20 



AGRICULTURE: MONTANA'S MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY 



Agriculture traditionally accounts for one-third or more of the total receipts 

 generated by Montana's primary industries. Crop sales during 1986 recovered from the 

 sharp reductions suffered during 1985 due to drouth and were up 17 percent. Livestock 

 sales dropped 19 percent to a more normal level after herd liquidations boosted sales in 

 1985. Total agricultural receipts in 1986 (including government payments) were up 4 

 percent from 1985. 



Receipts from all other industries were also up in 1986, except for oil and gas 

 which were down sharply. 



RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF SELECTED 



MAJOR MONTANA INDUSTRIES 



PERCENT OF TOTAL, 1986 



MONTANA PRIMARY INDUSTRIES, 1986 



INDUSTRY 



BASIS 



VALUE IN THOUSANDS 



Agriculture 1/ 

 Oil & Gas 2/ 

 Travel & Tourism 3/ 

 Mining 2/ 

 Lumber, Paper & 



Wood Products 4/ 

 Manufacturing 5/ 



TOTAL 



Cash Receipts 

 Value of Production 

 Value of Receipts 

 Value of Production 



Value of Production 

 Value Added 



$1,510,920 

 444,544 

 854,319 

 587 ,337 



820,000 

 800,000 



$5,017 ,120 



1/ USDA — ERS (Includes Government Payments) . 



2/ Montana Department of Revenue. 



3/ Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Promotion Division. 



4/ Bureau of Business & Economic Research, University of Montana 



(preliminary) . 

 5/ Montana Department of Commerce (estimate) . 



