Baltimore County Statistics

About 80 percent of the county's 390,000 acres is located within the piedmont plateau with gently rolling hills, while the remaining 20 percents is in the coastal plain region with flat sandy soils.  The average value of land and building per farm is $456,780 with land values of $4,742 per acre.  Baltimore County has a very diverse agriculture and ranks fourth in the state in vegetable acres harvested.  There are 781 farms with an average size of 97 acres.  The total number of farm acres in Baltimore County is 75,795.

Top Five Commodities by Value (1997):
1. Nursery - $22,675,000
2. Dairy - $6,664,000
3. Vegetables - $4,569,000
4. Corn - $3,417,000
5. Soybeans - $2,385,000

Total Value of All Commodities:
$51,179,000

County Ranking by Value of Commodities:
12

Agricultural Land Preservation Programs:
County Districts: 345 properties covering 32,212 acres
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Easements: 160 properties covering 17,888 acres
2002 Easement Purchases: 12 on 1,471 acres, $5.2 million

Equine Industry:
10,630 horses valued at $121,800,000 are at 2,200 locations on 31,200 acres with 4,200 people involved, excluding hired labor

Farmers' Markets:
In 2002, all five markets reported being open a total of 104 days, accounting for $490,200 in ales from 47,400 shopping visits.  Seniors and WIC clients redeemed $23,734 in Farmers' Market Nutrition Program coupons.

Certified Organic Producers/Handlers:
7

Wineries:
3

Vineyards:
6

Weighing/Measuring Devices Inspected:
8,016

Nutrient Management:
Plan Compliance on 1/31/03 was 313 forms covering 39,592 acres

2002 Ag Cost Share to Farmers:
$98,466

State Funds to Soil Conservation District 1994-2003:
$580,268

Nurseries Inspected:
43

Agribusiness/tourism Sampler:
Toto's Gourmet Products
Watercolor Lavender Farm
Weber's Cider Mill Farm
Baltimore Coffee and Tea Co.
Cloverland-Greenspring Dairy
Kirchmayr Chocolatier
McCormick, Inc.