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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. Home economist, Judi Merkel, retired last year, and as of this writing, a search was still on for a home economist.
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 27,600 by the official census in 2000, ranked 55th among Indiana’s 92 counties in that category. But Wells with 631 farms by the 2002 Census of Agriculture (the most recent year for which statistics are available) was 46th in the state. The average farm size was listed as 359 acres (18th in the state). Land in farms in Wells totalled 226,294 acres, 13th in Indiana. Cropland was 211,003 acres (13th in Indiana), Pasture 3,550 acres (84th in state), Woodland 6,712 acres (70th in state)
2006 Cash Receipts $79,648,000 (29th in state), with livestock receipts $26,881,000 (30th in state) and crop receipts $52,767,000 (also 30th in state).
Government payments came to $7,209,000, 31st among 92 counties. Imputed income/rent received was listed at $3,801,000 17th highest in Indiana.
2006 Total Income for Wells farms $90,658,000 (28th in state); Less expenses $75,133,000 (33rd in state)
Realized Net Income $14,525,000 (7th in Indiana)
2007 Crop Statistics were:
CORN: 92,000 acres planted, 89,000 acres harvested; yield 133 bushels per acre, total production 11,835,500 bushels for 39th ranking in Indiana.
SOYBEANS: 86,900 acres planted, 86,700 acres harvested; yield 51 bushels per acre, total production 5,339,6100 bushels for 10th high in Indiana.
WHEAT: 11,300 acres planted, 10,400 acres harvested; yield 57 bushels per acres, total production 585,100 bushels for 6th highest ranking in Indiana.
HAY: 2,141 acres harvested, 9,800 tons for the 12th highest ranking in the state.
POPCORN: 2,141 acres harvested. Total production 4,822,097 pounds 12th highest in Indiana.
Livestock Statistics:
CATTLE: January 2008: All cattle: 4,400 head, 67th in Indiana); Beef cows 400 head (91st in Indiana); Milk cows 1,600 head (30th in Indiana).
HOGS: 27,933; 37th in Indiana (2002)
SHEEP: 187; 75th in state (2002)
TURKEYS: 26; 21st in state (2002)
Historical Wells County Crop Yield:
Corn Soybeans Wheat
Last 5-year averages: 148 46 72
Last 10-year averages: 141 45 72
Last 15-year averages: 138 44 67
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 |
| 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 |