Benton County, Minnesota · 2022 Census of Agriculture
What does Benton County, Minnesota grow?
Livestock brings in most of the farm sales in Benton County, Minnesota (70% in 2022). At the end of 2022 its farms had 44,073 cattle, and sold 7,126,050 broiler chickens during the year. Of the crops tracked here, its biggest by acreage are corn (36,233 acres), soybeans (27,857 acres) and hay (12,270 acres). Its farms sold $278 million of crops and livestock in 2022, 49th of 87 counties in Minnesota.
- Farm sales, 2022
- $278 million555th of 3,050 US counties
- Farms
- 687134,358 acres of farmland
- Crops vs. livestock
- 30% cropsshare of farm sales
- Items reported
- 3816 published, 22 withheld
County map
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture.
What does Benton County grow the most of?
Crops ranked by acres harvested (bearing acres for orchards), 2022 Census of Agriculture.
How does Benton County rank?
Each item's rank among counties in Minnesota and in the US, by the 2022 Census of Agriculture measure shown. An asterisk means the rank is among counties with published figures; a county whose figure is withheld could rank higher.
| Item | Amount | State rank | US rank | Share of MN | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens | 7.1 million broiler chickens | 3 | 285* | 17% | head sold |
| Potatoes | 2,664 acres | 4* | 44* | 5% | acres harvested |
| Milk | 17,161 milk cows | 6* | 124* | 4% | head on farms |
| Cattle | 44,073 cattle | 18 | 567* | 2% | head on farms |
| Goats | 639 goats | 27* | 1,011* | 1% | head on farms |
| Hay | 22,268 tons | 42 | 1,381* | under 1% | production |
| Honey | 69,804 pounds | 14* | 239* | under 1% | production |
| Grapes | 6 acres | 19* | 519* | under 1% | bearing acres |
| Corn | 6.4 million bushels | 58 | 617 | under 1% | production |
| Hogs | 34,685 hogs | 39 | 361* | under 1% | head on farms |
| Sheep | 407 sheep | 60* | 1,645* | under 1% | head on farms |
| Soybeans | 1.2 million bushels | 63 | 848* | under 1% | production |
| Apples | 6 acres | 26* | 617* | under 1% | bearing acres |
| Oats | 21,962 bushels | 67 | 459* | under 1% | production |
| Eggs | 31,573 laying hens | 8* | 357* | under 1% | head on farms |
Show all 16 items
| Item | Amount | State rank | US rank | Share of MN | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 9,327 bushels | 64* | 1,786* | under 1% | production |
Also reported here, but withheld by NASS to protect individual farms: barley, dry beans, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, sweet corn, green beans, green peas, pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, bell peppers, chile peppers, cabbage, kale, asparagus, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and turkeys.
What livestock does Benton County raise?
| Animal | Head | State rank | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broiler chickens | 7,126,050 | 3 | head sold |
| Cattle | 44,073 | 18 | head on farms |
| Hogs | 34,685 | 39 | head on farms |
| Laying hens | 31,573 | 8* | head on farms |
| Milk cows | 17,161 | 6* | head on farms |
| Goats | 639 | 27* | head on farms |
| Sheep | 407 | 60* | head on farms |
Other farm counties in Minnesota
| County | Farm sales |
|---|---|
| Stearns County | $1 billion |
| Martin County | $943 million |
| Blue Earth County | $838 million |
| Renville County | $810 million |
| Redwood County | $804 million |
| Lyon County | $763 million |
| Nobles County | $761 million |
| Kandiyohi County | $716 million |
| Polk County | $697 million |
| Rock County | $624 million |
| Cottonwood County | $602 million |
| Nicollet County | $596 million |
About this data
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture, the only NASS source that covers every county. The Census is taken every five years; the next is for 2027. Values NASS withholds to avoid disclosing individual farms are shown as withheld, never as zero. Data processed 2026-11-06. Methodology.