Agricultural Investment Opportunity · 2022 USDA Census Data
NortheastColoradoAgricultural Region
A proven production powerhouse anchored by Logan County — where 1.1 million acres of farmland, South Platte River irrigation, and I-76 corridor access create unmatched conditions for agribusiness growth.
$732M
Logan County Ag Sales
#5 in Colorado · 2022 Census
224K
Cattle & Calves on Feed
#3 ranked county in the U.S.
901
Active Farms & Ranches
Avg. 1,250 acres per farm
+19%
Ag Sales Growth Since 2017
Net cash income up +40%
Logan County at a Glance · 2022 USDA Census
1.1M
Acres in Farmland
559K cropland · 534K pastureland
91K
Irrigated Acres
South Platte River basin — highest ag production river basin in CO
$608M
Cattle & Calf Sales
83% of all county ag revenue
$813K
Avg. Sales Per Farm
+13% growth over 5 years
Northeast Colorado Regional Power · Neighboring County Comparison
A Cluster of Agricultural Giants
Logan County sits within one of the nation’s most productive agricultural corridors. Combined, the five-county region generates over $4 billion in annual farm sales.
County
LoganCounty Seat: Sterling
WeldCounty Seat: Greeley
MorganCounty Seat: Ft. Morgan
WashingtonCounty Seat: Akron
YumaCounty Seat: Wray
Total Ag Sales
$733MRank #5 in CO
$2.38BRank #1 in CO
~$650MEst.
~$280MEst.
~$420MEst.
Cattle & Calves
224,115Rank #3 in U.S.
545,480Rank #7 in U.S.
~85,000
~40,000
~55,000
Farms
901
3,881
~600
~400
~500
Avg. Farm Size
1,250 ac
512 ac
~900 ac
~1,400 ac
~1,200 ac
Livestock Share
84%
82%
~75%
~60%
~65%
Net Cash Income
$99M+40% since 2017
$581M+47% since 2017
~$130M
~$50M
~$90M
Crop Production · Logan County 2022
Top Crops by Harvested Acres
Crop Sales Breakdown ($1,000)
Diversified Crop Portfolio
Logan County’s dryland and irrigated mix supports wheat, corn, millet, sorghum, and hay — with #4 ranking in Colorado for hay and other crop sales. The region’s extended growing season and High Plains soils are ideal for drought-tolerant specialty grains, edible beans, and emerging organic production.
Livestock Inventory · Logan County 2022
A Cattle Country Powerhouse
National Ranking
Logan County’s 224,115 cattle and calves rank it #3 in the entire United States among cattle-producing counties. Cattle and calf sales alone totaled $608.8 million — making the county one of the most concentrated beef production zones in the nation, with direct access to major packing and processing corridors via I-76.
South Platte River Basin — highest agricultural production basin in Colorado
I-76
Direct Interstate Access
128 miles northeast of Denver — direct corridor to national markets and Denver International Airport
1,250
Avg. Acres Per Farm
28% of farms exceed 1,000 acres — large-scale operation friendly
$22K
Avg. Govt. Payments/Farm
USDA program support adds stability; total county payments: $11.9M/yr
150+
Years of Ag Heritage
Irrigation infrastructure since 1872 · established ditch systems · deep producer expertise
Why Locate Here
Six Reasons Agribusiness Thrives in Northeast Colorado
🐄
Massive Cattle Supply Chain
224,000+ cattle and calves within the county alone. The five-county region supports one of the nation’s densest beef supply chains — ideal for processors, feed suppliers, veterinary services, and equipment dealers.
→ Cattle sales: $608.8M/yr in Logan County
🌾
Grain & Feed Grain Volume
93,000+ acres of wheat, 64,000 acres of corn for grain, and 32,000 acres of proso millet create enormous feedstock volumes. The region produces multiple drought-tolerant specialty crops sought in organic and export markets.
→ Grain/oilseed sales: $92.6M/yr
💧
Reliable Water Infrastructure
The South Platte River Basin holds the greatest concentration of irrigated agricultural land in Colorado. Established ditch systems dating to 1872 provide irrigation security for 91,000+ acres with senior water rights.
→ Highest ag production river basin in Colorado
🛣️
Strategic Location & Logistics
Sterling sits directly on I-76 — 128 miles from Denver, close to Denver International Airport and rail lines. The Union Pacific Railroad has served this corridor since 1887, enabling efficient commodity movement to national markets.
→ 128 mi to Denver · I-76 interstate access
💰
Affordable Land & Low Costs
Operating costs in northeast Colorado run significantly below the Front Range and national averages. Land values, labor, and regulatory costs create favorable margins for processing facilities, storage operations, and input suppliers.
→ Farm income up +40% since 2017
🤝
Established Producer Network
901 farms with deep generational expertise, 25% hiring farm labor, and 91% family-operated. CSU Extension, Northeastern Junior College, and strong cooperative infrastructure support workforce development and innovation adoption.
→ 91% family farms · 81% with internet access
Financial Momentum · 2017 vs 2022
Five Years of Strong Growth
+19%
Total Ag Sales Growth
$617M → $733M
+40%
Net Cash Farm Income
$70.8M → $99M
+177%
Farm-Related Income
$10.1M → $28.1M
+13%
Avg. Sales Per Farm
$719K → $813K per farm
Cattle Supply Zone · 90-Minute Drive from Sterling, CO Sources: USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture · NASS County Estimates
1.5+ Million Cattle Within 90 Minutes
Sterling, CO sits at the center of one of the most cattle-dense zones in the United States. The 90-minute drive radius encompasses a constellation of top-producing counties in Colorado and Nebraska, creating an unmatched supply chain for processors, packers, and feed operations.
Why This Radius Matters for Processors
A beef processing plant needs approximately 1 million cattle within a viable supply zone to operate efficiently. Sterling’s 90-minute radius delivers over 1.5 million head — exceeding that threshold by 50%. This density rivals the Greeley/JBS corridor and represents a rare opportunity for a secondary processing hub with lower land, labor, and regulatory costs. Colorado on-feed capacity regularly hits 980,000+ head statewide, with the northeast corridor holding the lion’s share.
1.5M+
Total Head, 90-Min Radius
980K
CO Cattle on Feed (Statewide)
#3
Logan County U.S. Cattle Rank
$2.6B
CO Cattle & Calf Receipts (2022)
Ready to Put Down Roots in Northeast Colorado?
The Logan County Economic Development Corporation is actively recruiting agribusiness, processing, logistics, and input suppliers to capitalize on this region’s scale, infrastructure, and growth trajectory. Site selection assistance, incentive information, and producer introductions available.