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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/
Extension Educators: Roger Sherer and William Horan. Molly Hoag, home economist. Linda Bushee, Susan Girod, secretaries. Amy Steffen, 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)
2007 Cash Receipts $104,781,000 (29th in state), with crop receipts $72,005,000 (30th in state) and livestock receipts $32,776,000 (29th in state).
Government payments came to $4,349,000, 27th among 92 counties. Imputed income/rent received was listed at $4,806,000 17th highest in Indiana.
2007 Total Income for Wells farms $113,936,000 (29th in state); Less expenses $87,520,000 (32nd in state)
Realized Net Income $26,416,000 (20th in Indiana)
2008 Crop Statistics were:
CORN: 75,500 acres planted, 73,600 acres harvested; yield 158 bushels per acre, total production 11,632,000 bushels for 29th ranking in Indiana.
SOYBEANS: 103,000 acres planted, 102,900 acres harvested; yield 43 bushels per acre, total production 4,407,700 bushels for 14th high in Indiana.
WHEAT: 13,400 acres planted, 13,000 acres harvested; yield 75 bushels per acre, total production 975,100 bushels for 7th highest ranking in Indiana.
HAY: 3,200 acres harvested, 9,700 tons for the 75th highest ranking in the state.
POPCORN: 1,659 acres harvested. Total production 5,113,750 pounds 8th highest in Indiana.
Livestock Statistics:
CATTLE: January 2009: All cattle: 5,500 head, 67th in Indiana); Beef cows, statistics were not kept; Milk cows 1,800 head (24th in Indiana).
HOGS: 45,828; 29th in Indiana
SHEEP: statistics were not kept.
TURKEYS: 33; 24th in state (2002)
Historical Wells County Crop Yield
Corn Soybeans Wheat
Last 5-year averages: 153 48 73
Last 10-year averages: 142 45 73
Last 15-year averages: 140 44 69
Statistics on 2007 are due in March of 2008
Source: Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service — Compiled by Bill Horan,Purdue Extension Service, Wells County Office.
Year corn soybeans wheat
2008 158 43 75
2007 133 48 57
2006 154 51 74
2005 151 44 84
2004 168 53 73
2003 135 36 73
2002 90 43 69
2001 165 51 71
2000 142 44 75
1999 117 36 80
1998 152 43 68
1997 143 45 66
1996 123 38 39
1995 114 36 68
1994 146 47 66
1993 130 43 50
1992 148 43 48
1991 93 42 51
1990 134 43 62
1989 119 33 62
1988 90 26 49
1987 134 41 64
1986 135 43 52
1985 123 42 62