Agriculture in Montana
ZIP codes in our Montana data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture is one of Montana's largest industries and a defining part of its economy and culture. The state's vast open land supports large-scale grain farming and cattle ranching, while its valleys and irrigated districts give gardeners and specialty growers productive ground. Understanding Montana's short seasons and cold winters is key for anyone raising crops or livestock here.
Farming in Montana
Montana is one of the country's leading wheat states, producing large volumes of spring wheat, winter wheat, and durum, along with barley used for both feed and malting. Cattle and calves are consistently the state's top livestock product by value, and ranching dominates much of the eastern plains and mountain foothills. Montana is also a major grower of pulse crops such as lentils, dry peas, and chickpeas, and it produces hay, sugar beets, oilseeds, and honey. Farms tend to be large and often dryland, reflecting the semi-arid climate, with irrigated valleys supporting more diverse crops.
Climate and growing conditions
Montana has a cold, largely semi-arid continental climate with long, cold winters and warm, dry summers, and weather can vary widely between the plains and the mountains. The frost-free growing season is short in most areas, commonly around 100 to 130 days, and shorter still at higher elevations, so gardeners often start seeds indoors or choose fast-maturing varieties. USDA hardiness zones range from roughly zone 3 across much of the state and the mountain valleys to about zone 5 or 6 in some of the milder, lower valleys, with the coldest high country closer to zone 2.
Major agricultural products
- Wheat (spring, winter, and durum)
- Cattle and calves
- Barley
- Pulse crops (lentils, dry peas, and chickpeas)
- Hay and forage
- Sugar beets
- Sheep and wool
- Honey
Hardiness zones in Montana
Growers in Montana fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in Montana
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Montana
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (58 counties):
Market prices & data for Montana
- Frost dates across Montana
- Hay prices in Montana
- Grain cash bids in Montana
- All USDA hardiness zones
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.