Montgomery County's diverse agricultural industry is home to 558 farms, employs more than 10,000 people, and contributes $281 million to the County’s economy. Read more below, or take a look at Montgomery County’s Ag Fact Sheet, which summarizes data obtained from the USDA 2017 Ag Census.  
Click HERE to see historical USDA Farm data for Montgomery County from 1949 - 2007

Commodity Grain Production

Grain farms (corn, wheat, soybeans, and barley) are the predominant agricultural use in the County, covering 34,526 acres. Much of the grain produced in Montgomery County goes to support Maryland’s poultry industry on the Eastern Shore and other livestock production in the region. In addition to this, wheat produced here is made into cookies, crackers, cakes, and bread products; corn may go toward ethanol production; and some barley is now going to local breweries for the production of beer.

Horticulture

Twenty percent of Maryland’s horticultural industry resides in Montgomery County, ranking us second in the State in total number of horticultural firms. This sector produces $154 million in gross sales annually. Horticultural enterprises include nurseries, landscaping/lawn care companies, arborists, sod farms, and greenhouse businesses.

Equine

Montgomery County is home to almost 10,000 horses, used for recreation, breeding, training, and sales. This represents a tremendous opportunity for local farmers in terms of the supplies, services, and products needed to support the horse population, which exceeds the population of all other livestock combined.

Livestock

There are approximately 375 livestock farming operations in the County raising beef, dairy, sheep, goats, poultry, hogs & pigs. Local dairy and meat products can be found at on-farm markets, regional city farmers markets, through community supported agriculture (CSA) subscriptions, or at local retailers.

     Food Producers
     According to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, there are 454 farms producing table food in Montgomery County.
     The County's food producers are essential and continue to play a vital role providing fresh, local food to residents including those in need through the  Farm 2 Foodbank       program.  See the latest Farm2Foodbank Impact Report HERE.

 

     Environmental Data: Best Management Practices (BMP) by Montgomery County Farmers.
     These practices help the County's agricultural sector meet its Watershed Implementation  (WIP) goals as mandated by the Maryland Department of the Environment.       
     These BMPs also have the co benefit of reducing green house gas emissions.
Conservation Practices
Reductions in Nitrogen & Phosphorus
Greenhouse Gas Reductions