Wibaux County is a rural sparsely populated county located in the far eastern portion of the state, bordering North Dakota to the east.  Over 90% of land in Wibaux County is classified as farm land. 

Overview

Population
1,034
County Size (acres)
568,710
Land in Farms (%)
90.6
Number of Farms
137
Median Farm Size (acres) 1,340
Average Farm Size (acres) 3,762

 

 

 

 

 

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

Farm Revenue

Farm revenues (which includes the market value of products sold, government payments, and farm-related income) were $24 million while production expenses were $20 million.  Government payments were 8.6% of farm revenues.

Market Value of Products Sold
$18,012,000
Government Payments
$2,083,000
Farm-Related Income
$4,037,000
Total Farm Production Expenses
$20,153,000
Net Farm Cash Income $3,979,000



 

 

 

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

Taxation

The market value of all property in Wibaux County was approximately $262 billion in 2019.  The taxable value assigned by the Montana Department of Revenue was $16 million.  Agricultural Property (as defined by Montana Department of Revenue as Class 3 Property) comprised 7% of the county's taxable value.

Property Tax Summary
2019
2014
Market Value of Property $262,708,621 $162,589,175
Taxable Value of All Property $16,142,705 $9,643,714
Taxable Value ofAgricultural Property $1,141,868 $1,035,271
Ag Taxable Value as % of All Property 7% 11%



 

 

 

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 decreased by 13%, while the market value of livestock increased by 29%, from 1997 to 2017.

Market Value of Crops and Livestock-Wibaux County

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

Crops and Livestock

Cattle (67%) and grain (24%) comprised 91% of total crop and livestock sales in 2017.

Crops and Livestock-Wibuax County

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

Farm Size by Acres 

The percentage of smaller farms, less than 500 acres, decreased from 33% to 31%, while the percentage of larger farms, 500 acres or more, increased from 67% to 69% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size
by Acres
2017
2012
Number of
Farms
%
Number of
Farms
%
1 to 9
4
3
7
4
10 to 49
10
7
6
3
50 to 179
9
7
18
10
180 to 499    
19
14
26
15
500 to 999
17
12
23
13
1,000 or more
78
57
92
53
TOTAL
137
100
172
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 55% to 66%, while the percentage of the largest farms with sales of $100,000 or more decreased from 45% to 34% from 2012 to 2017.

Farm Size 
by Sales
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms
%
Number of 
Farms
%
Less than 2,500
27
20
35
20
2,500 to 4,999
3
2
3
2
5,000 to 9,999
10
7
5
3
10,000 to 24,999
15
11
5
3
25,000 to 49,999
8
6
22
13
50,000 to 99,999
27
20
14
8
100,000 or more
47
34
16
9
TOTAL
137
100
172
100

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

Tillage and Land Use

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

 

Tillage
2017
2012
Number of 
Farms
%
Number of 
Farms
%
No tillage
35
26
60
35
Reduced tillage
12
9
25
15
Intensive tillage
6
4
31
18
Cover crops
9
7
3
2
TOTAL
137
 
172
 
Source: Census of Agriculture: Table 41 Land Use Practices
 

Producer Profile 

The county producer population was younger than the Montana producer population. Thirty-eight 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-one percent of producers in the county were males, while 60% of Montana producers were males. Farming was the primary occupation for 55% 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
3
1
570
1
25 to 34
10
5
3,285
7
35 to 44
27
13
5,179
11
45 to 54
41
19
7,309
15
55 to 64
51
24
13,838
29
65 to 74
51
24
11,469
24
75 and older
23
11
5,587
12
Gender
Male
149
71
28,563
60
Female
62
29
18,673
40
Primary Occupation
Yes
115
55
23,847
50
No
96
45
24,314
50
TOTAL PRODUCERS
211
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, peas dry edible, durum wheat, lentils, winter wheat, canola, barley, safflower and chickpeas.

 

Tops Crops by Acre-Wibaux County

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

Top Livestock  

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

Livestock
Number of Head
Cattle
21,050
Sheep
1,630
Chicken - Layers
254

 

 

 

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

Employment Impact

Agricultural production employed 171 workers, or 35% of the county’s labor force.  According to IMPLAN, economic impact model, 123 of the workers were directly employed in production agriculture.  An additional 45 workers were employed in businesses supporting agricultural production, such as feed and fertilizer dealers, and another 3 workers were employed in other related businesses, such as grocery and drugs stores. For every 10 jobs on farms and ranches, 4 additional jobs are generated in the county.

 

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County Labor Force 482  
Direct Impact 123
Indirect Impact 45 0.37
Induced Impact 3 0.02
Total Impact 171 0.39
Agriculture Share (%) 35  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Value Added Impacts

Farms and ranches generated $8.7 million of value-added, or 13% of the county’s total gross domestic product of $65 million in 2017.  According to IMPLAN, $5.8 million was directly contributed by farmers and ranchers.  An additional $2.7 million was generated by businesses supporting agricultural production and $0.2 million was generated by other related businesses.  Each dollar of value-added in agriculture by a farmer or rancher contributes an additional $0.50 of value-added in other sectors of the county’s economy.

 

Impact Type
Labor Force
Impact Multipliers
County GDP* 65.0  
Direct Impact** 5.8
Indirect Impact** 2.7 0.46
Induced Impact** 2.7 0.04
Total Impact** 8.7 0.50
Agriculture Share (%) 13  










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

References


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