1997 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE HIGHLIGHTS OF AGRICULTURE: 1997 AND 1992 MARYLAND Item ALL FARMS 1997 1992 Farms .........................number.. 12 084 13 037 Land in farms ..................acres.. 2 154 875 2 223 476 Average size of farm .......acres.. 178 171 Value of land and buildings@1: Average per farm .........dollars.. 563 605 503 828 Average per acre .........dollars.. 3 176 2 911 Estimated market value of all machinery and equipment@1 Average per farm .........dollars.. 60 176 50 564 Farms by size: 1 to 9 acres ........................ 1 407 1 560 10 to 49 acres ...................... 3 828 3 979 50 to 179 acres ..................... 3 825 4 254 180 to 499 acres .................... 2 038 2 252 500 to 999 acres .................... 617 641 1,000 acres or more ................. 369 351 Total cropland .................farms.. 10 702 11 605 acres.. 1 613 497 1 663 907 Harvested cropland ...........farms.. 9 474 10 447 acres.. 1 382 035 1 397 069 Irrigated land .................farms.. 1 154 1 063 acres.. 68 588 56 913 Market value of agricultural products sold................$1,000.. 1 312 086 1 169 331 Average per farm .........dollars.. 108 580 89 693 Crops, including nursery and greenhouse crops............$1,000.. 458 719 388 143 Livestock, poultry, and their products....................$1,000.. 853 367 781 188 Farms by value of sales: Less than $2,500 .................... 3 097 3 165 $2,500 to $4,999 .................... 1 365 1 642 $5,000 to $9,999 .................... 1 551 1 698 $10,000 to $24,999 .................. 1 668 1 822 $25,000 to $49,999 .................. 952 1 096 $50,000 to $99,999 .................. 854 904 $100,000 or more .................... 2 597 2 710 Total farm production expenses.$1,000.. 1 123 200 974 511 Average per farm .........dollars.. 92 757 74 732 Operators by principal occupation: Farming ............................. 6 235 6 980 Other ............................... 5 849 6 057 Operators by days worked off farm: Any ................................. 6 362 6 745 200 days or more ................... 4 317 4 563 Livestock and poultry: Cattle and calves inventory...farms.. 4 444 4 978 number.. 261 324 283 167 Beef cows ..................farms.. 2 726 2 921 number.. 50 619 51 676 Milk cows ..................farms.. 1 091 1 329 number.. 84 953 94 751 Cattle and calves sold .......farms.. 4 111 4 545 number.. 136 747 133 633 Hogs and pigs inventory ......farms.. 584 910 number.. 80 850 145 519 Hogs and pigs sold ...........farms.. 495 843 number.. 149 472 289 149 Sheep and lambs inventory ....farms.. 616 611 number.. 21 985 25 291 Layers and pullets 13 weeks old and older inventory.............farms.. 637 839 number.. 4 639 682 4 268 626 Broilers and other meat-type chickens sold...............farms.. 997 1 109 number.. 256 926 521 257 209 663 Selected crops harvested: Corn for grain or seed .......farms.. 3 554 4 631 acres.. 405 451 454 083 bushels.. 36 823 284 52 596 358 Wheat for grain ..............farms.. 2 339 2 774 acres.. 199 351 188 122 bushels.. 12 711 370 10 233 795 Barley for grain..............farms.. 972 1 291 acres.. 47 405 63 024 bushels.. 3 489 722 4 240 170 Tobacco ......................farms.. 711 951 acres.. 7 939 8 470 pounds.. 11 987 083 11 794 382 Soybeans for beans ...........farms.. 3 226 3 663 acres.. 509 683 503 181 bushels.. 15 171 466 16 226 822 Hay-alf, other, wild, silage..farms.. 5 223 5 532 acres.. 223 014 222 184 tons, dry.. 450 781 545 526 Vegetables harvested..........farms.. 951 1 167 acres.. 35 958 36 313 @1Data are based on a sample of farms. Legend: (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms (X) Not applicable (Z) Less than half the unit shown (NA) Not available Source: 1997 Census of Agriculture, Volume 1 Geographic Area Series, "Table 1. County Summary Highlights: 1997." This electronic series presents summary statistics for each county and State together with comparable data from the 1992 census. The items included are the same for all States and counties, except selected crops harvested, which vary by State. Data for 1997 and 1992 are directly comparable for acreage and inventories. Dollar values have not been adjusted for changes in price levels. You can obtain the Volume 1 Geographic Area Series from the National Technical Information Service. If you have any questions concerning the data in this report or need additional information or order forms for agriculture publications, please call the National Agricultural Statistics Service at 1-800-523-3215 or 1-800-727-9540.