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About Farming
Agriculture has been a dominant feature of Snohomish County's fertile landscape since the county was founded in 1861. County Executive Dave Somers supports the history and importance of commercial agriculture to the county's quality of life and economic health.
The following information is a comparison between the USDA 2002, 2007, and 2012 Census of Agriculture.
USDA Census of Agriculture Comparison
Snohomish County Agricultural Production | 2002 Census | % Change '02-'07 | 2007 Census | % Change from '07-'12 | 2012 Census |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Value of the Agricultural Industry | $126.9 million | -1 | $125.6 million | +11 | $139.5 million |
Average market value of production per farm | $80,653 | -7 | $75,221 | +29 | $97,000 |
Average production expenses per farm | $73,841 | -7 | $68,922 | +30 | $98,108 |
Average government payment per farm | $15,502 | -38 | $9,547 | -9 | $8,729 |
Average net income of operation per farm | $10,619 | -.2 | $10,597 | -150 | $4,244 |
Number of farms | 1,574 | +6 | 1,670 | -14 | 1438 |
Farms that have sales <$25,00 per year | 1,297 | +10 | 1,438 | -15 | 1,255 |
Acres in farm lands | 68,612 | +12 | 76,837 | -8 | 70,863 |
Farms between 1 and 9 acres in size | ~535 | +11 | ~600 | +2 | ~610 |
Farms between 10 and 49 acres in size | ~740 | +1 | ~750 | -30 | ~580 |
Farms between 50 and 179 acres in size | ~225 | -2 | ~220 | -13 | ~195 |
Average age of farmer | 55.2 | +3 | 56.7 | +3 | 58.5 |
Percent female principal farm operators | 26 | +16 | 31 | +6 | 33 |
Percent farming is primary occupation | 52.2 | -32 | 39.5 | -11 | 35.5 |
Forage-land acreage (number 1 crop item) | 13,929 | -12 | 12,485 | -4 | 11,960 |
Number of layers (number 1 livestock item) | 362,301 | +23 | 468,043 | +62 | 759,220 |
Milk from cows (Value of sales, $1,000) | 42,439 | -14 | 37,330 | +19 | 46,182 |
Commodities that rank First in the state | Mink | N/A | Mink | N/A | Rabbits |