![[photo, Sheep, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/how/images/1198-1-1802b.jpg)
![[photo, Tractor exhibition, Cecil County Fair, Fair Hill, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/images/i005420b.jpg)
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.
Tractor pull event, Cecil County Fair, Fair Hill, Maryland, July 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Agriculture remains the largest single land use in Maryland, with 2.05 million acres, or roughly 33 percent of total land area used for farming in 2004. Approximately 350,000 people are employed in some aspect of agriculture, making it the largest commercial industry in the State. In 2004, some 12,100 farms averaged 169 acres each. The majority of farmland in Maryland is located in the north central part of the State and the upper Eastern Shore.
In 2002, gross farm income rose to $1.7 billion. Average gross farm income was $137,312, while net farm income was $18,270. In 2004, gross farm income continued to grow, to $2.058 billion. Average gross farm income increased to $170,147, and the average net farm income was $48,590.
The 2002 growing season saw extreme weather conditions, particularly the drought of 2002, which made crop production difficult in Maryland. Queen Anne's County led all other counties in soybean, corn and wheat production. Caroline County was first in its harvests of barley and vegetables, while Frederick County led in hay and milk production.
After drought in 2002, and excess rains in 2003, growing conditions in 2004 were near ideal. Queen Anne's County continued to lead in grain production, including corn, soybeans, and wheat.
![[photo, Barn and grain silo near Keysville, Carroll County, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/carr/images/1198-1-1531.jpg)
Favorable growing conditions in 2004 led to near record and record yields for field crops.
Barn and grain silo near Keysville, Carroll County, Maryland, September 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
![[photo, Grazing cows, farm land, Frederick County, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/10dag/images/i002130b.jpg)
In 2002, milk prices and production declined. Cash receipts were $173.8 million, down from $208 million in 2001. Frederick County led in milk production - its dairy herds continuing to account for 30 percent of the State's total. Milk cash receipts rebounded in 2004, totaling $196.0 million, up 22% from the $160.3 million for 2003. However, milk production in 2004 was down 5% from 2003, 1.16 billion pounds compared to 1.22 billion pounds. The average annual number of milk cows declined by 4,000 cows down to 74,000 from 2003 to 2004, but production per cow increased by 126 pounds, up to 15,703 pounds in 2004.
Grazing cows, farm land, Frederick County, Maryland, 1998. Photo by Diane P. Frese.
In 2004, the number of farms raising cattle had further declined to 4,000 farms. On January 1, 2005, Maryland had 235,000 total head of cattle and calves. The total cash receipts for cattle and calves in 2004 was $73.6 million.
Hogs and pigs are raised on 510 farms in Maryland in 2002, declining to 360 farms in 2004. In 2002, cash receipts for market hogs were $5.94 million, down 13 percent from 2001. Total cash receipts for 2004 were $9.58 million, up 31% from 2003.
![[photo, Rooster, Annapolis, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/01glance/images/1198-1-492.jpg)
POULTRY
Broiler chickens accounted for 31 percent of Maryland's agricultural cash receipts in 2002. The State ranks seventh among states in the number of broilers produced and ninth in pounds produced. In 2002, some 293 million broiler chickens were produced, up from 283 million in 2002. Egg production also increased from 870 million in 2001 to 894 million in 2002. Fewer turkeys were produced in 2002, down 25,000 from 2001.
Rooster, Annapolis, Maryland, August 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
In 2004, broilers did even better, accounting for 36% of the State's farm receipts. Maryland ranked eighth nationwide in broilers produced and ninth in poundage. Maryland growers raised 285 million broiler chickens at an average weight of 4.8 pounds. Egg production increased from 811 million eggs in 2003 to 843 million eggs in 2004. Turkey production increased from 500 thousand birds worth $6.01 million in 2003, to 750 thousand birds worth $5.71 million in 2004.
© Copyright Maryland State Archives