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While the value ot gross sales rose, the farmers' costs also climbed since 1974. Expenditures for feed for livestock and poultry for 1978 were $448,000 compared to $323,000; costs of gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products were $266,000 compared to $216,000. Farm energy costs of all types totaled $337,000 for 1978. The estimated market value of machinery and equipment per farm increased from $12,983 to $17,117.
Of the total farms in the county, 25 had gross sales of $40,000 or more and 184 had sales of under $10,000. Farms operated by individuals or families represented 92 percent of the total; farms operated by corporations accounted for 2 percent. Some % percent of the operators owned all or part of the land they operated.
In 1978 the average age of farm operator was 54 years. Since 1974 the proportion of
91.1%