Securing the Future of Wyoming Agriculture – By Doug Miyamoto, Director, Wyoming Department of Agriculture

Agriculture is a key industry to the state of Wyoming. Not only is it economically vital to the health and future of our state, it is also a central part of the history and culture in Wyoming. As one of the first industries in this state, agriculture is, in many ways, the backbone of our state. Other industries may surpass agriculture in regard to total economic impact, but none of them are more important to the state as a whole.

Wyoming remains the leader in the US in average operation size for farms and ranches, is a major producer of livestock and crops with over 29,000,000 acres operated (not including federal or state permits and leases), and has an annual Total Economic Contribution to the State exceeding $2.5 billion dollars. The economic impact isn’t the only value found in Wyoming Ag. The ancillary benefits to agriculture keep our communities strong, our identity intact, and our heritage alive.

Because of this, it’s important to find ways to secure the viability of our industry well into the future. As part of this effort, Governor Gordon initiated the Cowboy State Agriculture Initiative and formed a working group in the fall of 2025 to develop a strategic plan to preserve and enhance the Wyoming agriculture industry for current producers and the generations to come.

This group was comprised of key shareholders in this industry including representatives from state government, industry associations, academia, and the legislature with the overarching goal of charting a path forward with actionable steps to help preserve and propel the agricultural industry in Wyoming into the future. The overarching goal of this group was to keep working lands in Wyoming working. Maintaining these lands and continuing agricultural operations provides food, fiber, habitat, water, and open space. The idea of maintaining these lands is more than just maintaining a functional agriculture business, it provides numerous benefits. These lands support our rural communities, provide habitat for our wildlife that help prop up our tourism and hunting industries, helps advance energy development, maintains the open spaces that we all enjoy, and more. All of these benefits are interconnected with agriculture and the work this industry does is at the center of it all in many cases.

The next generation of agriculturalists, whether operating a family ranch or researching new crops and techniques, is essential to maintaining the benefit that agriculture provides to Wyoming. To do this, individuals seeking a successful career in agriculture need more tools in their toolbox. The business and financial knowledge required of any person working in agriculture has continued to broaden. On top of understanding their specific operation, those in ag must also understand regulations, marketing, finance, and interpersonal communications. We need to develop and retain individuals dedicated to this profession and lifestyle by providing the best education, business climate, and opportunities for growth possible.   

We need to provide ample opportunity for young professionals to enter the industry and ensure existing industry members have the necessary tools to adapt in an ever-changing world. To achieve this, the Initiative focused on projects and efforts that foster innovation, market expansion, diversification, and the sustainability of Wyoming agricultural enterprises along with projects and initiatives which expand capacity, develop well-educated leaders, expand and maintain the workforce, and enhance advocacy for Wyoming agriculture.

The working group recently concluded their efforts and presented Governor Gordon with the Cowboy State Agriculture Initiative Final Report. In the report, the group identified four key areas of focus. Farm and Ranch Financing (New producers’ access to capital/expanding operations, marketing and trade, and health care/other costs of doing business), Water (current infrastructure concerns, future infrastructure, water rights and uses), Education (K-12 education, post-secondary teachers and students and continuing education, and applied research), and Succession (the importance of succession, planning resources and challenges). These four areas and their subcategories were discussed at length along with input from the public and the group provided action items to move each of these areas forward.

Agriculture is the one industry we cannot live without. If we cannot feed and clothe our population, we are not secure. This is why it’s vital to the future of our state and country to keep working lands working and provide opportunities to move forward for our agricultural community. The Cowboy State Agriculture Initiative was set up to do just that.