Idaho remained in the Number 3 spot among the 11 Western states for total farm gate receipts last year, behind California and Washington.
But The Gem State was unchallenged when it comes to farm cash receipts on a per capita basis, generating far more farm income per person than any other Western state. University of Idaho economists, who compiled the rankings, say the numbers are a way to show elected officials and other state leaders just how important the farm sector is to Idaho’s economy.
California’s farm cash receipts totaled $45 billion in 2016, followed by Washington with $9.9 billion, and Idaho with $7.1 billion. Colorado ranked fourth, and Oregon was fifth.
However, on a per capita basis, Idaho generated $4,204 per person in farm cash receipts, while Washington produced $1,354 per person, and California $1,154 per person. California also ranked first in net farm income in 2016 at $13.2 billion, followed by Washington at $3.2 billion, and Idaho at $1.7 billion.
All 50 U.S. states were also ranked in terms of farm Gross Domestic Product as a percentage of each state’s total GDP and Idaho ranked fourth, behind the big ag states of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa. Officials note that those GDP rankings only include farm gate receipts and don’t include the economic activity generated by food processing and other agribusinesses, which play a major role in Idaho’s economy. (Capital Press)
