Utah Agriculture: Cherries, Beef & Open Range

4 min read

Published on

March 12, 2026

Utah Agriculture: Cherries, Beef & Open Range

Why Utah agriculture matters

From high-altitude orchards and beef cattle to trout farms and turf grass, Utah agriculture is both diverse and resilient. With vast rangelands and specialty niches like pistachios and mink, the state’s producers connect mountain microclimates to everyday food, fiber, and landscape needs.

Snapshot: the essential facts

Tart cherries: Utah is the #2 producer of tart cherries in the United States.

Largest commodity: Beef cattle lead the state’s ag value.

Diverse production: Dairy, sheep, alfalfa, fruit, and beef—plus trout, pistachios, mink, turkey, and turf grass.

Rangeland: Approximately 22 million acres of Utah’s public lands are designated for grazing.

From numbers to impact: how Utah’s farm economy shows up

Food

Cherries, fruit, and dairy feed fresh and processed markets. Beef and turkey anchor meat cases and foodservice menus, while trout supports regional seafood demand.

Feed & forage

Alfalfa and small grains support beef, dairy, and sheep across valleys and plateaus. Forage demand circulates spending through seed, irrigation, and equipment dealers.

Rangeland stewardship

Grazing partnerships on public lands help manage fuels, maintain healthy plant communities, and support wildlife habitat—while sustaining rural livelihoods.

Diversified income streams

Producers hedge risk with specialty crops (pistachios), aquaculture (trout), fur-bearing livestock (mink), and turf grass—serving landscaping, sports, and municipal needs.

The human side: family operations and main streets

From orchard labor and harvest crews to feed stores, mechanics, and processors, Utah farms translate into steady work and small-business revenue in mountain towns and along the Wasatch Front.

Support the producers behind these numbers

Farm Bureau membership is a simple way to back Utah’s farm and ranch families. Members help advance commonsense ag policy, strengthen rural communities, and expand classroom resources. Benefits may vary by state program.

What membership supports:

Advocacy — a grassroots voice on water, land, markets, and transportation.

Education — ag-in-the-classroom, scholarships, and leadership programs.

Community — county Farm Bureaus, service projects, and local events.

Join Utah Farm Bureau: https://www.utahfarmbureau.org/Join
Not in Utah? Find your state Farm Bureau: https://www.fb.org/about/get-involved

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Through our partnership with the Utah Farm Bureau, we’re proud to support Utah farmers with tools designed for real-world operations. As part of this partnership, Utah Farm Bureau members receive exclusive Gripp pricing, helping operations digitize records, streamline daily work, and stay audit-ready—without adding complexity.