Results for the 2022 Farm Ag Census were reported in February, and while it mainly focuses on a national level, those who look for them can find local statistics as well.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Farm Management Specialist Alexis Stevens says that on average, farms in Guthrie County are 358 acres, and when equipment, buildings and livestock are figured in, most farms are worth an average of $3 million. She adds that for the most part, farming in the county revolves around corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs, mentioning that while the number of cattle in the county grew, the number of hogs being raised decreased.

Stevens tells Raccoon Valley Radio that there was also an increase in the number of women involved in farming and the operation of farms, along with a very small increase in other numbers.

“We don’t have a very high minority population in Guthrie County, but we do have a few farms, and that percentage is small. We can count them on both hands how many farms that are owned by minorities. And I think that’s just a really neat thing to see, that we have new people getting involved in farming. We have women, we have minorities, we have younger producers getting involved in farming, and I think that is just great for the growth of our communities.”

Stevens further explained that nearly half of farm operations had women in a decision making role. She adds that while most farms are conventional, some deal in organic products, and others are changing techniques used to be more conservative of the land that they use.