Sussex remained the nation’s largest poultry producing county and Delaware farmers remained among the most productive in the nation based on the 2012. U.S. Census of Agriculture released late last week.
“Delaware farmers are maintaining their long and proud tradition of producing the best and freshest farm products,” said Gov. Jack Markell. “This is a testament to their hard work, resilience and dedication to their craft.”
“Delaware farmers know how to get the job done,” said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. “This data confirms what many people already know: Farmers are the backbone of Delaware’s economy. But they’re more than just tillers of soil – Delaware farmers are smart businesspeople as well. They work hard every day to build efficient enterprises, increase productivity and grow the food that feeds our families.” The new Census data also shows that agriculture remains Delaware’s largest single land use, with 41 percent of Delaware’s land (508,652 acres) in farming – 24 percent of New Castle County’s land, 46 percent of Kent County’s and 45 percent of Sussex County’s.
Delaware ended up slightly ahead of California in the market value of agricultural products sold per acre, at $2,505 to California’s $1,667. Delaware was No. 2 in the value of agricultural products sold per farm, at $519,794 to first-place California’s $547,510. Sussex County again recorded the top number nationally in broiler chicken production, with 174 million birds produced in 2012. Polk County, Texas, ranked second, with 125 million birds.
Preliminary state level data showed that Delaware agricultural production hit a record $1.2 billion in 2012, up 19 percent from 2007. The value of crop production also more than doubled, to $429 million, while the amount of farmland and number of farms both decreased slightly. The census reported Irrigation use was up 22 percent, to 127,272 acres versus 104,562 in 2007. All three counties saw increases in irrigated acreage.
More Delaware farmers have Internet access than in 2007, up 12 percent to 68 percent. Farmers are increasingly using mobile technologies and high-speed Internet access to map their farmland, plan production and conduct business transactions.
