CHEYENNE (WNE) — A new publication by the University of Wyoming Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics reports that economic activity related to agricultural production contributed $2.526 billion to Wyoming’s economy in 2021.

This total includes direct farm-gate sales from 11 agricultural industries, as well as related business- to-business purchases and spending by agricultural households.

“Everyone recognizes that agriculture is big in Wyoming. Now we have a single publication that allows us to support our comments concerning the importance of ag in Wyoming with economic data,” said Eric Webster, director of the Wyoming Agricultural Experiment Station, in a news release.

Roger Coupal, a professor in the UW Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, and Amy Nagler, a research scientist in the department, co-authored the report, which presents both statewide and county-specific data.

Analysis was completed using IMPLAN economic impact modeling software and the most recent data available from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and US Census Bureau.

Coupal and Nagler found that cattle, other livestock (including sheep and hogs) and hay production dominated Wyoming’s agricultural production values. In 2021, beef cattle ranching accounted for $1.031 billion in direct output — nearly 60% of total direct output from agricultural industries.

Overall, livestock production accounted for 77% of Wyoming’s direct economic output from agricultural industries; crop production made up the remaining 23%. In total, agricultural production contributed $1.712 billion to the state’s economy in direct farm-gate sales.

To view a free, downloadable copy of the publication, visit bit.ly/WYEconImpactAg2021.