1. Agricultural Industry Profile
9/14/2018
Agricultural Industry Profile
for
Wicomico County, Maryland

2. Poultry is the Backbone of
9/14/2018
Poultry is the Backbone of
the County’s Agricultural Economy
Wicomico County, Maryland - Sales for Top Four Agricultural Commodities
Poultry forms the backbone of Wicomico County’s agricultural economy, amounting to at least 81 percent of commodity sales since Nursery and greenhouse crops have more than tripled their share of the agricultural economy since 1982.
“other crops” are all other crops not having fitted into one of the prelisted sales categories of the census of agriculture. It includes maple syrup, mint for oil, peanuts, potatoes, sugar beets, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, etc.. Will try to info. for aquaculture in ’97 from local sources.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

3. Agricultural Product Sales Reached $186 Million in 1997
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Agricultural Product Sales
Reached $186 Million in 1997
Million
Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold
Wicomico County, Maryland
Agricultural product sales have steadily risen in Wicomico County since 1982, contributing over 186 million dollars to the county economy in 1997.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

4. The Number of Farms Decreased 31%
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The Number of Farms Decreased 31%
The Average Size of Farms Increased 18%
Average Size and Number of Farms
Wicomico County, Maryland
Between 1982 and 1997, the number of farms in Wicomico County decreased by 31 percent. The average size of the existing farms remained relatively constant between 1982 and 1992, but increased by 17 percent between 1992 and 1997.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

5. Remained Relatively Stable Wicomico County, Maryland
9/14/2018
Number of Farms <500 Acres Declined
While Farms 500 Acres
Remained Relatively Stable
Farms by Size
Wicomico County, Maryland
The number of farms smaller than 500 acres decreased between 1982 and 1997.
Farms between 500 and 999 acres declined by 33 percent between 1982 and 1987, but then increased by 32 percent between 1987 and 1997.
The number of farms over 1,000 acres remained constant.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

6. Land in Farms Decreased 18% Wicomico County, Maryland
9/14/2018
Land in Farms Decreased 18%
Land in Farms
Wicomico County, Maryland
The amount of land in farms* in Wicomico County decreased by 18 percent between 1982 and Cropland was reduced by 11 percent and woodland by 42 percent.
*In 1997 the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) expanded the definition of agriculture Users of the census should take this into account when comparing 1997 data with previous census data. Land use data provided by the Census of Agriculture does not track farmland conversion. For data on agricultural land use trends, planners, concerned citizens and conservation professionals should use the National Resources Inventory (NRI). The NRI is compiled by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. It tracks all land use changes, including conversion to developed uses, for a given time period. NRI data will be available in the Delmarva-wide report to be released at a later date.
**“Other” includes pastureland and rangeland as well as land in house lots, ponds, roads, wasteland, etc.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

7. Net Cash Return Declined Recently
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Net Cash Return Declined Recently
Net Cash Return, Wicomico County, MD
Between 1987 and 1997, the average per farm net cash return in Wicomico County first increased by 65 percent, then fell seven percent.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

8. Number of Farm Operators Decreased Wicomico County, Maryland
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Number of Farm Operators Decreased
-28%
-35%
Number of Farmers
Wicomico County, Maryland
The number of farmers in Wicomico County decreased by 31 percent between 1982 and 1997.
The number of farmers declaring their principal occupation as farming decreased 28 percent between 1982 and Those declaring their principal occupation as something other than farming decreased by 35 percent.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

9. Farm Production Expenses Increased 84% between 1987 and 1997
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Farm Production Expenses Increased 84% between 1987 and 1997
Farm Production Expenses
The average per farm production expenses in Wicomico County rose 84 percent between 1987 and 1997.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

10. Net Cash Return Is Not Keeping Up with Production Expenses
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Net Cash Return Is Not Keeping Up with Production Expenses
Production Expenses and Net Cash Return – Wicomico County, MD
Total farm production expenses in Wicomico County increased by 38 percent between 1987 and 1997 while the net cash return only increased by 15 percent.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

11. Number of Farms with Sales <$100,000 Declined More Than
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Number of Farms with Sales <$100,000 Declined More Than
Farms with Sales $100,000
-12%
-43%
-46%
Farms by Market Value of Products Sold - Wicomico County, Maryland
Between 1982 and 1997, the number of farms producing less than $10,000 decreased 46 percent, those producing $10,000 to $99,999 decreased 43 percent and those producing $100,000 or more decreased by 12 percent.
Source: United States Census of Agriculture, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997.
Wicomico County, Md.

