What Does Utah Produce The Most?
UTAH FUN FACTS – Did you know the largest man-made excavation on Earth is here in the Wasatch Front?
In the Ground: Utah's top mined mineral is copper, and the story behind it is extraordinary. The Bingham Canyon Mine (operated by Kennecott), located just southwest of Salt Lake City, is the largest man-made excavation on Earth — so massive it is visible from space. Open-pit mining began there in 1906 and revolutionized the global mining industry. Since operations began, the mine has produced over 17 million tons of copper, along with significant quantities of gold, silver, and molybdenum.
On the Farm: When most people think of Utah agriculture, they picture orchards along the Wasatch Front or fields of golden wheat. But cattle reign supreme. Beef — specifically cattle and calves — is Utah's number one agricultural commodity, accounting for more than one-third of the state's total farm production. Dairy products rank second, followed by hay, which covers nearly three-fifths of Utah's cropland. Much of that hay, of course, feeds the cattle.
And One More: Here's a fact that surprises almost everyone: Utah is the world's leading producer of beryllium, supplying roughly 65 percent of the global supply. This rare, ultra-lightweight metal is used in aerospace, defense systems, medical equipment, and computer technology — all mined from Spor Mountain in Juab County.
Research compiled with AI assistance. All sources independently verified by Mountain & Main editorial staff.
SOURCES
America's Heartland — Utah Agricultural Overview americasheartland.org/state/utah
USDA — "Painting Utah Agriculture by the Numbers" usda.gov
Utah Geological Survey — Metals geology.utah.gov/energy-minerals/metals
Utah Department of Natural Resources — "Utah One of the Top 10 States for Mining" (2019) naturalresources.utah.gov
Utah Mining Association — Critical Minerals utahmining.org/critical-minerals