Although agriculture has remained the number one industry in the HC RC&D area  the total number of farms and acreage of land in farms is decreasing. The number of farms in the RC&D Area has decreased by 5% from 1987-1992, increased by 8% from 1992-1997 and decreased again by 5% from 1997-2002. Over the 15 year period the number of farms in the area has decreased by 2%. In 2002 there were 3,916 farms as compared to  4,123 in 1997, 3,801 in 1992 and 4,003 farms in 1987.

While number of farms in the HC RC&D Area is decreasing, total farm acreage is also decreasing. Graph 2 displays this. HC RC&D farm acreage decreased in all counties except Bonneville County from 1997-2002. Bonneville County’s farm acreage increased 3%. Farm acreage in the entire Area decreased by 9% between 1997 and 2002.  Farm acreage  in the area has been steadily decreasing since 1987.

As acreage and number of farms decrease the average size of farms is also decreasing,.  Area-wide farm size shows a 9% decrease in acreage between 1997 and 2002. (The same percentage decrease as the number of farms from 1997-2002.) Area Farm size has decreased from 6,531 acres  in 1997 to 5,966 acres in 2002. Not all counties are experiencing a decrease in farm size; Bonneville, Custer, Jefferson and Lemhi  counties are increasing in average farm size.  As  number of farms, farm sizes and acreages are decreasing market value for agricultural products sold in the area is actually increasing.