Idaho's Top Farm Commodities: A Shifting Landscape
- Cattle surpasses dairy as Idaho's top farm commodity in 2025, earning $3.9 billion.
- Dairy, previously No. 1 since 2003, earned over $3.8 billion in 2025.
- Beef prices and dairy cross calves contributed to cattle's rise, despite herd challenges.
IDAHO FALLS — Cattle and calves surpassed dairy as Idaho's top farm commodity for the first time in more than two decades, according to a 2025 report.
The Department of Agriculture released its Farm Income and Wealth Statistics report on Sept. 3, detailing the gross revenue farmers and ranchers receive from agricultural product sales in each state.
The report shows Idaho's cattle and calf market earned approximately $3.9 billion in cash receipts in 2025, a 17% increase from $3.3 billion in 2024. It narrowly beat out the dairy product and milk sector, which came in at No. 2 with over $3.8 billion.
The dairy market has dominated as Idaho's No. 1 ag commodity since 2003, according to a University of Idaho report. The report attributes much of the increase in the cattle and calf sector to "record beef cattle prices."
A dairy cross calf is a calf born to a dairy cow bred with a beef bull to enhance its value for meat production. This practice has gained popularity as beef prices have risen.
While cash receipts from cattle and calves have risen steadily in Idaho since 2020, the University of Idaho notes a 4% drop in Idaho beef cow inventory in 2024. The USDA reported a 75-year low in the American beef herd and launched the Ranchers First initiative to strengthen the industry.
Idaho's efforts to rebuild its cow herd were hindered by wildfires in 2024, which led to a loss of range. The U.S. beef herd is expected to grow again in 2026.
After a year of record beef prices, the University of Idaho predicts milk production will reclaim its position as Idaho's top agricultural commodity in 2026 or 2027.
Statewide, milk, cattle and calves, and other livestock combined made up 68% of total agricultural cash receipts in 2025. The livestock sector drove "nearly all revenue gains" in Idaho agriculture over the past two years.
Livestock cash receipts have surpassed crop cash receipts every year since 2001. In 2025, livestock cash receipts exceeded crop cash receipts by over $4.3 billion.
Potatoes, Idaho's largest cash crop, ranked third in 2025, with cash receipts estimated at $1.1 billion, a slight decrease from $1.25 billion in 2024.
Rounding out the top five, wheat ranked No. 4 with approximately $518 million in cash receipts, a 15% decrease from $610 million in 2024. Sugar beets ranked No. 5, with $460 million in farm cash receipts, a 2% decrease from $470 million.
The USDA's full report is accessible here, and the University of Idaho's report on the financial condition of agriculture is available here.