https://www.argusobserver.com/news/number-of-small-farms-is-growing-in-oregon/article_164dbf5a-62c1-11e9-91e7-bb3f3e419e46.html
Number of small farms is growing in Oregon
ONTARIO The 2017 Census of Agriculture is out and the
number of acres of farmland in Oregon had declined from the
census done in 2012, but the number of small farms is up,
said Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Alexis
Taylor.
The ag census is done every five years, and this time Oregon
was sixth in the nation for rates response at 73 percent,
with Hood River County on top in the state at 80 percent.
The amount of farmland in Oregon had dropped by about
340,000 acres over the five-year period, Taylor said about
the newly released statement. That shows the need for the
states land use system, she said. As of 2017, the number of
farms in Oregon was 37,616, with nearly 16 million acres
still in production, putting the average farm size at 424
acres.
The report shows that labor is the top cost on farm, having
increased 21 percent since 2012, she said.
Oregon ranked fourth in the nation for the number of female
ag producers at 44 percent, compared to 36 percent for the
U.S.
The census report includes farms at least 1 acre in size
that sell at least $1,000 in farm products.
Other numbers for Oregon follow.
Top three counties by total value of crops:
Morrow, $596 million; and
Clackamas, $376 million
Malheur County was close behind at about $353 million.
Top 3 ag products by value:
Cattle and calves, $977 million;
Nursery and greenhouse, $886 million;
Vegetable crops, including potatoes and onions, were No. 5
in Oregon with sales of about $539 million.
For Malheur County, the total amount of cropland was 210,779
aces in 726 farms. Of that, acreage crops were harvested on
179,008 acres on 694 farms.
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