Agriculture sustained the first settlers of Kentucky in the 1770s, and the business of raising crops and livestock continues to be the backbone of rural Kentucky today. Kentucky is home to a wide variety of agriculture production, from horses and beef cattle to tobacco and corn. Agriculture in Kentucky is one of the state’s leading and most vital industries, contributing about $45.6 billion to Kentucky’s economy each year. Kentucky agriculture is also constantly changing to keep up with consumer demand and the ever-growing world population.
UPDATED February 13, 2024 - NEW AG Census DATA
Kentucky is home to 69,425 farms, from large to small. The average farm size in Kentucky is 179 acres, compared to the national average of 463 acres. Kentucky agriculture is dominated by small family farms. About 63 percent of its farms have annual sales of less than $10,000.
Of Kentucky’s 25.4 million acres, just under 50% is considered farmland (12.4 million acres).
Kentucky agricultural cash receipts (sale of crops and livestock) set a record $8 billion in 2022, with the average income per farm increasing from $75 thousand to $115 thousand.
Kentucky's top agricultural enterprises based on sales:
SOYBEANS & CORN
These versatile crops are used for animal feed, food, fuels, and many other products. Feed grain sales totaled $3.83 billion in 2022.
POULTRY
Broilers (chickens raised for meat), eggs, and turkeys provided Kentucky farmers with nearly $1.7 billion in 2022.
HORSES & EQUINE
Horse, pony, mule, and donkey sales and service fees were the largest portions of “other animal sales” in 2022, totaling $1.2 billion.
CATTLE
Kentucky is home to over 2 million cattle/calves; being the largest beef state east of the Mississippi River, selling over $1.1 billion in 2022.
While hay does not bring as much money from sales as other crops and livestock, hay (cut and dried grasses for feed) are produced on more than 2 million acres, more than any other crop. Kentucky soils, water resources, and climate make the commonwealth the perfect place to feed grazing animals.
Where does Kentucky rank compared to other states?
1st - Horse & Equine Sales
2nd - Tobacco Sales
3rd - Grass Hay Production
4th - Other Animals and Animal Product Sales (includes breeding sales)
4th - Number of Farms with Cattle
6th - Number of Total Farms
Kentucky Agriculture Cash Receipts in 2022:
Animals and products - $4.467 billion
Crops - $3.839 billion
Farm-related income - $2.116
Total Farm Income: $9.922 billion
Top Commodities by Sales Receipts in 2022:
Corn - $1.447 billion
Broilers - $1.427 billion
Soybeans - $1.392 billion
All other animals/products (including horses) - $1.224 billion
Cattle and Calves - $1.101 billion
Hay - $344 million
Chicken Eggs - $256 million
Tobacco - $246 million
Milk & Dairy Products - $243 million
Wheat - $218 million
Hogs - $181 million
Miscellaneous Crops - $149 million
Floriculture - $43 million
Turkeys - $30 million
Farm chickens - $2.5 million
Honey - $1.4 million
Rapeseed - $622 thousand
Wool - $46 thousand
Mohair - $8 thousand
Source: USDA-NASS Economic Research Service Kentucky Fact Sheet and Census of Agriculture
Farms & Farmers
Farms: 69,425
Acres in Farms: 12,431,190
Percentage of State in Farmland: 48.9%
Average Farm Size: 179 acres, only 3% are > 1000 acres
96% of farms are owned by individuals, families, or partnerships.
Learn more about our Farmers
Net Farm Income (2022)
$3.872 million
Top 5 Agricultural Exports (2022)
Horses (Other livestock) - $789.3 million
Soybeans - $766.7 million
Corn - $303.3 million
Tobacco - $257.6 million
Feeds and other feed grains - $229 million
Total exports - $3.29 billion
Top 5 Kentucky Counties in Agricultural Sales (2017 Census)
Graves County - $346.2 million
Fayette County - $215.5 million
Bourbon County - $209.6 million
Christian County - $205.3 million
McLean County - $190.8 million
Related Resources & Articles
Featured
Importance of Agriculture to Kentucky Report (March 2022) - CEDIK
Kentucky Agriculture Overview | Ky Agriculture Bulletin - NASS-USDA
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