Springfield, IL – The number of farms in Illinois increased by 5% since the last census of agriculture.
The census is conducted every 5 years. The most recent data collected is from 2007, but was just recently released. Brad Schwab is Director of the Illinois Field Office. Schwab says the census "provides a benchmark, shows the trends in agriculture, and provides a snapshot of how things are changing over time."
Schwab says the agency made an effort to ensure small farms were included in the latest census. "We knew we were missing them in the previous census, based on our numbers," says Schwab. "We just went to every source available to try to get those farmers added to our list frame so that we could contact them to find out then if they were, in fact a farm."
Schwab says those small farms include hobby farms, organic farms, and even CSA's. There are nearly 77,000 farms in Illinois. Schwab says the number of small and large farms in the state increased.
The census provides a breakdown of the average farmer characteristics. Schwab says, "For example, the average farmer in Illinois is 56 years old."
In McDonough County, there are 761 farms. That's an increase of 9 farms, sine the 2002 census. The average size of a farm in the county is 404 acres, a 6% decrease from the previous census. Also, at 706 of the farms, men are the principal operators, while women are the principal operators at 55 of the farms.
The census also provides a breakdown with information on each county in the state. To view the census, click this link.