Cowboy State Ag Initiative Final Report released
After months of meetings, data analysis and discussions with the public, Gov. Mark Gordon announced the completion of the Cowboy State Agricultural Initiative Final Report as February came to a close.
Composed of state and local leaders, legislators, educators, industry representatives and producers from across the state, the 13-member working group was assembled in the fall of 2025 to develop a strategic plan to preserve and enhance Wyoming’s ag industry for current and future generations of farmers and ranchers.
“Specifically, the governor directed the working group to review previous efforts and determine how and where wise investments in education, applied research and innovative management could bolster the industry in the future,” the report states. “This included the desire to review more than the traditional components of the agricultural industry in Wyoming and integrate other aspects of most – if not all – operations.”
“The working group also considered unique services provided by Wyoming’s working lands such as habitat and other potential impacts such as failing infrastructure and succession planning when considering the future of agriculture,” the report continues.
Overall, the group’s final report outlines recommendations in four key areas – farm and ranch financing, water rights and infrastructure, education and applied research and succession planning.
“I am pleased to present the strategic roadmap from the Cowboy State Agriculture Initiative,” Gordon states. “This working group was assigned a critical mission – to ensure agriculture remains the backbone of Wyoming’s culture, heritage and economy for generations to come. The findings within this report are vital to every Wyomingite. Our agricultural industry faces modern pressures – from shifting global markets and rising input costs to the ever-present threat of invasive species and wildfire.”
Importance of Wyoming ag
To begin, the working group notes the importance of Wyoming’s ag industry is difficult to quantify, yet it plays a vital role in shaping the Cowboy State’s identity and economy.
According to the report, the state leads the nation in average farm and ranch size at roughly 2,400 acres. Additionally, Wyoming is a major producer of livestock and crops, with over 29 million acres – not including federal or state permits and leases – in operation, which boasts an annual total economic contribution to the state exceeding $2.5 billion dollars.
The report notes, however, agriculture’s importance in the state of Wyoming extends beyond financial metrics, as working lands provide wildlife habitat, protect water resources, preserve open spaces and sustain the cultural traditions that define the Cowboy State.
Financing hurdles
The working group identified access to capital as one of the most pressing concerns for Wyoming producers.
In particular, young and beginning producers are struggling to secure affordable financing in today’s high interest environment.
While the working group notes there are state and federal loan programs available to these producers, they also cite a decline in participation and strict requirements which often fail to align with Wyoming’s demographics.
To address this, the working group recommends exploring more competitive interest rates and restructuring loan terms to better reflect agricultural income cycles, which can fluctuate dramatically from year to year.
The group also calls for evaluating the level of risk the state is willing to assume in order to better serve producers and keep working lands in production.
Marketing and trade challenges are also highlighted in the report.
Wyoming export commodities include beef, dry beans, wool and other specialty crops, but limited in-state processing capacity and long distances to major markets has created logistical bottlenecks, the working group says.
Their recommendations to manage these hurdles include developing regional distribution hubs, expanding cold and dry storage capacity and incentivizing mid-sized processing facilities to increase value-added opportunities within the state.
By retaining more of the processing chain in Wyoming, the initiative hopes to strengthen rural economies and reduce transportation costs.
Additionally, the working group explored alternatives for effective and affordable health insurance for producers and rural families, urging action to create a clearing house of available information on health insurance for producers, develop a low interest catastrophic health plan for situations which may arise on ag operations and determine where and how many specialized professionals are available for producers across the state.
Aging water infrastructure
The report also emphasizes the importance of water – the lifeblood of western agriculture – noting much of Wyoming’s irrigation infrastructure is more than 100 years old.
A recent study conducted by the Wyoming Water Development Office (WWDO) evaluated roughly 10,000 structures across the state, of which nearly 20 percent were in poor or failing condition.
“Of these 2,000 structures, the 30 ‘worst’ would cost $200 to $300 million to repair or replace,” the report states. “In other words, to fix roughly 1.5 percent of poor or failing structures, it would take 200 percent of all the WWDO’s biennial water development project budget for 2025-26.”
In response, the working group recommends exploring new funding avenues, reviewing account caps tied to existing programs and increasing outreach to irrigation districts and water management entities.
The group further argues proactive maintenance and modernization will be far less costly than catastrophic failures which disrupt production and threaten water rights, like the Goshen and Gering-Fort Laramie Irrigation District tunnel collapse in 2019 or the failure of the LaPrele Dam in 2025.
Education and applied research
In addition to financing and water, the Cowboy State Agriculture Initiative Final Report places a strong emphasis on education and workforce development.
Expanding agriculture and natural resource curriculum options for kindergarten through 12th-grade students, creating recognition programs for schools excelling in ag education and strengthening career pathways are among the working group’s key recommendations.
Long-term funding for Wyoming’s land-grant mission and applied research programs is also a priority, as research focused on forage production, rangeland management, drought resilience and invasive species mitigation conducted within the state provides producers with science-based solutions tailored to Wyoming’s unique conditions.
In a Feb. 27 press release, the governor notes he is particularly encouraged by the report’s focus on both financial and educational opportunities, underscoring the importance of equipping the next generation with practical skills and knowledge.
Succession planning
The fourth and final priority outlined in the final report is succession planning.
“Planning for generational changes and succession within the agricultural world has always been somewhat difficult, for any number of reasons,” the report reads. “Some generational norms do not readily migrate to the next generation, and the pace at which things like technology have changed some parts of the industry are on a truly exponential growth curve. Similarly, Wyoming’s demographics can be a difficult hurdle to overcome.”
“However, the importance of succession planning to the maintenance of the industry cannot be understated,” the report continues. “The inability – for whatever reason – to keep working lands within the hands of Wyoming families not only threatens the future of the industry but can also have implications to ancillary benefits of agricultural lands.”
With the average Wyoming producer nearing 60 years old, the working group recommends expanding access to succession planning resources, encouraging diversified business models and coordinating with federal agencies to help ensure grazing allotments remain integrated into viable operations.
The group goes on to note, without clear transition plans, ranches risk being subdivided or converted to non-agricultural uses. Therefore, the group stresses maintaining large, functional working landscapes is essential not only for production, but also for wildlife habitat, watershed protection and the preservation of open space.
While many of the challenges identified in the final report are not new, the working group concludes coordinated action across public and private sectors will be essential in paving a path forward.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
