Sheridan County is a rural county located in the farthest northeastern corner of the state, bordering Canada to the north and North Dakota to the east.  Over 99% of land in Sheridan County is classified as farm land.

Overview

Population
3,424
County Size (acres)
1,072,513
Land in Farms (%)
99.2
Number of Farms
458
Median Farm Size (acres) 1,369
Average Farm Size (acres) 2,323

 

 

 

 

 

 
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 $109 million while production expenses were nearly $87 million.  Government payments were 10.7% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$70,570,000
Government Payments
$11,702,000
Farm-Related Income
$26,840,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$86,837,000
Net Farm Cash Income $22,275,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Sheridan County was approximately $695 million in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $15 million.  Agricultural Property (as defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 Property) comprised 34% of the county's taxable value.

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property $695,201,387 $468,151,980
Taxable Value of All Property $14,819,335 $15,783,155
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property $5,031,175 $3,772,481
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 34% 24%



 

 

 

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 33%, while the market value of livestock increased by 14%, from 1997 to 2017.

 

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Sheridan County

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

Crops and Livestock

Grain (79%) and cattle (17%) comprised 96% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.

Crops and Livestock-Sheridan 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 32% to 33%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, decreased from 68% to 67% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms

%
Number of
Farms

%
1 to 9
14
3
3
1
10 to 49
7
2
9
2
50 to 179
54
12
57
11
180 to 499    
78
17
102
19
500 to 999
49
11
70
13
1,000 or more
256
56
286
54
TOTAL
458
100
527
100
Source: Census of Agriculture:  Table 2: County Summary Highlights: 2017

Farm Size by Sales

The percentage of the smallest farms with less than $100,000 in sales increased from 56% to 60%, while the percentage of the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more decreased from 44% to 40% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms

%
Number of 
Farms

%
Less than 2,500
121
26
168
32
2,500 to 4,999
10
2
10
2
5,000 to 9,999
18
4
21
4
10,000 to 24,999
39
9
11
2
25,000 to 49,999
35
8
44
8
50,000 to 99,999
54
12
39
7
100,000 or more
181
40
234
44
TOTAL
458
100
527
100

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

Tillage and Land Use

The percentage of farms using no till or 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
190
41
205
39
Reduced tillage
96
21
100
19
Intensive tillage
16
3
64
12
Cover crops
13
3
30
6
TOTAL
458
 
527
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices
 

Producer Profile 

The county producer population was slightly younger than the Montana producer population. Thirty-nine percent of county producers were under 55 years of age, while 35% 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. Seventy percent of producers in the county were males, while 60% of Montana producers were males. Farming was the primary occupation for 69% 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
9
1
570
1
25 to 34
55
8
3,285
7
35 to 44
93
13
5,179
11
45 to 54
122
17
7,309
15
55 to 64
179
25
13,838
29
65 to 74
146
21
11,469
24
75 and older
101
14
5,587
12
Gender
Male
493
70
28,563
60
Female
215
30
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
492
69
23,847
50
No
216
31
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS

708

100
48,161
100

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Top Crops by Acre

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

Tops Crops by Acre-Sheridan County

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

Top Livestock

The top livestock were cattle, sheep, and chickens.

Livestock
Number of Head
Cattle
17,651
Sheep
469
Chicken - Layers
93

 

 

 

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

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 491 workers, or 26% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 297 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 137 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 57 workers were employed in other related businesses, such as grocery and drugs stores. For every 10 jobs on farms and ranches, 7 additional jobs are generated in the county.

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County Labor Force 1,862  
Direct Impact 297
Indirect Impact 137 0.46
Induced Impact 57 0.19
Total Impact 491 0.65
Agriculture Share (%) 26  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Value Added Impacts

Farms and ranches generated $24.5 million of value-added, or 10% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $258 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $11.8 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $9.4 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $3.3 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $1.08 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.

 


Impact Type
Value-Added
($1 million)

Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 258.0  
Direct Impact** 11.8
Indirect Impact** 9.4 0.80
Induced Impact** 3.3 0.28
Total Impact** 24.5 1.08
Agriculture Share (%) 10  











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.