Total population (1990 census): 646,341
County seat: Independence
CropSELECT
Cereals, Pseudocereals
Grain Legumes
Oilseeds
Forage Grasses and Legumes
Vegetables
Fruits and Nuts
Herb, Aromatic, Medicinal, and Bioactives
Industrials and Fiber
Nursery and Ornamentals
Forest
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 92 | 12717 | 1539984 bu | |
| Sorghum for Grain or Seed | 8 | 1032 | 111327 bu | |
| Wheat | 82 | 10227 | 542338 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Field Seed and Grass Seed Crops | 5 | (D) | (X) | |
| Fescue Seed | 3 | 48 | 4665 tons, dry | |
| Total Hay* | 358 | 17076 | 34712 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 96 | 2766 | 7765 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 8 | 283 | 671 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 258 | 11975 | 23333 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 62 | 1972 | 2841 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 6 | 80 | 304 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 10 | 499 | 7030 tons, grn | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 191 | 49085 | 1636736 bu | |
| Potatoes | 3 | (D) | (D) | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Snap Bean | 7 | (D) | ||
| Sweet Peppers | 4 | 2 | ||
| Pumpkins | 10 | 60 | ||
| Sweet Corn | 10 | 61 | ||
| Tomatoes | 8 | 11 | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 13 | 212 | 13215 trees | |
| Grapes | 7 | 7 | 4328 vines | |
| Peaches | 5 | 54 | 4470 trees | |
| Pears | 3 | (D) | 9 trees | |
| Blackberries | 3 | (D) | (D) | |
| Strawberries | 5 | (D) | (D) | |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops, Cut Christmas Trees Harvested, Mushrooms, and Sod Grown for Sale | Farms | Sq. ft. under glass or other protection | Acres in the open | Sales ($1,000) |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 43 | 460310 | 305 | 4590 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 7 | (X) | 11 | (X) |
| Floriculture Crops | 23 | 448700 | (D) | 3643 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 16 | 283600 | 13 | 2086 |
| Cut Flowers and Cut Florist Greens | 4 | (D) | (D) | (D) |
| Foliage Plants | 4 | (D) | - | (D) |
| Potted Flowering Plants | 14 | 139450 | (D) | 1364 |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 10 | (X) | 35 | 108 |
| Nursery Crops | 14 | (D) | 201 | 773 |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 8 | - | 48 | 8 |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.