Agriculture in Wyoming
ZIP codes in our Wyoming data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture is one of Wyoming's foundational industries, shaped by wide-open rangeland, high elevation, and a semi-arid climate. Ranching dominates the landscape, and most farming supports livestock rather than row crops. For growers and gardeners, understanding the short season and cold winters is the key to working with, rather than against, Wyoming's conditions.
Farming in Wyoming
Wyoming is primarily a livestock state, with beef cattle serving as the leading agricultural commodity and grazing spread across vast expanses of public and private rangeland. The state has a long history as a major sheep and wool producer, and both cattle and sheep depend heavily on hay, which is the top crop and includes large acreages of alfalfa. Irrigated valleys such as the Big Horn Basin and areas along the North Platte River support sugar beets, dry beans, barley, and wheat. Because so much of the state is arid and high in elevation, much of the land is best suited to grazing rather than cultivated crops.
Climate and growing conditions
Wyoming has a cold, semi-arid, high-elevation climate with long winters, low humidity, and a short frost-free growing season that can run well under 120 days in many areas. Elevation and mountain terrain create wide swings in temperature, and late spring and early fall frosts are common. USDA hardiness zones across the state generally range from about zone 3 in the coldest high country to zone 5, with a few of the warmer, lower valleys reaching zone 6.
Major agricultural products
- Beef cattle
- Hay and alfalfa
- Sheep and wool
- Sugar beets
- Dry beans
- Barley
- Wheat
- Corn
Hardiness zones in Wyoming
Growers in Wyoming fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in Wyoming
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Wyoming
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (23 counties):
Market prices & data for Wyoming
- Frost dates across Wyoming
- Hay prices in Wyoming
- Grain cash bids in Wyoming
- 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.