The Contribution of Small Grains Production to Arizona‘s Economy

Abstract

Small grains, in particular wheat and barley, are an important part of Arizona’s agricultural economy. Durum wheat, the most common type of wheat produced in Arizona, is grown for a wide variety of domestic and foreign customers. Small grains, especially barley, have long served as a source of feed for the state’s large cattle feedlot and dairy industries as well as its hog, sheep, and poultry industries. Small grains play a critical role in maintaining soil and crop health for Arizona farms because other key agricultural crop sectors, such as those growing fresh produce and cotton, use small grains as important components of their crop rotations. Finally, Arizona mills, bakeries, food manufacturers, breweries, and distilleries also use small grains in a small, but growing local foods movement.