Page 17 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 2: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Going back a bit further, as shown in table 2.2, Washington County overall farmland acreage dropped
since 1997 the number of farms in Washington between 1997 and 2007 and increased again in 2012
County has declined by 317 farms or 16 percent, for a slight net decrease of 5,151 acres or 3.6 percent.

and the average size of farms has grown by 11 acres Although the number of farms and overall acreage
or 15 percent (see Table 2.2). These trends in farm being farmed decreased slightly through the full
number and size are observed in some other Oregon period studied, overall acreage increases since 2002
counties and nationwide . are encouraging. Agriculture in Washington County
15
appears sustainable and remains a major economic
driver for the County .
16

Table 2.2: County Profile Number of Farms and Average Size of Farms
% change Overall
% change % change
Year/% change 1997 2002 2007 2012 2007- % change
1997-2002 2002-2007
2012 1997-2012
Number of Farms 1,960 1,900 -3% 1,761 -7% 1,643 -7% -16%

Land in Farms acres 140,884 130,683 -7% 127,984 -2% 135,733 6% -3.6%

Average Farm Size acres 72 69 -4% 73 6% 83 14% 15%
Source: NASS Census of Agriculture 1997 – 2012.
15 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. See 2012 Census of Agriculture for complete footnotes, explanations, definitions, and methodology. USDA NASS will
take their next official Agriculture Census in 2017.
16 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service 2012 Census of Agriculture

WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY 13