Wheat Ranks Fourth Among Idaho's Top Farm Commodities
USDA's 2025 cash receipts report ranks Idaho's top 10 farm commodities, with wheat at $518 million and livestock leading the state's farm income.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Agriculture
The USDA ranked Idaho's top 10 agricultural commodities by 2025 cash receipts in a report released Sept. 3. Wheat ranked fourth with $518 million, while the livestock sector brought in $8.12 billion, rising 8 percent as the crop sector fell 10 percent.
Why it matters
The figures show a divergence between Idaho's livestock and crop sectors, with crop receipts declining while livestock income grew. For Idaho's farmers and agricultural economy, the shift reflects uneven year-over-year pressure across commodities.
USDA's 2025 estimates put Idaho's livestock sector at $8.12 billion in farm cash receipts, compared with $3.83 billion for crops. Among the ranked crops, barley fell 24 percent to $288 million and onions fell 27 percent to $176 million, while chicken eggs rose 54 percent to $192 million.
The players
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The federal agency responsible for farm production statistics, including the annual state-level estimates of cash receipts from agricultural commodities.
The details
USDA's ranking shows wheat at $518 million, sugar beets at $460 million, hay at $358 million, barley at $288 million, and chicken eggs at $192 million. Onions ($176 million) and corn ($131 million) also placed among the top 10, while USDA did not estimate fruit receipts due to insufficient data.
Timeline
2017: USDA last estimated Idaho fruit cash receipts at $14.78 million.
2024: Baseline year used to compare 2025 Idaho farm cash receipts.
2025: USDA's reported 2025 farm cash receipts and commodity rankings for Idaho.
Sept. 3: USDA released the report covering Idaho's livestock and crop sector receipts.
Market Landscape
The USDA's annual state cash receipts series shows Idaho's farm economy increasingly weighted toward livestock, which reached $8.12 billion in 2025. Crop declines in wheat, barley, and onions suggest pressure on the crop side of Idaho's agricultural mix.
For Idaho residents, the report signals shifts in farm income that can affect food prices and local agricultural employment. Consumers may see changes in the cost of commodities like eggs, which rose 54 percent in cash receipts in 2025.
The takeaway
Idaho's agricultural income is increasingly driven by livestock, so crop-dependent producers may face tighter margins as wheat, barley, and onion receipts decline. Tracking the USDA's annual state estimates can help readers gauge where local farm revenue is heading.
Further reading
For broader context on farm economics, explore Agriculture coverage on Wisevoter.
