In 1910 there were 57,000 farms in Montana. In 2019, there are 26,800 farms in Montana and 58 million acres within those farms and ranches. Even with half the number of farms Montana is able to produce thousands of bushels more of crops, due to increased technology and better utilization of the cropland. Also, we are able to produce and process those crops faster with the use of computers and machines. Before the advent of machinery, farmers were able to produce little more than enough for their own use.
An approximate 18 million acres of Montana’s land is used for cropland. On this land a wide variety of crops are raised. Montana’s primary crop is wheat. In addition to the list below, other crops grown in Montana include apples, canola, potatoes, dry beans, field peas, flax, grapes, garlic, lentils, safflowers, mustard, squash, alfalfa, and many more.
Updated: September 4, 2020