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FACT BRIEF

Does Nevada have one of the lowest percentages of cropland in the US?

By Austin Tannenbaum
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YES

Nevada’s cropland, as a percentage of its total land, is the second lowest among states, according to the news wire Stacker, which analyzed 2019 U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

As of 2022, Nevada had 5.9 million acres of farmland, although only 814,000 acres were used to grow crops. The majority of Nevada’s farms are livestock ranches.

Nevada’s top crops are hay and potatoes. Alfalfa, used to feed livestock, is the state’s leading cash crop.

Although farming is Nevada’s third largest industry, it ranked 41st among states for agricultural revenues in the USDA’s 2021 state rankings.

The average soil quality in Nevada is a Class 4, which is classified by the USDA as having “very severe limitations that restrict the choice of plants or require very careful management, or both.”

Nevada’s ongoing drought presents challenges for farmers who require water to irrigate their crops.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Stacker States with the most farmland
US Department of Agriculture 2022 State Agriculture Overview | Nevada
America's Heartland Nevada
US Department of Agriculture Farm sector financial indicators, 2021 state rankings
Acre Value Nevada Farmland Values and GIS Map
US Department of Agriculture US Land Use and Soil Classification
Nevada Department of Agriculture Economic Analysis of the Food and Agriculture Sector in Nevada 2021
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The Nevada Independent
The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.