The Wyoming Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA conducts surveys and prepares statistics concerning the production and prices of agricultural products in Wyoming. These agricultural statistics are part of the national program of statistics prepared and released by NASS. There 46 field offices that serve all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Also, through cooperative agreements, the Wyoming Field Office serves the statistical needs of the Wyoming Business Council, Agribusiness Division and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.

Field offices collect data by mail, phone, fax, e-mail, and the Internet, primarily from farmers and ranchers in sample surveys. Data are verified, analyzed, and summarized for county and state estimates. Individual producer data are always confidential and protected by law. NASS statisticians in Washington, D.C. review state estimates and prepare national statistics. Many of the statistics are market-sensitive, so all are released at a prescribed, pre-announced time according to a calendar that is available to everyone at the beginning of the year.

About 300 national and 9,000 state reports are issued annually. In addition the Census of Agriculture is conducted every five years. The reference years are 1997, 2002, 2007, etc.

Also cooperative surveys are often done with land-grant universities or other agencies to collect information of benefit to U.S. agriculture.

The Wyoming Field Office publishes several reports which are available by subscription. Click on the “Subscribe to WY reports” link on our home page.

Wyoming Agriculture

With cash receipts near $1.0 billion annually, agriculture is one of the top three industries in the Cowboy State along with minerals and tourism. Most people associate Wyoming with the famous bucking bronco that adorns our license plate. In fact, cowboys help make cattle production by far our largest agricultural commodity in the state. Wyoming’s cattle industry dates back to the middle 1880's when settlers first began crossing and settling the West. After the Civil War, cattle ranching became one of the most prominent businesses and Cheyenne became a world trade center for cattle. For years, Wyoming range cattle have commanded top market value. However, cattle is certainly not the only agricultural product important in Wyoming.

The high plains and mountain meadows of Wyoming are renown for producing some the finest sheep in the world. Wyoming ranks second in the U.S. in stock sheep and lamb crop and second in wool production. Wyoming wool is some of the finest and most desirable produced in the U.S. Our pasture and hay are regarded as the highest quality anywhere. Wyoming hay is known for high protein, leafiness, and excellent feed value and is shipped throughout the United States for horse and dairy feed. With careful stewardship, the private and public rangelands support not only the livestock industry but also an abundance of wildlife.

Fertile river bottoms produce outstanding crops of sugarbeets, dry edible beans, barley, and corn. Dryland winter wheat is grown, primarily in the East. Oats are also a common crop. Other more specialized commodities in the state include hogs, bison, and sunflowers.

You are invited to take a look at Wyoming’s high mountain, high quality, diverse agricultural production though these statistics.