Page 21 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County

CHAPTER 2: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AGRICULTURE SECTOR

Table 2.5: County Profile Market Value of Products Sold 1997-2012
Year /% % change % change % change
change 1997 2002 1997-2002 2007 2002-2007 2012 2007-2012

Market Value of $191,099,000 $231,820,000 21% $311,380,000 34% $237,972,000 -24%
Products Sold

Average per $97,499 $122,010 25% $176,820 45% $144,840 -18%
Farm

Government $1,028,000 $1,092,000 6% $809,000 -26% $1,544,000 91%
Payments

Average Per $3,698 $6,310 71% $3,533 -44% $6,252 77%
Farm

Source: NASS Census of Agriculture 1997 – 2012.

History of Product Market Value
As shown in Table 2.5, the overall market value
of agricultural products experienced a steady rise
between 1997 and 2007, and then fell victim to the
Great Recession. Planting decisions (acres, crops),
yield, and prices ultimately affect market value.

As noted earlier, a high proportion of the County’s
market value of agricultural products is in
greenhouse and nursery stock. Since this industry
is highly interconnected with development, it is not
surprising that the market value of products sold
was reduced by 24% between 2007 and 2012. This
period saw very low levels of new construction and
related landscape installation.

Experts in individual commodity productivity ,
22
Oregon State University Rural Studies Department,
NASS, and Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA)
are perceiving an uptick in market value in many
commodities since the recession resolved, and
are optimistic that the original momentum will be
regained. For example, the greenhouse and nursery
stock market value increased 11 percent statewide
between 2011 and 2014 .
23
22 Including but not limited to: Jeff Stone – Oregon Association of Nurseries; Dean
Moberg - USDA-NRCS, Washington County; Mike Klein - Oregon Hazelnut Com- In 2012, a combination of winter and spring wheat covered more
mission; and Nicole Anderson, Social Demographer, OSU Extension Service. acres than any other crop in Washington County. Photo courtesy of
23 Oregon Association of Nurseries. September, 2015. Curt Kipp. Mary Stewart
WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY 17