Dairy remains Idaho’s top farm commodity … for now

By Sean Ellis

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

POCATELLO - Dairy in 2024 remained as Idaho's No. 1 agricultural commodity in terms of total farm-gate receipts and cattle and calves was again No. 2.

But the cattle sector may give dairy a run for its money this year in that category.

USDA data released Sept. 3 shows that farm-level Idaho milk sales brought in $3.87 billion in farm-gate receipts in 2024, up 12 percent from $3.46 billion in 2023 but below the record of $4.28 billion set in 2022.

That made milk, again, Idaho's top agricultural commodity, ahead of the cattle and calves sector, which brought in a record $3.32 billion in 2024, which was a 27 percent increase compared with 2023.

Milk has been the state's top ag commodity in total farm-gate revenue for many years, but the beef cattle sector may close in on that title when this year's tallies are totaled up and released in 2026.

USDA's Sept. 3 "Farm Income and Financial Forecasts for 2025" report contained the first state-level estimates for farm-gate receipts in 2024. The 2025 totals will be released about the same time next year.

Farm-gate receipts are what the farmer or rancher receives for their commodity.

The USDA report forecasts total U.S. farm-gate milk receipts will decline by 4 percent in 2025 compared with 2024 and receipts for cattle and calves will increase by 13 percent.

This math, taken literally, could mean cattle and calves might catch milk for the top spot among Idaho ag commodities in 2025.

That's a big "might."

USDA's forecast of a 4 percent decrease in milk receipts is for the nation. Idaho dairies collectively produced 7 percent more milk year-over-year through the first half of 2025, according to the Idaho Dairymen's Association.

This large increase in milk volume alone could keep milk in the No. 1 spot. Of course, how farm-level beef and milk prices ultimately pan out will play a major factor as well.

Potatoes remained Idaho's top crop, and No. 3 ag commodity, with $1.24 billion in cash receipts in 2024, according to USDA. This represents a 7 percent drop compared with 2023.

Wheat retained its spot as the No. 4 ag commodity in Idaho with $597 in farm-gate receipts in 2024, down slightly from $608 million in 2023.

Hay was bumped out of the No. 5 spot by sugar beets, which brought in $508 million in farm-gate revenue in 2024, up 10 percent from 2023.

Hay came in at No. 6 with $381 million in cash receipts, down 38 percent from $614 million in 2023. This number for hay is a little misleading because it doesn't account for the hay grown in Idaho that is used on-farm and not sold. The total value of all hay produced in Idaho is much higher than that $381 million number.

Barley remained as Idaho's No. 7 ag commodity with $347 million in cash receipts in 2024, down 18 percent from $422 million in 2023.

Cash receipts for onions totaled $205 million in Idaho in 2024, a 25 percent jump from 2024. Cash receipts for Idaho onions totaled $58 million in 2020 and have increased by 253 percent since then.

Chicken eggs have become one of the state's top ag commodities in total revenue in recent years. USDA forecasts that eggs brought in a total of $141 million in cash receipts in 2024, 18 percent more than in 2023. Idaho chicken egg receipts totaled $46 million in 2021.

Corn brought in a total of $134 million in cash receipts in Idaho in 2024, down 6 percent from 2023.

Farm-gate receipts for dry beans in Idaho totaled $91 million in 2024, up 14 percent compared with 2023.

As Idaho hop acres have declined significantly in recent years, so has that ag commodity's total revenue in Idaho. Cash receipts for hops in Idaho totaled $69 million in 2024, down 24 percent from 2023 and down 34 percent from that sector's high of $105 million in 2021.

Farm-gate revenue from hogs in Idaho soared 235 percent to $67 million in 2024.

Other Idaho agricultural commodities and their total farm-gate receipts: Trout ($45 million), peppermint oil ($23 million), floriculture ($21 million), canola ($15 million) and mustard seed ($14 million).

According to the USDA data, Idaho's 22,000-plus farmers and ranchers brought in a total of $11.79 billion in farm-gate receipts in 2024. That represents gross revenue and does not represent net farm income, which is the farmer's take-home pay once all expenses are deducted.

The USDA report shows intermediate farm production expenses in Idaho totaled $7.2 billion last year, up 6 percent from 2023. This includes expenses such as feed and seed purchases, fertilizer, pesticides, fuel and electricity, marketing, storage, transportation, repairs and irrigation.

When all other expenses, such as payments to stakeholders and labor, are factored in, USDA estimates total net farm income in Idaho in 2024 was $2.6 billion, down 13 percent from 2023 and down 33 percent compared with the 2022 total of $3.7 billion.