Cattle Surpass Dairy as Idaho's Top Farm Commodity for First Time in Decades

Cattle Surpass Dairy as Idaho’s Top Farm Commodity for First Time in Decades

by

Cattle and calves have pulled ahead of dairy as Idaho’s top agricultural commodity for the first time in more than two decades.

The Department of Agriculture released its Farm Income and Wealth Statistics report on September 3, outlining gross revenues for farmers and ranchers across the country. According to that data, Idaho’s cattle and calf market pulled in roughly $3.9 billion in cash receipts in 2025. That figure marks a 17% jump from the $3.3 billion recorded in 2024.

That surge allowed beef to narrowly beat out the dairy product and milk sector, which took the No. 2 spot with more than $3.8 billion. Dairy had held Idaho’s top agricultural position since 2003, backed by University of Idaho reports.

Record beef cattle prices drove most of the growth in the cattle sector, according to the University of Idaho.

High-value beef on dairy cross calves also contributed heavily. This practice involves breeding a dairy cow with a beef bull to increase the animal’s ultimate value for meat production, a trend that gained traction as beef prices climbed.

Cattle and their spring calves in a field idaho

Statewide, livestock sectors including milk, cattle and calves, and other livestock accounted for 68% of total agricultural cash receipts in 2025. Livestock drove nearly all revenue gains across Idaho agriculture over the last two years. Except for 2009, when milk prices were poor, livestock cash receipts have beaten crop cash receipts every year since 2001.

Even as cash receipts climbed, the Idaho beef cow inventory dropped 4% in 2024. The USDA noted in September that the broader American beef herd sits at a 75-year low, prompting the launch of the Ranchers First initiative designed to fortify the American beef industry.

Idaho faced localized hurdles in rebuilding those numbers. Wildfires in 2024 destroyed vital range acreage, slowing local recovery efforts. University analysts expect the U.S. beef cow herd to grow again in 2026.

Despite taking the crown in 2025, the beef boom in Idaho is expected to be short-lived. The University of Idaho anticipates that milk production revenues will reclaim the top spot among state agricultural commodities by 2026 or 2027.

Potatoes remain Idaho’s largest cash crop, holding the No. 3 spot in 2025 with estimated cash receipts of $1.1 billion, down slightly from $1.25 billion in 2024. Wheat and sugar beets rounded out the top five agricultural commodities in the state.

Agricultural Commodity 2024 Cash Receipts 2025 Cash Receipts Direction
Cattle and Calves $3.3 Billion $3.9 Billion Up 17%
Dairy and Milk Not Listed >$3.8 Billion No. 2 Rank
Potatoes $1.25 Billion $1.1 Billion Down Slightly
Wheat $610 Million $518 Million Down 15%
Sugar Beets $470 Million $460 Million Down 2%

Wheat ranked fourth with about $518 million in cash receipts, representing a 15% drop from the $610 million brought in during 2024. Sugar beets took fifth place with $460 million, a 2% decline from the previous year’s $470 million. Full details are available through the USDA’s full report or the University of Idaho’s report on the financial condition of agriculture.

More on this story: Top 10 Idaho Farm Commodities: 2025 USDA Report Highlights Cattle and Livestock Growth · Three Wyoming Meat Processors Award Nearly $1 Million in Federal Grants to Expand Operations

More on Idaho: Tartar Fire Devastates Idaho Ranchers and Scorches 158,000 Acres · University of Idaho Receives $579,000 for Specialty Crop Research · Idaho Republicans Retain Seats as Democrats Gain Six Legislator Positions

More on this

Read next