Photo by Kelsi Gambill
Driving through Billings, it is easy to see the presence of industries like healthcare, oil and gas, and education; however, the equally essential agriculture industry cannot be overlooked. Agriculture is Montana’s number one industry, contributing more monetary value ($4.4 billion) to the state’s economy than any other industry. And it’s not just farmers and ranchers that make up the industry. Businesses like agriculture supply stores, implement dealers, agricultural broadcasting, seed suppliers, banks and agrichemical manufacturers also contribute to the agricultural sector. The primary income drivers for Yellowstone County agriculture are crop and livestock production. Differing from the state average, Yellowstone County’s livestockrelated revenue is typically greater than crop-related revenue. In 2019, Yellowstone County ranked third in the state for cattle inventory. The county is also home to sheep, dairy, and hog production, as well as many 22
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feedlot operations. Billings has two livestock yards, PAYS (Public Auction Yards) and BLS (Billings Livestock Commission) that continue to market a high volume of cattle statewide and via Northern Livestock Video auction. Horse, sheep, and goat sales also take place at both local sales yards. While the fields of crops are easy to see, it’s important to remember that most of the land in Yellowstone County land is rangeland or pasture. Most of that land is devoted to raising the high-quality beef cattle that Montana is proud of. Cow/ calf operations are scattered throughout the county with calves commonly shipped to the Midwest in the fall. There, they are fed well-rounded rations until they are “finished.” At that point, it’s only a matter of time until consumers have access to nutritious beef in the grocery store or restaurant! Yellowstone County is geographically diverse, with some of the most developed farming systems in the
state. The Yellowstone River runs the length of the county and separates the dryland farming areas to the north and south. The areas east and west of Billings, along the river, showcase the fertile irrigated lands. If you live outside the city limits, chances are good that you will be near some form of agriculture. The major crops grown in Yellowstone County are alfalfa, wheat, barley, corn, and sugar beets. Alfalfa and other hay grown in the area is predominantly raised and saved to feed livestock during the colder months. Because of the county’s cool weather and snowfall, livestock need to be supplemented with hay to ensure their nutrient requirements are met. Cows are typically in their second and/or third trimester of pregnancy during the winter, so their nutrient requirements are even higher. Of the wheat raised in Yellowstone County, most is winter wheat. For example, area producers planted 59,000 acres of winter wheat in
