Percent of land in farms, 2007

Transcription

1 Percent of land in farms, 2007 of Red Percent land in farms 30.0% to 64.9% 65.0% to 79.9% 80.0% to 89.9% 90.0% and above Less than 30.0% Statewide, slightly more than one half (52.8%) of Minnesota s total acreage was in farmland in 2007, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture. Faribault and Martin counties showed the highest percentage of land in farms. Minnesota s farming L is apparent in the state s western, southwestern and southern counties. But while the north central and northeastern counties are light on farming, they are home to other forms of agriculture, particularly in the form of forestry. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

2 Land in farms, of Red Percent Change Below -10.0% -9.9% to -5.0% -4.9% to 0.0% 0.0% to 4.9% 5.0% and above Between 2002 and 2007 the number of Minnesota acres dedicated to farming stayed virtually the same, decreasing just 2.2%. The largest decreases were found in the north central and northeastern counties, where farming is not prevalent and small changes can produce large percentage changes. However, there were a large number of counties in the traditionally farm-intensive northwest and a swath along Highway 212 that also lost upwards of 10% of their farm acres. Curiously, and counties actually added farm acres.

3 of Change in number of farms, Red Percent Change Below -10.0% -10.0% to 0.0% 0.0% to 3.9% 4.0% to 9.9% 10.0% and above Between 2002 and 2007 the number of farms in Minnesota remained virtually the same, increasing by just 0.2% (from 80,839 to 80,992). The map, however, shows that the change in the number of farms in each county varies considerably across the state. It also shows an interesting reversal of trends. While the number of farms had been going down in southern and western Minnesota as large farms consolidated, the number has increased, in some places as much as 15% ( County). Possibilities for the change could be the increasing popularity of hobby farms and the growing local foods movement making small specialty farming economically viable.

4 of Agriculture Average farm size, 2007 Red Ave. farm size in acres Smaller than to to to and larger Average farm size varies greatly across the state. The counties with the smallest average farm size are found mostly in the urban and suburban counties of the metro area, while those with the largest average farm size are located in the far west and northwest regions of the state. The average farm size for Minnesota was 332 acres, down slightly from 340 in About 40% of the counties had average farm sizes larger than the state average.

5 of Change in farm size, Red The average farm size for Minnesota was down slightly from 2002, at - 2.4%, and overall, most counties saw a decrease in average farm size. This change bucks the trend of recent years of increasing average farm sizes. Many of the state s most agriculturally intense counties still saw their average farm size decrease. Percent Change Below -7.0% -6.9% to -4.0% -3.9% to 0.0% 0.0% to 4.9% 5.0% and above

6 Farm employment, 2008 of Red Percent of Workforce in Farming 2.4% or less 2.5% to 4.9% 5.0% to 8.4% 8.5% to 12.9% 13.0% and above Statewide, farm employment makes up just 2.3% of the workforce (down from 2.7% in 2007). The percentage of the workforce engaged in farming is highest in counties where agriculture plays the largest role in the economy. The data here includes only those working on farms, not in food processing or transportation. Since farm work tends to be low-paying, counties that have the largest proportion of their workforce employed on farms also tend to have the lowest per-capita earned income. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

7 of Change in farm employment, Red Between 1999 and 2009, the number of people employed in farm work declined in every county in the state but two ( County; +11.9% and ; +5.8%). For the state as a whole, the farming workforce decreased by 14.8%. Percent change -25.0% and below -24.9% to -21.0% -20.9% to -17.5% -17.4% to -10.5% % and above N/A U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

8 Farming as primary occupation, 2007 of Red Percent of farmers reporting farming as their primary occupation Below 40.0% 40.0% to 44.9% 45.0% to 49.9% 50.0% to 57.9% 58.0% and above Farming as primary occupation is defined as a farm operator devoting more than 50% of his or her work to the operation of the farm. In Minnesota in 2007, 48.9% of farm operators defined their farm work as their primary occupation, a marked decrease from 2002, when the figure was 68.9%. As the map shows, the percentage of farm operators reporting farming as their primary occupation increases in more agriculturally intense counties.

9 Working off the farm, 2007 of Red Percent working more than 200 days off the farm Below 35.0% 35.0% to 37.9% 38.0% to 39.9% 40.0% to 42.9% 43.0% and above Over the years, farmers working off the farm have become increasingly the norm in agriculture. In 2007 in Minnesota, 38.9% of farmers reported that they work more than 200 days a year off the farm, about the same as in Across the state, the percentage is lower in the southern and western counties than in the northern and eastern counties, corresponding with the maps on farming as primary occupation, farm size, and other indicators of farm activity.

10 Estimated value of farmland, 2007 of Red Average value per farm acre Below $2,000 $2,000 to $2,499 $2,500 to $2,999 $3,000 to $3,499 $3,500 and above Reported land values in 2007 were up dramatically from These self-reported values by landowners reflect in part the high returns from farming in recent years, but demand for farmland for residential and commercial development has also driven up values, as can be seen in the urban and suburban counties of the Twin Cities. The average for Minnesota in 2007 was $2,569 per acre, compared with $1,513 in 2002.

11 of Change in farmland value, Red Percent Change in Value Per Farm Acre Decrease in value 0% to 49.9% 50.0% to 64.9% 65.0% to 84.9% 85.0% to 99.9% 100.0% and above The value of farmland was up dramatically between 2002 and 2007, on average 69.8% for Minnesota. The change in the value of farmland varies greatly across the state, but every county was up at least 10% except for, and Ramsey counties. Increased returns from farming were a factor in some counties, while competing uses such as residential development and recreational purposes explain the increases in others. County saw the largest increase, at 166.9% in just five years.

12 Red of Average annual cash receipts from marketings (thousands of $), Receipts from Marketings Cash Receipts Per Farm Acre $0 to $199 $200 to $349 $350 to $499 $500 to $599 $600 and above Cash receipts from marketings encompasses the value of gross revenues from the sale of agricultural commodities, both livestock and crops. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

13 Red of Receipts from Marketings Governments payments as percentage of average annual farm income, Percent of Income 0% to 3.9% 4.0% to 4.9% 5.0% to 5.9% 6.0% to 7.4% 7.5% and above No data The government payments referred to in this map are federal farm payments. Statewide, for the five year period of , the bulk of these payments are attributable to agricultural commodity programs. The rest is attributable to agricultural emergency/disaster programs, such as flood-related crop loss assistance, and conservation programs, including primarily the Conservation Reserve Program. The state average for this period was 5.0% (down from 8.6% for the five year period of , and down from 6.0% for the five year period of ). U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis

14 Ethanol & biodiesel production, 2008 Fergus Falls Little Falls Plant Capacity in Millions of Gallons Per Year In 1986 Minnesota had a few small plants that produced about a million gallons of ethanol. As of summer 2008, there were 19 ethanol plants with an annual production capacity of 850 million gallons was a turning point for the ethanol industry, however, as record high gas prices and corn prices put pressure on the cost of producing ethanol. Granite Falls Luverne Morris Benson Bingham Brewster Fairmont Melrose Atwater Buffalo Falls Heron Winthrop Crystal Winnebago Claremont Albert Lea Glenville Ethanol up to to and above Biodiesel up to and above Preston The Minnesota biodiesel program promotes another renewable home grown fuel as an alternative to imported oil. Biodiesel is a high lubricity, clean burning fuel for use in existing diesel engines. It can be created from soybean oil, other vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking oil. In 2008, there were three biodiesel plants operating in Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Agriculture