Cattle Surpass Dairy as Idaho's Top Commodity
Idaho's cattle and calf sector overtook dairy as the state's leading farm commodity in 2025, according to new USDA data.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Agriculture
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Cattle and calves surpassed dairy as Idaho's top farm commodity in 2025, with cattle and calf cash receipts reaching about $3.9 billion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the figures in its Farm Income and Wealth Statistics report on Sept. 3.
Why it matters
Dairy had held the No. 1 spot in Idaho since 2003, so the shift marks a major change in the state's agricultural mix. The University of Idaho attributes most of the sector's gain to record beef cattle prices, with some of the increase tied to high-value beef from dairy cross calves.
Cattle and calf cash receipts rose 17% from $3.3 billion in 2024 to about $3.9 billion in 2025, while dairy product and milk receipts reached more than $3.8 billion. Idaho's beef cow inventory fell 4% in 2024, and the USDA reports the American beef herd is at a 75-year low.
The players
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The USDA is the federal agency that compiles national farm income and wealth statistics and publishes state-level cash receipts data each year.
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the state's land-grant university and provides agricultural research and extension analysis for Idaho producers.
The details
Livestock cash receipts now account for about 68% of Idaho's total agricultural cash receipts, according to the USDA data. Potatoes ranked third with an estimated $1.1 billion, followed by wheat at about $518 million and sugar beets at $460 million. Wildfires in 2024 reduced available range, slowing efforts to rebuild the herd.
Timeline
2003: Dairy became Idaho's No. 1 agricultural commodity.
2024: Wildfires reduced rangeland and slowed herd rebuilding.
Sept. 3: The USDA released its Farm Income and Wealth Statistics report.
2025: Cattle and calves surpassed dairy as the top commodity.
Market Landscape
Idaho's dairy industry had been the state's top farm commodity since 2003, and the USDA's 2025 figures show cattle overtaking it on record beef prices. The USDA projects the U.S. beef cow herd will grow again in 2026, and milk revenues are expected to reclaim the top spot in 2026 or 2027.
Rising cattle prices and a shifting commodity mix could affect beef prices at the grocery store and the farm income that supports rural Idaho communities. Producers and buyers may see continued movement in livestock and dairy markets as the USDA projects herd growth in 2026.
The takeaway
Idaho's farm economy is shifting toward beef, with livestock now providing about 68% of total agricultural cash receipts. Producers and consumers alike should watch how herd growth and milk revenues shape the market in the coming years.
Further reading
For more on the sector, explore Agriculture coverage across the state's farm economy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by East Idaho News.
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