Impact of Madison & Tipton County farms
Indiana is a massive agricultural powerhouse, ranking 9th in the U.S. for total agricultural production and contributing over $35 billion to the state’s economy. With over 53,000 family-owned farms, the industry is dominated by large-scale corn and soybean cultivation, alongside leading national rankings in livestock, poultry, and specialty crops.
Madison County generates more total farm revenue and has more farms, but Tipton County features larger average farm sizes and higher net income per farm according to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture.
Both Central Indiana counties are major hubs for corn and soybean production, but their farm structures differ.
Agriculture Statistics Profile
The table below breaks down the key agricultural data comparing Madison County and Tipton County based on the official USDA Census reports.
| Agricultural Metric | Madison County | Tipton County |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Farms | 682 | 416 |
| Total Land in Farms | 196,215 acres | 163,401 acres |
| Average Farm Size | 288 acres | 393 acres |
| Market Value of Products Sold | $206,059,000 | $203,027,000 |
| Net Cash Farm Income | $60,917,000 | $71,020,000 |
| Average Net Income Per Farm | $89,322 | $170,720 |
| Crop Share of Total Sales | 97% | 76% |
| Livestock Share of Total Sales | 3% | 24% |
Key Differences
- Farm Size and Count: Madison County has about 64% more farms than Tipton County. However, Tipton County farms are larger on average, beating Madison County by over 100 acres per farm.
- Financial Returns: While Madison County edges out Tipton County in total market sales by roughly $3 million, Tipton County is much more profitable overall. Tipton County brought in $71 million in net cash income compared to Madison’s $61 million. This gives Tipton County an average net farm income that is nearly double Madison County’s average.
- Crops vs. Livestock: Madison County relies almost entirely on crop production (97%). Tipton County leans heavily on crops as well (76%), but maintains a much larger livestock presence (24%) which helps diversify its farm income.
Major Commodities Produced
Both counties allocate the vast majority of their farmland to the same two primary cash crops:
- Madison County: Soybeans lead production with 96,231 acres harvested, followed very closely by corn for grain at 79,625 acres.
- Tipton County: Corn leads production with 80,458 acres harvested, followed by soybeans at 73,392 acres. Tipton also harvests a modest amount of commercial vegetables (201 acres).
