Indiana ag products valued at $18 billion

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana agricultural products were valued at over $18 billion, according to the recently released Census of Agriculture data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Sixty-five percent of the state’s ag product value was attributed to crops and 35% to livestock. These numbers are up from $11.1 million from 2017.

“This data shows that agriculture remains a pillar of the Indiana economy with the total value of agriculture production growing 62% over the five-year period,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.

“The Census of Agriculture is all encompassing, and it allows us to compare ourselves to fellow states, whether that is in ranking of commodities, prices, demographics and more.”

Indiana Rankings

• No. 1 producer of popcorn, gourds and duck.

• No. 2 producer of pumpkins.

• No. 3 producer of spearmint and turkeys.

• No. 4 producer of peppermint and soybeans.

• No. 5 producing state for corn and hogs.

• No. 6 producer of eggs and watermelons.

• No. 10 producing state for maple syrup and hemp for floral uses.

The Census of Agriculture is taken once every five years. It collects data about land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures.

In A Nutshell

• There are 53,599 farms and 14.6 million acres used for farming in Indiana.

• The average farm size is 272 acres.

• The counties with the largest number of farms are LaGrange, Elkhart, Allen, Adams and Daviess

• The counties with the highest value of agriculture production are Jay, Jasper, Elkhart, LaGrange and Dubois.

• The average age of the Hoosier farmer is 56.

• Indiana has 94,282 farmers — 30,691 female and 63,321 male.

• There are 11,058 young farmers in the state.

• There are 26,428 new and beginning farmers.

• There are over 6,500 producers with military service.

“We are thankful for all the farmers who completed the survey. This data allows our department to provide accurate and reliable information and data to Hoosiers, to farmers and to decision-makers,” said Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director.

Data from the census shapes programs and initiatives that benefit Indiana farmers, expands access to resources that help farmers and helps farmers diversify into new markets.

Trends in the national report include a continued decline in the total number of U.S. farms and a rise in the number of new, beginning and young farmers.

For more information, visit www.nass.usda.gov.