Somerset County Statistics

Somerset County is the southern-most county on Maryland's Eastern Shore.  Only 26 percent of its mostly flat 209,424 acres is classified as farmland, but agriculture is the biggest industry in the county.  The seafood, timber, and small industries are also important assets to its economy.  Somerset County has a very important and diverse agriculture.  The corn, soybeans, broilers, vegetables, livestock, and dairy produced make it rank fourth in agriculture value among Maryland counties.  There are 288 farms with an average size of 190 acres.  The total number of acres of farmland in Somerset County is 54,823.

Top Five Commodities by Value (1997):
1. Poultry - $82,261,000
2. Soybeans - $4,580,000
3. Corn - $4,220,000
4. Vegetables - $2,110,000
5. Wheat - $1,267,000

Total Value of Commodities:
$96,532,000

County Ranking by Value of Commodities:
4

Agricultural Land Preservation Programs:
County Districts: 41 properties covering 5,681 acres
Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Easements: 22 properties covering 3,320 acres
2002 Easement Purchases: 4 on 395 acres, $398,825

Equine Industry:
280 horses valued at $800,000 are at 80 locations on 500 acres with 130 people involved, excluding hired labor

Farmers' Markets:
In 2002, one market reported a total of 23 market days accounting for $55,900 in sales from 5,590 customer visits

Certified Organic Producers/Handlers:
2

Weights $ Measures Devices Inspected:
332

Vineyards:
1

Nutrient Management:
Plan Compliance on 1/31/03 was 208 forms covering 40,136 acres

2002 Ag Cost Share to Farmers:
$494,348 for 123 projects

State Funds to Soil Conservation Districts 1994-2003:
$195,409

Nurseries Inspected by MDA:
7

Agribusiness/tourism Sampler:
Byrd's Seafood
J. C. W. Tawes Company
John T. Handy Co.
Metompkin Bay Oyster
Smith Island Crabmeat Co-op