February 19, 2008

Agriculture

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, William Horan, Judi Merkel.
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 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)
2005 Cash Receipts $73,678,000 (29th in state), with livestock receipts $27,863,000 (28th in state) and crop receipts $45,815,000 (30th in state).
Government payments came to $7,711,000, 25th among 92 counties. Imputed income/rent received was listed at $4,215,000 17th highest in Indiana.
2004 Total Income for Wells farms $90,361,000 (30th in state); Less expenses $75,612,000 (33rd in state)
Realized Net Income $14,749,000 (10th in Indiana)
2006 Crop Statistics were:
CORN: 74,300 acres planted, 72,500 acres harvested; yield 154 bushels per acre, total production 11,197,500 bushels for 30th ranking in Indiana.
SOYBEANS: 104,900 acres planted, 104,600 acres harvested; yield 51 bushels per acre, total production 5,339,6100 bushels for 10th high in Indiana.
WHEAT: 11,700 acres planted, 11,700 acres harvested; yield 74 bushels per acres, total production 862,800 bushels for 8th highest ranking in Indiana.
HAY: figures not available.
POPCORN: 2,141 acres harvested. Total production 4,822,097 pounds (12th highest in Indiana).
Livestock Statistics:
CATTLE: January 2007: All cattle: 4,900 head, 65th in Indiana); Beef cows 500 head (91st in Indiana); Milk cows 1,700 head (29th in Indiana).
HOGS: 27,933,000; 37th in Indiana (2002)
SHEEP: 187; 75th in state (2002)
TURKEYS: 26; 21st in state (2002)
Wells County in 2005 ranked in the top 20 counties of Indiana’s 92 counties for production of Popcorn (12th), Soybeans (16th) and Wheat (9th). Wells was 31st in corn production.

Historical Wells County Crop Yield
   Corn   Soybeans   Wheat
Last 5-year averages:    141   45    74
Last 10-year averages:   142   45   73
Last 15-year averages:   139   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
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