Agriculture

Growing up in Utah is now a largely urban experience. But the Cowboy Camp organized by the USU Extension wants to get more teens to trade screen time for saddle time.

A new commissioner and a new agriculture water leasing initiative could be the answer to bringing the Great Salt Lake out of its disastrous state.

Utah is the second-largest producer of tart cherries in the country, growing 20 to 40 million pounds annually. But this year, farmers are stuck with no cherries and few financial solutions.

The combination of the worst snowpack on record and fast-spreading wildfires is changing the job description for ranchers in the Rocky Mountains.

Even though Utah has resources, many people look to their neighbors when they need help with animal evacuations. Local rescues and the Utah State University extension can help with livestock and finding foster homes while locals wait to go back home.

Utah's largest wildfire has killed cattle, destroyed grazing land and left ranchers facing years of recovery. For one Piute County family, the damage extends far beyond the flames.

The Cowboy State is in the early stages of launching a voluntary water conservation program, but it has no money to pay applicants yet. Utah's paid conservation program launched in 2025 using state money.

Rising fuel and fertilizer costs tied to the Iran war are compounding agriculture’s challenges. Add Utah’s lowest recorded snowpack into the mix, and the 2026 growing season looks to be one of the toughest yet.

For almost a decade, people working in Utah agriculture have noticed a steady uptick in farmers offering tourist-friendly operations, like corn mazes, pumpkin patches and farm tours.

With fewer young producers entering the industry, Utah’s agricultural workforce is aging on the farm.

Honey bees are considered domesticated livestock by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pollinators native to Utah, on the other hand, aren’t typically cared for by people.

“We're just trying to be proactive,” said one Carbon County farmer. “Hopefully, we can make some kind of difference in the big picture.”