Jay County, Indiana
2024 Land Sales Report

According to Land.com, Jay County doesn’t currently have a lot of land on the market compared to other Indiana counties—it ranks near the bottom at 90th out of 92 for total acreage listed for sale. Still, there are nearly 1,000 acres of farmland and rural property up for grabs, with most of those listings centered around Portland. Located in the eastern part of the state, Jay County spans about 384 square miles, making it the 59th largest county in Indiana.

The most recent USDA farmland census reveals that Jay County had 801 farms managing nearly 199,000 acres, with about 179,900 acres in cropland and much smaller amounts dedicated to pasture (2,400 acres), woodland (10,500 acres), and other uses. Farms here average around 248 acres, slightly smaller than the previous census cycle, and producers often use soil-friendly practices: approximately 43% of farms employ no-till, about 21% use reduced-till, and 12% utilize cover crops. Livestock production dominated the county’s agricultural sales – 73% of revenue – with poultry and hogs being particularly prominent. Crop sales still play a notable role, contributing around 27% of farm income, largely through soybeans, corn, and smaller volumes of wheat, forage, and silage crops.

Overview of Jay County Agriculture

Location and Geography: Jay County sits on Indiana’s eastern border, neighboring Ohio, and features gently rolling, mostly agricultural terrain dedicated almost entirely to farming and rural communities; its highest elevation is just over 1,100 ft in the southeast near Ohio.

Major Crops: 

1. Corn (for grain) is a key crop in Jay County, occupying tens of thousands of acres and produced for grain markets, livestock feed, and ethanol.
2. Soybeans are the county’s top crop by acreage, widely planted and used for food production, oil, and animal feed.
3. Wheat is grown more modestly, often as part of rotation systems to support soil health and supply flour markets.

Jay County holds about 801 farms working nearly 199,000 acres, with cropland making up approximately 179,700 acres and pasture and woodland covering the rest. Farmers use conservation practices such as no-till and cover crops on a good portion of acreage to maintain soil health and productivity. Though it ranks 90th out of 92 counties in Indiana for the amount of farmland currently listed, demand remains steady– the limited supply highlights the value placed on quality agricultural land. Most listings cluster around Portland, which sees the highest volume of farm and rural properties marketed. Buyer interest is driven by the counties strong crop base and reliable farmland conditions.

History & Background of Jay County, Indiana

County Seat: Portland

Townships: Bearcreek / Greene / Jackson / Jefferson / Knox / Madison / Noble / Penn / Pike / Richland / Wabash / Wayne

History: Formed in 1836; named for John Jay, founding father and first Chief Justice of the United States.

Population: 20,478

Cities & Towns: Portland / Bryant / Dunkirk / Pennville / Redkey / Salamonia

Acreage: 246,000

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the following crop statistics have been reported for Jay County, Indiana.

The 2022 Ag Census for Jay County, Indiana, reported the following crop statistics:

Number of farms: 801

Land in farms (acres): 198,780

Average farm size (acres): 248

Total market value of products sold: $602,966,000

Government payments: $1,291,000

Farm-related income: $10,018,000

Total farm production expenses: $420,591,000

Net cash farm income: $193,684,000

Sources / Citations:

Source 1:

“United States Department of Agriculture.” USDA, www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Indiana/Publications/County_Estimates/index.php#:~:text=Access%20Quick%20Stats%20Lite,to%20NASS%20Surveys%20and%20Programs. Accessed 2 July 2025.

Source 2:

“USDA.” 2022 Census of Agriculture County Profile, www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Indiana/cp18075.pdf. Accessed 2 July 2025.

*The transaction and land sales data/information contained in this report was obtained from publicly available sources and sales disclosures deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed, no liability for accuracy, errors or omissions is assumed by Geswein Farm & Land Realty, LLC