12. Almost 5,000 Acres of Farmland
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Almost 5,000 Acres of Farmland
Have Been Protected
Acres Protected by Agricultural Land Preservation Easements
Wicomico County, Maryland
By the end of FY 2000, the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation had protected 4,891 acres under the agricultural land preservation easement acquisition program in Wicomico County.
Source: Maryland Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation, Annual Report, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Wicomico County, Md.

13. 9/14/2018
While the Number of Agricultural Service Firms More Than Doubled, the Number of Food Processing Firms Declined by 38% .
+107%
Agricultural Services Firms - Wicomico County, Maryland
From 1982 to 1997, the number of agriculture services firms* in Wicomico County more than doubled, increasing from 14 to 29.
*Agricultural services consist of crop services, veterinary services, other animal services, and landscape and horticultural services.
Food Processing Firms – Wicomico County, Maryland
From 1982 to 1997, the number of food processing firms* in Wicomico County declined by 38 percent.
*Food processing firms include food and kindred manufacturing, including meat products (meat packing plants and poultry slaughtering and processing), preserved fruit and vegetables, grain mill products, prepared foods, bakery products, sugar and confectionary products, and miscellaneous food and kindred products.
-38%
Source: United States Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997
Wicomico County, Md.

14. Agriculture Related Employment Declined
9/14/2018
Agriculture Related Employment Declined
-61%
-44%
Agriculture Related Employment – Wicomico County, MD
Food processing* employment in Wicomico County declined by 61 percent since 1982.
*Food processing businesses include food and kindred products manufacturing, including meat products (meat packing plants and poultry slaughtering and processing), preserved fruits and vegetables, grain mill products, prepared foods, bakery products, sugar and confectionary products, and miscellaneous food and kindred products.
On Farm Employment
Farm employment in Wicomico County declined by 44 percent between 1982 and 1997.
Sources: United States Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997
Regional Economic Information System, 1982, 1997, 1992, 1997
Wicomico County, Md.

15. Agricultural Industry Direct Output Amounted to $198 Million in 1999
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Agricultural Industry Direct Output
Amounted to $198 Million in 1999
Agricultural Output by Sector - Wicomico County, Maryland
Agricultural industry direct output in Wicomico County amounted to $198 million in Poultry led the way with more than $156 million and the expanding greenhouse and nursery industry registered more than $20 million.
Other Farm Products include dairy farm products, hay and pasture, and fruits.
Other Livestock includes cattle, hogs, pigs, swine, sheep, lambs, and goats.
Source: 1999 IMPLAN Multiplier Reports. Minnesota IMPLAN Group, Inc. Stillwater, MN
Wicomico County, Md.

16. The Total Economic Impact Includes Total Output Impact and
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The Total Economic Impact Includes Total Output Impact and
Total Value-Added Impact
Million
Total Economic Impacts of the Agricultural Industry - Wicomico County, Maryland
In 1999, the economic effect of agriculture on Wicomico County included a total output impact of $240 million and a total value-added impact of $49 million.
Total output impacts include direct, indirect and induced output effects:
Direct output is total industry production for a given year. It is equal to shipments plus net additions to inventory.
Indirect output effects describe the interaction of local industries purchasing from local industries.
Induced output effects are the interaction of institutions—typically household spending.
Total value-added impacts include proprietors income, employee compensation, other property income, and indirect business taxes, as well as the additional amount that is generated through the indirect and induced value-added effects.
1999
Source: 1999 IMPLAN Multiplier Reports. Minnesota IMPLAN Group, Inc. Stillwater, MN
Wicomico County, Md.