HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The number of farms in Reno County fell according to the latest farm census recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The total number of farms for the latest year of data was 1,552 in 2017 compared with 1,633 in 2012. The number of acres was also down slightly over the five-year period at 788,966 in 2017 compared with 789,525 in 2012.

The total value of a farm did increase and eclipsed the seven-figure mark for the first time with an average farm valued at $1,097,423 in 2017 compared with $862,492 five years earlier. The total amount of expenses for farmers did decrease in the county. In 2012, total farm expenses was $234.5 million or an average of $143,653 per farm. In 2017, the total expenses for the county was $203.8 million or an average of $131,378.

Farmers also made less in 2017 with an average net cash farm income of $25,567 compared with $37,412 in 2012.