2022-23 Visitor & Relocation Guide to Martin County

AGRICULTURE
MARTIN COUNTY FEATURES A DIVERSE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY
AN INDUSTRY OF GROWTH
BY LINDA MESCHKE OF RURAL ADVANTAGE
Fairmont and the Martin County area has a deep
agricultural history. Fertile soils has made the region
one of the most productive in the world where corn,
soybean and livestock can be raised more efficiently,
compared to other agricultural regions around the
world .
According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture there
were 449,064 acres in farmland in Martin County.
There were 911 farms identified with an average
size of 493 acres per farm. The market value of
products sold was $635,524,000 plus $8,613,000 in
government payments received with an additional
farm-related income of $18,745,000. Sales from
farm products were 42% from crops and 58% from
livestock. Major crops are com and soybeans. Extra
value is added to these crops by feeding them to
livestock or by converting them to fuel [ethanol
and biodiesel]. The major livestock enterprise is
hogs and pigs with inventory numbers reported as
827,589. Also reported were 102,010 turkeys, 21,069
cattle and calves and 1,170 sheep and lambs. Two
ethanol plants in the county produce about 249
million gallons per year of ethanol.
No farm enterprise can be successful without
a strong agri-business support system within the
community. Supportive government, bankers,
crop and livestock supply chains, veterinarians,
marketing channels, educational systems, health
networks, farm equipment dealers and repair shops
are all critical to the overall success of farms in the
Martin County area. This region is very fortunate to
have this strong support system which has resulted
in strong agricultural leadership, progressive
management of farm operations and profitable
agricultural enterprises across the region.
62 Visitor and Relocation Guide to Martin County | 2022-2023 www.fairmontchamber.org