Floriculture, Specialty Crops Shine in Michiana Ag
Published: Friday, April 26, 2024
Kalamazoo County ranks fifth in the state for crop production, with $136.96 million of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod production accounting for over half of the crops sold, according to the 2022 Ag Census.
"Historically, Kalamazoo has been known nationally for two crops: celery and flowers. Celery production became economically untenable for most growers in the county 30-40 years ago. Many of the families that farmed celery switched to bedding plant production," said MSU Extension floriculture agent Jeremy Jubenville. "Kalamazoo County has 15 million square feet of greenhouse production space, which is far more than any other county in the state. We are the bedding plant capital of the state and, very likely, the nation."
As of the 2017 census, floriculture was the top agricultural commodity in the county, commanding a full 50% of total agricultural sales. Now at over half, the county ranks third in the state for floriculture production and 28th in the nation.
The county ranks 10th in the state for hog and pig production, with $22.98 million in sales.
The top crops in acres are: corn for grain, 48,036 acres; soybeans for beans, 34,370 acres; forage, 14,021 acres; corn for silage and greenchop, 11,203 acres; and wheat for grain, 2,235 acres. In total, Kalamazoo has 145,225 acres of land in farms, up 5% from 2017. The average farm size has also increased a whopping 22% to 239 acres per farm.
However, the number of farms has fallen 14% from 2017 to 607.
"Consolidation has been a trend for quite some time. As some farms struggle with profitability, they look for ways to increase production efficiency. For some, that means they expand their production to achieve economy of scale. With others, it means that they sell their business or merge operations," he said.
Challenges facing farmers include: labor shortages, rising inputs and other increasing prices, according to Jubenville.
"On a more positive note, we've seen a marked increase in farms interested in diversifying their income streams with agritourism and niche crops such as specialty cut flowers and lavender," he added.
Crops account for 72% of the county's agricultural sales, while livestock, poultry and products make up the remaining 28%.
According to Jubenville, ways that agriculture can improve are: increasing profitability and economic viability, supporting farmers mental health and getting more recognition for farmers from the general public.
"Our society does a great job of appreciating and thanking certain types of public servants such as the emergency responders and those serving in the military. I believe farmers are just as important," he said.
LaPorte
LaPorte County had 677 farms and 277,850 acres of land in farms, according to the 2022 Indiana Census of Agriculture. The number of farms was down 9%; average farm size was 410 acres, up 22%.
The market value of products sold totaled $308.8 million, up 86% over the last census in 2017. That ranks 17th in the state.
Farm production expenses were up 56%, at $215 million. Net cash farm income was up 129%, at $110.2 million.
At 88%, crops generate the most sales. Livestock and poultry bring in just 12% of sales. LaPorte County ranks first in the state for sales of fruits, tree nuts and berries ($2.7 million); second in vegetables and specialty crop sales ($17.3 million); fourth in crop sales ($272.1 million); fourth in Christmas tree sales ($277,000); fifth in grain and oilseed sales ($246.9 million); and fifth in aquaculture (data withheld to avoid disclosure for individual farms).
Corn for grain, at 130,189 acres, is the most popular crop grown in LaPorte County, with soybeans, at 106,553 acres, a close second. Other top crops are wheat, hay and forage, and vegetables. LaPorte County had 9,463 cattle and calves in 2022, more than any other livestock species. Hogs and pigs totaled 6,129 and layers were 1,779.
Milk sales totaled $22.1 million in 2022, followed by cattle and calf sales at $8.4 million. Hogs and pig sales were $4.7 million.
Land use practices were divided almost evenly between no-till (28%), reduced-till (27%) and intensive-till (27%). Twenty-two percent of farms use cover crops.
Small farms appear to be holding their own in LaPorte County. There were 209 farms between 10 and 49 acres. That represents 31% of all farms in the county. Slightly larger farms, those with 50 to 179 acres, totaled 147, or 22%.
By sales category, 248 farms, or 17%, earned $100,000 or more. The next highest category was farms with less than $2,500 in sales. Those farms tallied 190 or 28% of the total. Sixty-six farms, or 10%, had sales between $25,000 and $49,999.
Marshall
Marshall County gained about 2,000 acres of farmland between 2017 and 2022, yet lost roughly 100 farms since the last census, according to the 2022 Indiana Census of Agriculture. Corn production is also high.
As of 2022, there are 779 farms working 201,037 acres of land, with each farm containing an average of 258 acres. The number of farms decreased 6%, while acres and average acres per farm increased 1% and 7%, respectively.
The county is diverse in agriculture ranging from livestock to specialty crops. Some specialty crops in Marshall are tomatoes and potatoes. In state rankings the county is in the top 10 in Indiana for popcorn, cattle (sixth), milk from cows (fifth) and for horses, ponies, mules, burrows and donkeys (eighth). Sixty-one percent of agricultural sales are produced by crops, while 39% come from livestock and poultry.
