Indiana ag products valued at $18 billion, up 64 percent from previous census

WFIU | By Clayton Baumgarth

Published February 14, 2024 at 8:32 PM EST

Indiana remains a top agricultural state with ag products valued at over $18 billion, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The survey, taken every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, and income and expenditures for farms that raised or sold goods valued at least $1000.

Responses shape programs and initiatives that benefit Indiana farmers and expand access to resources that help farmers such as local and regional food systems, specialty crops, and organic production.

Here are some highlights from the 2022 Census of Agriculture for Indiana.

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. 4 producing state for corn and hogs
No. 6 producer of eggs and watermelons
No. 10 producing state for maple syrup and hemp for floral (CBD and other cannabinoid usage)
Total Value of Agricultural Production over $18 billion at 65% crops and 35% livestock (up from $11.1 million in 2017, a 64% increase)

Land data:

Number of farms is 53,599
Land in farms 14.6 million acres
Average farm size 272 acres
Top five Indiana counties with the largest number of farms: LaGrange, Elkhart, Allen, Adams & Daviess
Top five Indiana counties with the highest value of agriculture production: Jay, Jasper, Elkhart, LaGrange, Dubois

Demographics:

94,282 farmers (30,691 female and 63,321 male)
Average age of the Hoosier farmer is 56
Young producers (those under 35) total 11,058 with the average age 28.7
New and beginning farmers (those with less than 10 year's experience) total 26,428 with the average age of 43.2
Producers with military service totals 6,621

Additional USDA Ag Census data will be coming throughout the year, including the market value of ag products sold, state and county profiles, race, ethnicity and gender profiles, watershed information, specialty crops, aquaculture and more.