Four Takeaways from the 2022 Census of Agriculture in the East Cascades
October 7, 2024The Census of Agriculture, performed every five years by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. It includes every farm where $1,000 or more of products were raised or sold during the census year. As the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data at the county level, the Census of Agriculture provides a unique window into the agricultural landscape of the East Cascades. Here are four takeaways from the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture in the East Cascades.
The Number of Farms and Farmworkers is Down
The total number of farms and farmworkers decreased by 177 and 6,938, respectively, from 2017 to 2022. This left a total of 1,451 farms and 13,348 farm laborers throughout the 10 counties of the East Cascades. Of the 10 counties, Deschutes, Gilliam, and Lake counties were the only three to add both farms and farm laborers. Wasco County lost the largest number of farms at 57 (26.9%) and farm laborers at 5,102 (61.7%). Sherman County lost the largest proportion of farms at 37%.
Total Farm Acreage Increased in Four Counties
The number of farms and farm laborers increased in Deschutes, Gilliam, and Lake counties; the overall acreage dedicated to farmland also increased in those counties. Despite losing farms and farm laborers, Klamath County’s farmland increased by 40,481 acres (8.4%), which was also the largest gain of the East Cascades counties. Throughout the East Cascades, more than 720,000 acres are no longer dedicated to farmland, a decline of 11.9%. Wasco and Jefferson County lost the most acres at 410,411 (29.5%) and 250,576 (31.6%), respectively.
Most Farms are Small and Family Owned
While the average acre per farm across the region varies from 54 to 3,812 acres, most of the region’s farms are smaller than 50 acres. Most of the farms in the East Cascades are also family-owned. Family-owned farms make up 80 % to 96% of the farms in the East Cascades, with Gilliam County on the low end and Crook, Jefferson, and Klamath counties tied on the high end.
Hood River, Lake, and Wasco Competitive Nationally as Agricultural Producers
Three East Cascades counties stand out as agricultural producers. Hood River County ranks 39th in the nation for fruits, tree nuts, and berries. Wasco County is near Hood River County, ranking 53rd in the nation. Lake County ranks 19th in the nation for other crops and hay. These ranks were created using the market value of the products sold.
If you’d like to learn more or see the official report, please visit https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/.