Corn and soybeans are the top two crops in acres. Corn for grain accounts for 88,904 of the 201,037 county acres in farmland, and soybeans take up 69,955 acres. Other top crops include forage, corn for silage/greenchop and wheat. The market value of agricultural products sold is $262.73 million, according to the Ag Census. A total of $160.23 million was brought in by crops, and livestock and poultry generated $102.49 million. The highest selling products were: grains, oilseeds, drybeans and dry peas with $155.4 million in sales; milk from cows, bringing in $57.47 million; cattle and calves ($22.73 million); and poultry and eggs ($17.71 million).
A total of 182,249 farmland acres are devoted to raising crops. Woodlands occupy 10,502 acres and 3,179 acres are used for pastureland.
"One of the challenges we face is soil health. The use of cover crops is starting to become more popular within our county and tillage conservation is starting to take effect as well. Another challenge we face is the younger generation starting farms or coming back to the farm. It is not impossible, but there are a few things that make either one hard for individuals to achieve. One such issue is financially being able to sustain the farm or buy inputs and equipment," said Brieanna Slonaker, the county Extension ag educator.
Intensive tilling is still the most popular land use practice in the county, with 33% of farms employing the practice. Eighteen percent of farms incorporate no-till, 23% use reduced-till and 15% of farms plant cover crops.
There are 1,368 farmers on the nearly 780 farms. Of the roughly 1,300 farmers, 370 are new and beginning farmers, 231 are under the age of 35, 734 are ages 35-64 and 403 are 65 or older.
Things Slonaker would like to see improve are: succession planning, diversification and precision agriculture.
"The world is ever evolving with technology, especially in the agriculture community, and being a rich agriculture county, precision agriculture technology would be a big asset to Marshall County farmers. In today's markets, diversification on farms will allow farmers to have greater finical opportunities and mitigate potential losses," she said.
Starke
"One of the unique things about agriculture in Starke County is mint production. There are other mint producers in the state, but Starke County has the most," said Phil Woolery, Extension educator in agriculture and natural resources.
Mint is the third largest crop in the county, accounting for 2,061 acres of farmland, according to the 2022 Ag Census. The first is corn for grain, with 39,443 acres, and second is soybeans, with 30,718 acres. The remaining top crops are forage (1,676 acres) and wheat for grain (561 acres). In total, the county contains 98,815 acres of land in farms, down 32% from 2017.
Number of farms has also dropped from about 507 to 394, a 22% decrease from 2017. Average farm size fell 13% to 251 acres.
Per average farm, market value of products sold has increased by 40%, total farm productions by 22% and net cash farm income by 42%. Decreasing were government payments (49% to $8,447) and farm-related income (34% to $13,714).
Woolery said sustainability is a challenge for Starke County farmers.
"Crop prices, financial management and farm succession are issues that affect the financial viability of farms. Things like soil quality and uncertain weather patterns are a challenge to long term yields," he said.
This impacts farmers' ability to keep the farm in operation, pushing many to consolidate, merge with others and/or liquidate their assets and retire. He encourages farmers to reevaluate their management and planning processes to increase sustainability, both economically and environmentally.
The county relies heavily on crop production, which accounts for about $71.72 million of agricultural sales. Total county agricultural sales are $75.48 million. In these sales, the county ranks first in the state for cultivated Christmas trees and short rotation woody crops. However, the sales value was withheld from the Ag Census to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
The county also ranks sixth in the state for other crops in hay, selling $3.41 million worth of products.
A total of 588 producers farm in the county. Over half (302) are aged 65 and older. There are 258 farmers between the ages of 35-64, and just 28 who are below the age of 35. Of the total number of producers, 143 are considered new or beginning farmers, with less than 10 years of experience on the farm. Women account for 198 of the 588 producers.
Steuben
The number of farms in Steuben County has fallen, according to the 2022 Indiana Ag Census, as has land in farms and the average farm size. As of the 2022 census, there are 461 farms (down 2%), 96,550 acres of farmland (down 20%) and the average farm contains 209 acres (down 18%).
Notably, only 10% of the county farms use intensive-till practices. No-till practices are favored by 27% of farms, with reduced-till being used by another 21%. Just 7% of farms in the county plant cover crops.
"Steuben County is very unique because of its 101 lakes," said county ag educator Reba Wicker. She added that fewer county residents are involved in agriculture, so education and awareness about the industry could be improved.
"According to the Ag Census in 2022, Steuben County was ranked 73rd in the state. The top crops grown are corn, soybeans, wheat, corn for silage, and forages. Ninety-five percent of the county farms are family owned and operated. Out of 88 counties that produce nursery, greenhouse and floriculture products, we are ranked 16th in the state," she said.
