b'E C O N O M YThe economy of Butte County relies heavily on the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The countys average wage is the highest in the state of Idaho because of the location of the laboratory. As most of the employees live outside the county, about 20 percent of the total population of the county live below the poverty line. Craters of the Moon National Monument contributes to the economy as a tourism draw. There are many camping, shing, hiking, rock climbing, hang gliding, snowmobiling, and trail riding areas. Existing businesses would benet from more tourism to the area. Additional commercial amenities would help the county compete with nearby communities.7 Butte County Community Center is a resource to help incubate new business ventures in the area.8Beef cattle production is a major part of the economy of the county. Cattle are grazed on both public (Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service) land and privately owned land. Cow-calf production accounts for most of the activity, although yearling production also contributes. The growing season limits crops that can be grown as does the lack of precipitation, which is mostly high-elevation snow and spring rain. Irrigated pasture, forage and cereal are harvested.9AgricultureTotal and Per Farm Overview, 2017 and change since 20122017 % change since 2012Number of farms 189 -12Land in farms (acres) 130,366 +4Average size of farm (acres) 690 +18Percent of county land in farms 9.1%FIGURE 6Butte County Total Farm Overview. 102017 Market Value of Agricultural Products SoldCounties Sales ($1,000) Rank in State Producing ItemTotal42,179 25 44Crops35,667 22 44Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, dry peas10,122 25 42Tobacco- - -Cotton and cottonseed- - -Vegetables, melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes(D) 19 41Fruits, tree nuts, berries- - 37Nursery, greenhouse, \x1boriculture, sod(D) 41 43Cultivated Christmas trees, short rotation woody crops- - 14Other crops and hay20,541 12 44BUTTE County 273'