Utah’s farm operations generated $2.3 billion in animal products and crop sales in 2022, according to a new “Portrait of Agriculture” report released Thursday by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
The report, based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, paints a picture of a sector that remains a financial anchor in many rural communities — while facing mounting pressures tied to labor, land and changing market conditions.
“Utah’s agriculture sector is a dynamic part of our state’s economy, particularly in rural areas, generating over $2 billion in sales annually,” said Eric Albers, a senior natural resources analyst at the institute and the report’s lead author.
Albers said the analysis also reflects “significant changes being felt by Utah farmers,” including “shifting market dynamics and rising input costs” as well as “an aging workforce.”
Sales are concentrated in a handful of counties
While agriculture touches every region of the state, the report found that production — at least measured by sales — is heavily clustered.
Seven counties — Beaver, Millard, Utah, Iron, Sanpete, Box Elder and Cache — accounted for 70% of all agricultural product sales in 2022.
The release also notes that agricultural activity employed over 16,000 people and used nearly one-fifth of Utah’s land — 10.5 million acres of Utah’s 54.3 million acres.
Many Utah operations are small, and most producers work other jobs
The report also shows how diverse Utah’s farm economy is — from large, commercial producers to smaller operations that may sell limited product.
Nearly one-third of Utah farms (32.8%) operated on less than 10 acres in 2022, and over half (51.7%) sold less than $5,000, but more than $1,000 worth of agricultural products.
Only 7% of Utah farms covered 1,000 acres or more.
Additionally, farming was not the primary job for 69% of producers, suggesting many farm operators balance agriculture with other, higher-paying work.
An older producer base raises questions about what comes next
Utah’s producer population is also aging, the report found.
The average age of a Utah producer was 56.6 in 2022, and 35% were 65 or older.
That demographic reality is one of the “significant changes” highlighted by the institute.
Agriculture covers nearly one-fifth of Utah’s land — but farmland has shrunk over time
The longer trend of land use is also down. The report found Utah lost 1.2 million acres of farmland between 2002 and 2022, with declines split between cropland and dedicated pastureland.
Five counties — Duchesne, Box Elder, Rich, Washington and Tooele — each lost more than 100,000 acres of farmland over that period, and Duchesne County alone lost 249,000 acres.
Since the census: Hog contracts ended, beef prices rose and costs climbed
Although the USDA census reflects conditions in 2022, the institute noted several developments since then have altered the landscape.
The release points to notable shifts, including Smithfield Foods ending contracts with 26 Utah hog farms in 2023. This dropped a high of over 1 million hogs sold in September 2020 to 105,000 in September 2024.
Beef prices have also reached an all-time high in 2025. In 2022, ground beef cost an average of $1.71 nationally. In 2025, a pound has reached an all-time high of $6.32.
Farms are also dealing with increasing input costs and volatility in commodity pricing. The report notes an example: The amount farmers had to pay “for crops has been relatively steady since 2022.” But the amount they have received “dropped from 2022 through early 2025 before recovering slightly.”