Grown Where

Essex County, Virginia · 2022 Census of Agriculture

What does Essex County, Virginia grow?

Of the crops tracked here, Essex County's biggest by acreage are soybeans (25,648 acres), corn (16,851 acres) and wheat (7,507 acres). Its farms sold $41.8 million of crops and livestock in 2022, 32nd of 98 counties in Virginia.

Farm sales, 2022
$41.8 million2068th of 3,050 US counties
Farms
9959,380 acres of farmland
Crops vs. livestock
96% cropsshare of farm sales
Items reported
3317 published, 16 withheld
Value of crops and livestock sold by county, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Under $2.4M$2.4M to $9.6M$9.6M to $36M$36M to $120M$120M to $360M$360M+
None reported
Essex County
$41.8 million
under 1% of Virginia farm sales. No. 32 of 98 counties reporting.

Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2022 Census of Agriculture.

What does Essex County grow the most of?

Crops ranked by acres harvested (bearing acres for orchards), 2022 Census of Agriculture.

  1. 1Soybeans1st in Virginia25,648 acres
  2. 2Corn3rd in Virginia16,851 acres
  3. 3Wheat2nd in Virginia7,507 acres
  4. 4Hay82nd in Virginia*638 acres
  5. 5Cucumbers4th in Virginia*5 acres
  6. 6Potatoes29th in Virginia*3 acres
  7. 7Pumpkins32nd in Virginia*3 acres
  8. 8Kale7th in Virginia*3 acres
  9. 9Squash15th in Virginia*2 acres
  10. 10Bell peppers14th in Virginia*2 acres

How does Essex County rank?

Each item's rank among counties in Virginia 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.

Essex County rankings, 2022 Census of Agriculture, top 15 by share of VA
ItemAmountState rankUS rankShare of VAMeasure
Wheat555,575 bushels2544*5%production
Corn2.9 million bushels3921*5%production
Soybeans1.1 million bushels1882*5%production
Kale3 acres7*155*2%acres harvested
Cucumbers5 acres4*354*2%acres harvested
Bell peppers2 acres14*523*under 1%acres harvested
Honey3,725 pounds441,336*under 1%production
Goats190 goats622,154*under 1%head on farms
Squash2 acres15*751*under 1%acres harvested
Potatoes3 acres29*612*under 1%acres harvested
Cattle1,129 cattle732,805*under 1%head on farms
Pumpkins3 acres32*907*under 1%acres harvested
Hay1,266 tons82*2,865*under 1%production
Hogs95 hogs47*1,697*under 1%head on farms
Eggs323 laying hens82*2,331*under 1%head on farms
Show all 17 items
Essex County rankings, items 16 to 17
ItemAmountState rankUS rankShare of VAMeasure
Milk4 milk cows46*1,458*under 1%head on farms
Turkeys8 turkeys58*1,662*under 1%head on farms

Also reported here, but withheld by NASS to protect individual farms: barley, oats, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, sweet corn, green beans, green peas, cabbage, collard greens, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, chickens and sheep.

What livestock does Essex County raise?

Essex County livestock and poultry, 2022 Census of Agriculture
AnimalHeadState rankMeasure
Cattle1,12973head on farms
Laying hens32382*head on farms
Goats19062head on farms
Hogs9547*head on farms
Turkeys858*head on farms
Milk cows446*head on farms

Other farm counties in Virginia

Top Virginia counties by farm sales, 2022
CountyFarm sales
Rockingham County$1.2 billion
Augusta County$448 million
Accomack County$326 million
Shenandoah County$225 million
Page County$205 million
Orange County$142 million
Southampton County$124 million
Northampton County$109 million
Pittsylvania County$99.8 million
Washington County$94.5 million
Amelia County$81 million
Franklin County$78.6 million

What does Virginia grow? State overview and county map →

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.