HC RC&D Area

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HC RC&D Area: Farm Demographics
(Number of Farms, Land in Farms, Size of Farms)
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Agriculture is the number one industry in the High Country RC&D Area.

Number of Farms:

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, it decreased again by 5% from 1997-2002, and increased .06% by 2007. Over the 20 year period the number of farms in the area has decreased by 2%.

Land in Farms:

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 the majority of its counties 2002-2007. Farm acreage in the entire Area increased by .09% between 2002 and 2007. Farm acreage in the area has been steadily decreasing since 1987.

Size of Farms:

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 2002 and 2007. (The same percentage decrease as the number of farms from 1997-2002.) Area Farm size has decreased from 5993 acres in 2002 to 5,501 acres in 2007. Not all counties are experiencing a decrease in farm size; Custer, Jefferson and Madison 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.

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