State of Agriculture
Originally Published: October 23, 2024
In St. Mary’s County
Results from the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, released in February, show the number of agricultural producers and the value of total farm sales have both increased since 2017. Ben Beale, Extension Educator for Agricultural Sciences with the University of Maryland Extension office in St. Mary’s County, presented the results to the county commissioners in September. The USDA’s census, “a complete count of U.S. farm businesses, ranches, and individual operators,” is completed every five years according to a memo prepared by Chris Kaselemis, Director of Economic Development.
From 2017-2022, the total number of farms (656) increased by 41, farmland (64,380) increased by 2,577 acres, and sales ($35.2M) increased by $9.3M even as total cropland (34,917) fell by 2,076 acres and the average farm size (98) decreased by five acres. Overall, 256 additional agricultural producers were captured for a total of 1,319. This includes 38 beginning producers, considered so if they’ve been farming for less than 10 years.
Sales from all crops ($29.1M) increased by $8.69M. Vegetables sales accounted for $1.6M. Grains like soybeans, barley, and forage had additional revenue, but that was largely offset by losses from corn and wheat during the census period. Beale said corn yields are down “40-50% because of drought this year,” driving prices down $3.40 per bushel with a “breakeven cost of $4.31/bushel at 170+ bushels per acre.”
Beale also touched on the Loveville Produce Auction, where “buyers come from as far as six hours away,” he said. The auction, in its 19th year, supports 90 farmers by attracting at least 900 buyers from across the region. Local fresh flower growers also have an expanding market, producing for florists throughout the DC area. In 2022, nursery sales were nearly $2.7M.
Elsewhere, sales from livestock and poultry were up $612K to break $6.1M total for 2022 thanks to hard work on 286 farms in the county. Overall, reported Beale, St. Mary’s ranks third in the state for aquaculture, sixth for hogs/pigs, ninth for sheep/goats/wool, and 11th for cattle and milk from cows.
Compared to neighboring Charles and Calvert, St. Mary’s has by far the best farming economy. St. Mary’s has 656 farms to Charles’ 371 and Calvert’s 285, and also has the most acreage devoted to farming. Looking at sales, St. Mary’s farms generated $35.2M in 2023, compared to Charles’ $20.6M and Calvert’s $15.2M according to 2023 results. Farming continues to be an important part of the county’s continued heritage and legacy.
Interested in farming? Visit www.extension.umd.edu/newfarmer for help getting started.
