This fact sheet describes the size and scope of agriculture in Morgan County, including growing season, crop production, livestock production, farm income, and age of operator

Feuz, Ryan

Larsen, Ryan

Zesiger, Cody

English

DigitalCommons@USU

1 October 2019    AG/Farmland/2019-07pr Size and Scope of Morgan County Agriculture 2019            Ryan Feuz, Post-Doctoral Researcher           Ryan Larsen, Assistant Professor           Cody Zesiger, Assistant Professor Location Morgan County is located in the north central part of the state. Other surrounding Utah counties include Rich, Summit, Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber. As of 2017, the population was estimated at 11,873. Morgan County is Utah’s third smallest county by land area with 609 square miles of land.  Land Ownership The land ownership within the county is divided as shown in Figure 1.  Source: 2017 Utah Counties Fact Book The federally-owned ground is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The state-owned ground is primarily under the jurisdiction of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Land Administration (SITLA). Portions of the state-owned land are wildlife preserves and Utah state parks and recreational areas. The private ground is primarily farm ground and grazing areas. The 2017 Census of Agriculture indicated that there were 242,666 acres in farms or ranches with an average size of 652 acres and an average value of $2,200 per acre. The county had 16,629 acres in cropland of which 12,636 acres were harvested and 9,023 were irrigated.  Growing Season The growing season in Morgan County averages just under 3.5 months. Table 1 displays some of the details on climatology in the county seat, Morgan according to the Utah Climate Center (2019). Private93.6 %State2.5%Federal3.8%Figure 1. Morgan County Land Ownership2 Crop Production The major crops grown in Morgan County with 2017 yields and total acres harvested are displayed in Table 2.  Table 2. Morgan County 2017 Crop Acres and Yields Primary Crops Yields Harvested Acres Average Yield/acre Hay 32,899 tons 10,910 3.0 tons Barley 92,568 bu. 1,223 75.7 bu. Corn Silage 10,094 tons 392 25.8 tons Oats 2,740 bu. 50 54.8 bu. Source: 2017 USDA-NASS Census of Agriculture The most prevalent crop rotation that producers practice is to leave alfalfa in for 7 years, plant small grains for 2 years, then replant alfalfa. Producers typically get two to three cuttings of alfalfa each year. About 20% of all inputs (e.g., seed, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.) are purchased locally while the remaining 80% are bought in a neighboring county. Most of the cropland is irrigated with flood or  sprinklers. There are also some dry farms in the  county. The majority of the dry farms are on the  hillsides and the irrigated land is in the valleys below. About 65% of the irrigation water available in Morgan County is from the Weber River, Echo and Rockport reservoirs. The other 35% is drawn from East Canyon Creek.  Livestock Production The inventories of the major classes of livestock produced in the county as of 2017 compared with 2012 inventories are listed in Table 3. By the first quarter of 2019, many of the dairies in the county had stopped milk production and sold their milk cows. Currently, there are three commercial dairies and one custom order, raw-milk dairy. The commercial dairies sell to either Gossner Foods or Dairy Farmers of America. There is also a substantial mink-raising industry in Morgan County. The mink pelts are prepared locally and sold at auctions out of state. Table 3. Major Livestock Commodities Livestock 2012 2017 % Change All Cattle 7,478 7,910 5.8% Beef Cows 3,926 4,556 16.0% Milk Cows 550 832* 51.3% Sheep & Lambs 10,360 17,814 71.9% * The total number of milk cows in 2017 do notreflect the current number in the county. Source: 2017 USDA-NASS Census of Agriculture Calves are weaned around 500 lbs. and are fed and fattened locally until they reach approximately 850-900 lbs. usually by midwinter. At that point, they are typically shipped and sold out of state at sale barns. Some are sold regionally in neighboring counties. The majority of cows spend the winter in local pastures and are fed supplemental hay. Almost all of the hay grown in the county is fed to livestock within the region Farm Income and Age of Operator Cash receipts from 2017 crops equaled $2,470,000 and cash receipts from livestock totaled $14,659,000. Total 2017 cash receipts were $17,129,000, down just over $3 million since the Table 1. Morgan County Annual Precipitation and Average Frost-Free Days Location Annual Precip. Last spring freeze First fall freeze Freeze -freeperiodMorgan 17.53 in Jun.  6 Sept. 11 97.2 days 3 previous census of agriculture record from 2012 ($20,362,000)  The average age of the primary farmer or rancher was 55.4 in 2017. This is a notable decrease since the previous census of agriculture in 2012 when the average principal operator age was 59.1. The principal operator average age is graphed below in Figure 2 for all USDA-NASS Census of Agriculture years since 1997. Sources United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (2019). 2017 Ag Census Data. Retrieved from: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/Census_Data_Query_Tool/index.php Utah Association of Counties. (2017). 2017 Utah Counties Fact Book. Murray. Retrieved from https://uac.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/2017-Utah-Counties-Fact-Book.pdfUtah Climate Center. (2019). Retrieved July 10, 2019, from Utah State University: https://climate.usu.edu/ Utah State University is committed to providing an environment free from harassment and other forms of illegal discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 and older), disability, and veteran’s status. USU’s policy also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment and academic related practices and decisions.  Utah State University employees and students cannot, because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran’s status, refuse to hire; discharge; promote; demote; terminate; discriminate in compensation; or discriminate regarding terms, privileges, or conditions of employment, against any person otherwise qualified. Employees and students also cannot discriminate in the classroom, residence halls, or in on/off campus, USU-sponsored events and activities.  This publication is issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ken White, Vice President for Extension and Agriculture, Utah State University. Source: 2017 USDA-NASS Census of Agriculture 53.855.158.8 59.155.45052545658601997 2002 2007 2012 2017AgeYearFigure 2. Principal Operator Age

Size and Scope of Morgan County Agriculture 2019

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Size and Scope of Morgan County Agriculture 2019

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