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MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

AGRICULTURE

[photo, Baltimore Farmers' Market, Holliday St. and Saratoga St., Baltimore, Maryland]
  • Calendar of Maryland Harvests
  • County & State Fairs
  • Crops
  • Dairy & Livestock
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Farm Resources
  • Farm Revenue
  • Farmers' Markets
  • Poultry
    • Baltimore Farmers' Market, Holliday St. and Saratoga St., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2012. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
    [photo, Barn and brick silo, Sabillasville, Frederick County, Maryland] Approximately 350,000 people are employed in some aspect of agriculture, making it the largest commercial industry in Maryland. Agriculture also remains the largest single land use in the State, with 2.05 million acres, or roughly 32 percent of total land area used for farming in 2011. The majority of Maryland's farmland is located in the north central part of the State and the upper Eastern Shore. In 2011, some 12,800 Maryland farms averaged 160 acres each.

    Barn and brick silo, Sabillasville, Frederick County, Maryland, July 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    In 2011, total farm expenses reached almost $1.6 billion, while per farm expenses averaged $120,512. Net farm income was over $550 million while income per farm averaged $43,057.

    Queen Anne's County, in 2011, continued to lead all other counties in corn and wheat production. Caroline County was first in its harvest of barley, while Frederick County led in milk production.

    [photo, Tractor exhibition, Cecil County Fair, Fair Hill, Maryland] CROPS
    In 2011, corn for grain averaged 109 bushels per acre. From 430,000 acres, 46.9 million bushels of corn were harvested. The soybean yield, in 2011, averaged 38.5 bushels per acre, with a total production of 17.9 million bushels. Winter wheat produced 66 bushels per acre, with 12.5 million bushels harvested. Barley production increased to 2.9 million bushels, averaging 80 bushels per acre.

    Tractor pull event, Cecil County Fair, Fair Hill, Maryland, July 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Sheep, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland]     DAIRY & LIVESTOCK
    Milk production in 2011 was approximately 1 billion pounds, and the average milk production per cow was 18,654 pounds. The number of milk cows in 2011 was 52,000. The total number of cattle and calves as of Jan. 1, 2012 was 200,000. Cash receipts for cattle increased to $76 million in 2011.

    Sheep, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland, May 2008. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    Frederick County leads the State in milk production - its dairy herds account for 27 percent of the State's total.

    In 2011, cash receipts for market hogs were $11 million, up from $10.1 million in 2010. The total number of hogs and pigs in Maryland was 26,000 as of January 1, 2011.

    [photo, Rooster, Annapolis, Maryland] POULTRY
    In 2011, Maryland ranked seventh among states in the number of broilers produced, with 311.1 million broiler chickens. They brought in $724.9 million in revenue. This amount accounted for 30 percent of Maryland's agricultural cash receipts that year.

    Egg production in Maryland decreased in 2011 to 569 million eggs, down from 616 million in 2010. In 2011, cash reciepts for eggs totaled $38.5 million.

    Rooster, Annapolis, Maryland, August 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    [photo, Waverly Farmers' Market, 32nd St. and Barclay St., Baltimore, Maryland]     FARM RESOURCES
    For farmers and others involved in agriculture, the     University of Maryland Extension offers problem-solving resources and scientific expertise through its network of county extension offices. The Extension is a statewide education system operated by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of Maryland, College Park.

    Waverly Farmers' Market, 32nd St. and Barclay St., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    The Department of Agriculture is responsible for marketing, animal industries, and consumer services; plant industries and pest management; and resource conservation. Data relating to the production and marketing of agricultural products, agriculture prices and income, and other statistics pertinent to agriculture and agribusiness is compiled and published by the Maryland Field Office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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