Stearns County, Minnesota · 2022 Census of Agriculture
What does Stearns County, Minnesota grow?
Livestock brings in most of the farm sales in Stearns County, Minnesota (69% in 2022). At the end of 2022 its farms had 1,796,151 turkeys, and sold 11,989,349 broiler chickens during the year. Of the crops tracked here, its biggest by acreage are corn (183,737 acres), soybeans (113,387 acres) and hay (58,717 acres). Its farms sold $1 billion of crops and livestock in 2022, 1st of 87 counties in Minnesota.
Among US counties with published figures, it ranks near the top for oats (7th of 910 counties), turkeys (12th of 1,741 counties) and green peas (22nd of 455 counties).
- Farm sales, 2022
- $1 billion52nd of 3,050 US counties
- Farms
- 2,695643,463 acres of farmland
- Crops vs. livestock
- 31% cropsshare of farm sales
- Items reported
- 5544 published, 10 withheld, 1 under half a unit
County map
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture.
What does Stearns County grow the most of?
Crops ranked by acres harvested (bearing acres for orchards), 2022 Census of Agriculture.
How does Stearns 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 | 12 million broiler chickens | 2 | 219* | 29% | head sold |
| Milk | 57,890 milk cows | 1* | 26* | 13% | head on farms |
| Turkeys | 1.8 million turkeys | 2* | 12* | 12% | head on farms |
| Blackberries | 1 acre | 1* | 418* | 11% | bearing acres |
| Honey | 822,792 pounds | 3* | 40* | 9% | production |
| Cattle | 187,176 cattle | 1 | 48 | 9% | head on farms |
| Oats | 744,283 bushels | 2 | 7* | 8% | production |
| Garlic | 5 acres | 2* | 128* | 6% | acres harvested |
| Eggs | 897,819 laying hens | 4* | 43* | 6% | head on farms |
| Hay | 161,344 tons | 1 | 66 | 6% | production |
| Raspberries | 6 acres | 3* | 109* | 4% | bearing acres |
| Asparagus | 5 acres | 2* | 106* | 4% | acres harvested |
| Sheep | 3,665 sheep | 7 | 210* | 3% | head on farms |
| Green peas | 1,573 acres | 7* | 22* | 3% | acres harvested |
| Goats | 1,488 goats | 6* | 331* | 3% | head on farms |
Show all 44 items
| Item | Amount | State rank | US rank | Share of MN | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar beets | 302,794 tons | 10 | 31 | 3% | production |
| Chile peppers | 2 acres | 6* | 349* | 3% | acres harvested |
| Plums | 1 acre | 6* | 170* | 2% | bearing acres |
| Tomatoes | 7 acres | 11* | 562* | 2% | acres harvested |
| Pumpkins | 47 acres | 8* | 288* | 2% | acres harvested |
| Strawberries | 7 acres | 3* | 186* | 2% | bearing acres |
| Corn | 32.6 million bushels | 15 | 78 | 2% | production |
| Cauliflower | 1 acre | 7* | 191* | 2% | acres harvested |
| Dry beans | 10.5 million pounds | 15* | 51* | 2% | production |
| Kale | 1 acre | 8* | 304* | 2% | acres harvested |
| Apples | 49 acres | 12* | 274* | 2% | bearing acres |
| Sweet corn | 1,739 acres | 19* | 55* | 2% | acres harvested |
| Cucumbers | 3 acres | 12* | 481* | 2% | acres harvested |
| Soybeans | 5.4 million bushels | 32 | 248* | 1% | production |
| Barley | 48,972 bushels | 13* | 224* | 1% | production |
| Grapes | 12 acres | 14* | 414* | 1% | bearing acres |
| Watermelon | 2 acres | 10* | 686* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Cantaloupe | 1 acre | 9* | 531* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Hogs | 65,897 hogs | 32 | 243* | under 1% | head on farms |
| Onions | 2 acres | 11* | 304* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Cabbage | 2 acres | 8* | 306* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Squash | 4 acres | 23* | 559* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Bell peppers | 2 acres | 16* | 523* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Carrots | 2 acres | 7* | 225* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Green beans | 4 acres | 5* | 445* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Wheat | 123,260 bushels | 24 | 1,146* | under 1% | production |
| Potatoes | 73 acres | 11* | 111* | under 1% | acres harvested |
| Broccoli | 2 acres | 8* | 242* | acres harvested | |
| Blueberries | 8 acres | 3* | 336* | bearing acres |
Also reported here, but withheld by NASS to protect individual farms: sweet potatoes, lettuce, celery, Brussels sprouts, spinach, collard greens, sweet cherries, tart cherries, pears and maple syrup.
Reported at less than half a unit (for example, under half an acre): honeydew.
What livestock does Stearns County raise?
| Animal | Head | State rank | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broiler chickens | 11,989,349 | 2 | head sold |
| Turkeys | 1,796,151 | 2* | head on farms |
| Laying hens | 897,819 | 4* | head on farms |
| Cattle | 187,176 | 1 | head on farms |
| Hogs | 65,897 | 32 | head on farms |
| Milk cows | 57,890 | 1* | head on farms |
| Sheep | 3,665 | 7 | head on farms |
| Goats | 1,488 | 6* | head on farms |
Other farm counties in Minnesota
| County | Farm sales |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Goodhue 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.