Marion County Agricultural Statistics

Total Farmland                              299,699 acres (29.3% of total County land)
Number of Farms                          1,654
Woodland acreage                        152,108 acres
Equine Annual Economic Impact   $507,000,000 36,400 thoroughbred horses,12,000 workers (15% of labor force)
Beef                                               51,000 head, 11th largest country in Florida
Nursery                                          75 commercial nurseries, 1999 sales of $31,440,496
Dairy                                              5 dairies, 4,100 cows, 7,380,000 gallons of milk, valued at $10,480,000
Watermelons                                 1,000 acres, production 275,000 (cwt), estimated value $2,008,000
Citrus                                             1,181 acres
Squash                                          100 acres, 30,000 bushels, valued at 350,000

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Cattle:   Marion County produces feeder calves, which are shipped to feedlots in the west and southwest. Most calves go to Texas, followed by Oklahoma. The strategy in this industry is to keep brood cows that consistently produce calves. This requires intensive management on the part of ranchers to determine percentage of live births, rate of gain, etc.  On average 24,000 calves are produced annually in Marion County.  The County also has one of the largest chapters in the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.  The Ocala Bull Sale is the oldest graded bull sale in the United States. Started in 1957, this year marks its 50th anniversary.

Equine:   In other states, Marion County is known as a haven of the equine industry. During the 1950’s the thoroughbred industry began to dominate the equine scene in the country.  Favorable weather during the winter breeding season, excellent soils for good pastures, minerals that lead to good bone development and the oak studded landscape all contributed to interest on the part of this industry. In recent years, other segments of the equine industry have been growing in Marion County, including Paso Fino, Arabian and quarter horses.  Currently there are 450 thoroughbred farms and 450 other equine operations in the country.

Agronomic Crops:   Peanuts have always been a  successful crop for Marion County farmers.  In recent years, breeding programs have led to peanuts that are lower in fat and resistant to some of the diseases that have traditionally been a problem. Marion County is one of the leading peanut producing counties in Florida.  Other agronomic crops include rye and corn.  Ryegrass is a major commodity in the wintertime to supplement pasture grass. Marion County peanut producers plant approximately 4,000 acres of peanuts annually.

Nursery: Marion County has 75 commercial nurseries, which had $ 31,440,496 in sales in 1999, according to a University of Florida study. Nurseries provided 570 full time jobs and the average nursery size is 16.6 acres. The nursery industry is considered an environmentally friendly industry and is welcomed in most Florida counties. Nursery products add value to individual properties and create landscapes that add to the overall beauty of the county.

Vegetables:  For lack of a better category, watermelons might be included in the vegetable crops area, with 1,000 acres in production in 1997. Other vegetable crops emphasize items for the fresh market including squash, beans, peas, okra, cantaloupe and winter greens.

Hay Production:  Hay is produced for cattle feed, horse feed and bedding. Bahia grass is the most common hay produced, followed by costal Bermuda and a small percentage of perennial peanut hay. Marion County's rainy summer climate is not conducive to production of high protein hay, so many horse farms choose to purchase hay from the mid-west.

The following links are PDF documents provided by The USDA National Association of Agriculture Statistics

2002 Census of Agriculture "Agriculture Counts" Marion County
NASS County Profile