Newly-released numbers showcase the thriving dairy industry and its economic impact in the State of Idaho and throughout the world. The University of Idaho’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) studied the industry and completed its economic impact study. The Idaho dairy industry is the 3rd largest dairy-producing state in the country in 2014 thus far, and has large contributions to the employment and economic foundation in Idaho. The Idaho dairy industry is comprised of both dairy producers and processors. Findings from the economic study include (all from 2012 data): Every job on a dairy operation generates another 2.2 jobs. The Idaho dairy industry generates over 23,000 jobs in Idaho. With $2.42 billion in cash receipts from the sale of milk, dairy production is significantly the top source of income generated in Idaho agriculture production sector. Idaho dairy contributed more than $2.2 billion to the state’s gross domestic product. Combining the dairy producer’s sales with the dairy processors sales the Idaho dairy industry is responsible for generating $6.6 billion in sales. The Idaho dairy industry contributed $72 million to the state in taxes.
