Agriculture

August 9, 2011

AGRICULTURE OFFICES
• Purdue Extension Service, Wells County Community Center, 1240S 4-H Road, P.O. Box 607, Bluffton, Indiana 46714. Phone  824-6412; Fax 260-824-4891. Home Page:  www.ces.purdue.edu/wells/
Director Roger Sherer, extension educator 4-H Youth Development, William Horan extension educator agriculture and natural resources and economic community development, and Molly Hoag, extension educator health and human sciences. Linda Bushee, Susan Girod, secretaries. Rex Myers, Community Center and 4-H Park marketing director.

• Farm Service Agency (FSA) (formerly U.S. Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation), 115 Harvest Road, Bluffton, 824-1930.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (formerly USDA  Soil Conservation Service SCS) and Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) share office at 115 Harvest Road, Bluffton, 824-0624.

STATISTICS/INFORMATION
Wells County, with a population of 27,899 by the official census in 2007, ranked 56th among Indiana’s 92 counties in that category. But Wells with 701 farms by the 2002 Census of Agriculture (the most recent year for which statistics are available) was 35th in the state. The average farm size was listed as 278 acres (30th in the state).  Land in farms in Wells totalled 194,602 acres, 29th in Indiana. Cropland was 184,131 acres (13th in Indiana), Pasture 3,978 acres (84th in state), Woodland 5,074 acres (70th in state)
2009 Cash Receipts $133,332 (26th in state), with crop receipts $95,990,000 (24th in state) and livestock receipts $37,342,000 (23rd in state).
Government payments came to $4,680,000, 18th  among 92 counties. Imputed income/rent received was listed at $6,540,000 41st highest in Indiana.
2009 Total Income for Wells farms $144,552,000  (27th in state); Less expenses $125,625,000 (23rd in state)
Realized Net Income $18,927,000 (40th in Indiana)
2011 Crop Statistics were:
CORN: 71,000 acres planted, 69,300 acres harvested; yield 147.6 bushels per acre, total production 10,230,000 bushels for 34th ranking in Indiana.
SOYBEANS: 98,400 acres planted, 98,300  acres harvested; yield 45.9 bushels per acre, total production  4,512,000 bushels for 11th place in Indiana.
WHEAT: 7,700 acres planted, 7,500 acres harvested; yield 62.5 bushels per acre, total production 469,000 bushels for 12th highest ranking in Indiana.
ALFALFA HAY: 3,700 acres harvested; yield 5.9 tons per acre. Total production 21,800 tons, 18th highest in Indiana.
POPCORN: 1,659 acres harvested. Total production 5,113,750 pounds 8th highest in Indiana.
Livestock Statistics:
CATTLE: January 2012: All cattle: 7,300 head, 43rd in Indiana); Beef cows, 500 head (66th in Indiana); Milk cows 2,800 head (15th in Indiana).
HOGS: 45,828; 29th in Indiana (2007 statistic)
SHEEP: statistics were not kept.
CHICKENS: 924,421 (2007 statistic)
TURKEYS: 33; 24th in state (2007 statistic)

Historical Wells County Crop Yieldbushels per acre
Corn Soybeans Wheat
2011: 148 46 63
2010: 157 51 60
2009: 179 52 78
2008: 158 43 75
2007: 135 48 57
2006: 154 51 74
2005: 151 44 84
2004: 168 53 73
2003: 135 36 73
2002: 97 42 66
2001: 165 51 71
2000: 141 44 75
1999: 117 36 80
1998: 152 43 68
1997: 139 45 66

Last 5-year averages:  155 48  67
Last 10-year averages: 148 47 70
Last 15-year averages: 146 46 71

Source: Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service — Compiled by Bill Horan,Purdue Extension Service, Wells County Office.