The county is responsible for $82.62 million in agricultural sales. The majority of this ($66.72 million) was achieved by crops. Grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas account for $62.54 million. In livestock and poultry, milk from cows was the highest recorded breadwinner, with $5.56 million in sales. Interestingly, the county ranks 13th in the state for aquaculture. However, the sales record was withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
The cost of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and equipment continue to rise, squeezing profit margins for farmers. With the largest percentage of farms in Steuben County only being 10-49 acres in size, there are a lot of these small family-owned farms looking to find cost-effective ways to manage inputs while maintaining productivity.
St. Joseph
St. Joseph County (Mich.) has the highest percentage of cropland planted with cover crops across all of Michigan, according to both the 2017 and 2022 Census of Agriculture. The percentage stands at roughly 27%, said Eric Anderson, MSU Extension field crops educator.
The county has 763 farms, according to the 2022 census. That number is down 15% from the 2017 census. Average farm size is 313 acres, up 14%.
Of the 1,305 farmers, 814 are male and 491 are female.
Anderson said one of the county's strengths is its diversity.
"St. Joseph County is the most irrigated county in Michigan," Anderson said. "Because of this, it is a major producer of seed corn and a fair contributor to the Michigan potato industry. The county's sandier soils, water availability and irrigation infrastructure are important aspects of seed corn and potato production. It also houses a large seed corn facility for Corteva and Bayer each, and Constantine is known as the seed corn capital of the world."
Not surprisingly, the county ranked second in the state in sales of vegetables, melons, potatoes and other specialty crops ($67.7 million). The top crop is corn for grain, with 101,202 acres; soybeans, with 63,188 acres; vegetables, 13,134 acres; forage, 11,154 acres; and potatoes, 10,721 acres.
Total sales of agricultural products were $340.2 million in 2022, up 47% since 2017 and good enough for 11th place in the state. The county ranked seventh in the state in overall crop sales, with $239.2 million. Sales of livestock and poultry products amounted to $100.9 million.
Leading livestock species include meat-type chickens, 1.03 million; layers, 49,771; hogs and pigs, 26,328; cattle and calves, 11,771; and sheep and lambs, 2,209. The county ranks third in the value of horses, ponies and mules ($1.5 million) sold at market, and fourth in the value of poultry and eggs ($31.1 million) sold.
While the health of St. Joseph County agriculture is good, Anderson said there are some challenges on the horizon. Among them are regulations on water use, pest resistance and herbicide resistance.
"There is still a lot of room for improvement on nitrogen (N) use efficiency, especially regarding overapplication to seed corn, as growers try to outcompete each other on yield," Anderson said. "Especially considering that most of these soils are coarse textured, low organic matter, so large N applications are not being retained in the soil.
"I do think there has been decent improvement in the past couple years on this topic, as I know a lot of people are reducing initial N applications and fertigating later in the season more frequently at smaller amounts. However, there's still a lot of opportunity to improve N efficiency for most growers."
Whitley
Ag educator John Woodmansee said Whitley County has a robust crop and livestock industry. Crop receipts stand at about 69% of agricultural sales, while livestock is at 31% according to the 2022 Ag Census.
The county ranks 15th in the state for hog and pig sales, 16th for horses, ponies, mules, burrows and donkeys, and 20th overall for cultivated Christmas trees and short rotation woody crops.
Top crops (in acres) include: soybeans (68,076), corn for grain (58,165), forage (5,277), wheat for grain (5,174) and corn for silage (number of acres withheld).
An equine hospital, a Purdue Agricultural Center (research farm), and a thriving ag service industry also make the area unique.
Some notable changes were a decrease of 7-8% in both the number of farms and land in farms. The percentage of farms less than 50 acres rose from 46% to 48%. The biggest reductions were farms 10-49 acres, from 267 to 242, and farms 180-499 acres, from 96 to 76. Larger farms remained fairly stable.
As of 2022, there are 162,338 acres of land in farms, a decrease of 8%. The number of farms fell to 647. The average farm size is 251 acres.
The percentage of crop receipts to livestock receipts widened from a 65-35% split to 69-31%, respectively. The market value of both crops and livestock increased. Crop receipts increased from $78,922,000 to $129,394,000. Livestock receipts increased from $42 million to $58.3 million. The number of hogs and pigs increased from 92,600 to 106,929, while cattle and calves decreased from 11,507 to 5223.
The age of farmers under 35 years old decreased from 127 to 89. In contrast, 600 of the 1,065 producers are between the ages of 35-64. There are 332 female producers.
"We face many of the challenges agricultural producers in other counties face—market uncertainties, weather events, etc. The financial barriers young and beginning farmers face are significant, making entry into agriculture a daunting challenge. Additionally, technology in agriculture continues to present a steep learning curve," Woodmansee said.
Finally, a big increase is farm households with internet access, from 78 to 551, but 35 of those still had dial-up connections. New and beginning farmers decreased from 274 to 268, but they represented 184 farms with 32,114 acres, roughly 20% of total farm acres.
"If we can find ways to encourage younger farmers to engage in agricultural production, I think that will pay long-term dividends. I also think there are ways to help smaller farms become more productive," he said.
Return to Top of Page