Information on Agriculture in Kent County
Compiled by Brian D. Anderson, Kent / MSU Extension Intern
This information is also available online at:
http://www.msue.msu.edu/unitedgrowth/kentagcensus.html
Based on 2002 Ag Census Data, the most recent available.
The Future of Agriculture in Kent County
Agriculture is a valuable industry in Kent County. Maintaining a large
agricultural land base is an important element in assuring that farming
can continue into the future.
A variety of agencies and organizations assist farmers to help them prosper
in Kent County. They include:
- Kent/MSU Extension
- Local Township Governments
- Michigan and Kent County Farm Bureau
- Michigan Association of Pomesters
- Ridge Economic Agricultural Partners
- United Growth for Kent County
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Out of the 547,840 total acres in Kent County, approximately 32%, or
173,381 acres is used for agriculture – down 12% from 1997. According
to the 2002 Agricultural Census, the market value of all products sold
in Kent County is $149,670,000. Kent County remains the fifth most productive
county in the state.
There are 1,212 farms in Kent County (down 10% from 1997), with average
farm size of 143 acres (down 3% from 1997), and median size of 66 acres.
The average estimated market value of land and buildings is $612,465 per
farm. Average price per acre is $4,023.
In addition to agricultural crops, livestock are also raised on Kent
County farms. In 2002, 3,047 beef cattle, 11,103 dairy cows, 3,301 hogs,
and 872 sheep and lambs were raised in the county.
Type of Organization
| |
Farms |
Acres |
| |
2002 |
1997 |
2002 |
1997 |
| Individual or family (sole proprietorship) |
1,054 |
963 |
121,952 |
126,046 |
| Partnership |
83 |
93 |
29,041 |
65,929 |
| Corporation (family held) |
56 |
69 |
19,304 |
23,912 |
| Cooperative, estate, trust, etc |
11 |
7 |
--- |
--- |
Selected Harvest Crops
| |
Farms |
Acres |
Bushels |
| Corn for grain or seed |
250 |
35,989 |
4,408,487 |
| Wheat for grain |
86 |
4,815 |
289,471 |
| Soybeans for beans |
127 |
18,577 |
793,143 |
| Dry edible beans (not dry limas) |
10 |
2,403 |
45,014 |
| Hay |
560 |
26,817 |
86,435
(tons-dry) |
| Vegetables for sale |
63 |
2,281 |
|
| Land in Orchards |
109 |
11,384 |
|
Kent County Farms
| |
Farms |
| Apples |
101 |
| Cherries |
14 |
| Peaches |
19 |
| Pears |
4 |
| Plums and Prunes |
5 |
| Blueberries |
9 |
| Raspberries |
8 |
| Strawberries |
8 |
Nursery and Greenhouse Crops
| |
Farms |
Sq. Ft. Under Glass |
| Nursery & Greenhouse Crops |
121 |
5,512,007 |
Vegetable Production in Kent
| |
Farms |
Acres Harvested |
| Asparagus |
5 |
16 |
| Celery |
5 |
202 |
| Cucumbers |
9 |
269 |
| Dry Onions |
2 |
unknown |
| Sweet Peppers |
9 |
49 |
| Pumpkins |
27 |
107 |
| Sweet Corn |
30 |
692 |
| Tomatoes |
20 |
20 |
Farms by Size
| 1-9 acres |
112 farms |
| 10-49 acres |
512 farms |
| 50-179 acres |
382 farms |
| 180-499 acres |
139 farms |
| 500-999 acres |
36 farms |
| 1000 acres or more |
31 farms |
Operators by Principal Occupation
| Farming |
619 |
| Other |
595 |
| Average Age |
| 2002 |
53.8 |
| 1997 |
52.7 |
| Male/Female Farmers |
| 2002 |
Male |
1,052 |
| |
Female |
160 |
| 1997 |
Male |
1,026 |
| |
Female |
110 |
Farms by Value of Sales
| Less than $25,000 |
74% |
| More than $25,000 |
26% |
