Agriculture

Agriculture is an essential industry in Centre County. In 2003, the County Comprehensive Plan recorded that approximately two acres of farmland were lost to other uses per day -- the equivalent of an average size Centre County farm every three months. However, from 2006 to 2010, agricultural land increased from 108,344 acres to 108,693 acres as the result of forest conversion and a decrease in development activities. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, Centre County ranked 24th among the 67 counties in Pennsylvania with 1,023 farms.

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, agriculture sales in Centre County account for $91,478,000 or 1.17 percent of all agricultural sales in Pennsylvania. A Centre County farm sold, on average, $89,422 of products in 2017. The economic impact of farming in Centre County, coupled with the continued loss of prime farmland, makes protecting and enforcing agricultural land protection essential for future generations.

With programs in place that encourage the consumption of locally grown foods, farm land preservation, and better farm practices, agriculture will continue to have a significant influence on Centre County’s economy.

Centre County Quick Facts

Ishler Farm Vista_crop

Agriculture is a major industry in Centre County. According to the Pennsylvania Agricultural Statistics for 2017:

  • There are 1,023 farms in Centre County on 149,858 acres.
  • The average farm has 146 acres.
  • Centre County’s farms sold agricultural products valued at more than $91 million.
  • The average Centre County farm sold $89,422 in products

Agriculture Comprehensive Plan (PDF) (January 2020)