 to 99,999
52
9
44
8
100,000 or more
91
16
98
17
TOTAL
575
100
564
100

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

Tillage and Land Use

The percentage of farms using reduced tillage increased, while the percentage of farms using intensive tillage decreased from 2012 to 2017.

Tillage
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
No tillage
28
5
30
5
Reduced tillage
34
6
22
4
Intensive tillage
40
7
95
17
Cover crops
23
4
23
4
TOTAL
575
 
564
 
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 38% 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. Fifty-seven percent of producers in the county were males, while 60% of Montana producers were males. Farming was the primary occupation for 46% 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
17
2
570
1
25 to 34
50
5
3,285
7
35 to 44
73
7
5,179
11
45 to 54
175
17
7,309
15
55 to 64
299
29
13,838
29
65 to 74
279
27
11,469
24
75 and older
109
11
5,587
12
Gender
Male
582
57
28,563
60
Female
436
43
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
470
46
23,847
50
No
548
54
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS
1,018
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, barley, winter wheat, spring wheat, and peas dry edible.

Tops Crops by Acre-Park County

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

Top Livestock

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

Livestock
Number of Head
Cattle
37,099
Sheep
3,875
Chickens - Layers
2,314
Chicken - Broilers
304
Turkeys
45
Hogs
20

 

 

 




 

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


Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 947 workers, or 11% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 516 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 380 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 51 workers were employed in other related businesses, such as grocery and drugs stores. For every 10 jobs on farms and ranches, 8 additional jobs are generated in the county.

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County Labor Force
8,621
 
Direct Impact
516
Indirect Impact
380
0.74
Induced Impact
51
0.10
Total Impact
947
0.84
Agriculture Share (%)
11
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Value Added Impacts

Farms and ranches generated $31 million of value-added, or 6% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $560 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $14.1 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $14.3 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $2.6 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $1.21 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.


Impact Type
Value-Added
($1 million)

Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 560.0  
Direct Impact** 14.1
Indirect Impact** 14.3 1.02
Induced Impact** 2.6 0.19
Total Impact** 31.0 1.21
Agriculture Share (%) 6  











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

References


Montana State University Extension is an ADA/EO/AA/Veteran’s Preference
Employer and Provider of Educational Outreach.