Utah
agriculture generates more than $1 billion in income for our farmers and ranchers
while helping to fuel the state's rural economy. The vast majority of Utah farms
are family owned and operated. The care these landowners take for their land
is remarkable. Farm and ranchland helps clean the air and water by acting as
a green-grow filter. Utah farmland accounts for much of the state's open space,
providing residents and visitors spectacular panoramas and glimpses of our western
roots.
While
Utah is ranked number 26th in the nation in the amount of land being farmed,
we outperform that ranking by being the country's 3rd largest producer of apricots,
5th largest producer of tart cherries, 6th largest producer of sheep, 8th largest
producer of onions, 10th largest producer of barley, and 14th largest producer
of alfalfa hay, just to mention just a few items.
Utah
has roughly 15,000 farms covering more than 12 million acres. Of those acres,
just 1.2 million are irrigated acres. A well organized and dedicated effort
is under way to protect these prime farm acres using a variety of tools and
incentives.
Utah
agricultural foods and products are sold around the world - from Cache Valley
milk in Hong Kong, to wheat and alfalfa to European nations. The Utah Department
of Agriculture and Food produces several product directories and helps companies
prepare to market their goods globally.
News
releases and publications are printed regularly by the Utah Department of Agriculture
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Keep up with the latest developments
here and around the world.
From
low interest loans, to farm worker protection, to junior livestock shows, the
following links can take you where you want to go.
