St. Joseph County, Indiana
2024 Land Sales Report

Recently, nearly 1,000 acres of land went up for sale in St. Joseph County, Indiana, with a total value of around $66 million. That puts the county at 23rd out of 92 in Indiana when it comes to the number of acres currently on the market, according to Land.com. Osceola stands out as the city with the most land and rural properties listed in the area. St. Joseph County is Indiana’s 18th largest county, covering about 461 square miles, and it’s located in the northern part of the state.

The most recent USDA farmland census reveals that there are some big shifts in farming happening in St. Joseph County. Since 2017, the number of farms has dropped by about 13%, but those that remain are getting larger – the average farm is now 280 acres, up 17%. In total, farmland covers over 153,000 acres in the county. Crop production clearly dominates, making up about 80% of all farm sales, with corn, soybeans, and hay being the main crops. Interestingly, while there are fewer farms, income is way up – market value of products sold jumped 56%, and average farm income more than doubled. There’s also a noticeable trend toward conservation practices like no-till and cover crops. Female farmers are a strong part of the picture too, operating nearly 60% of the farms and generating over $56 million in sales. All in all, farming in St. Joseph County is evolving – fewer operations, but they’re more productive and focused on crops, sustainability, and efficiency.

Overview of St. Joseph County Agriculture

Location and Geography: St. Joseph County is located in northern Indiana, bordering the state of Michigan. It features a mix of urban and rural geography, with the St. Joseph River running through its largest city, South Bend.

Major Crops:

1. Corn: The dominant crop in St. Joseph County, with over 71,000 acres harvested annually for livestock feed, ethanol production, and food ingredients.
2. Soybeans: Widely cultivated across the county, occupying more than 57,000 acres and serving as a key source of oil and protein for both human and animal consumption.
3. Wheat: Grown on a smaller scale, provides a rotational crop for farmers and contributes to regional flour production.

St. Joseph County features a predominantly row-crop agricultural system, with corn for grain and soybeans occupying the majority of cropland, supported by rotation crops like wheat, and small-scale specialty plantings such as vegetables, orchards, and historically, mint. Although the county only represents about 1% of Indiana’s farm acreage and less than 3% of its workforce is in agriculture, these crops remain the backbone of its rural economy, even as agricultural land makes up just over half of the total land area and cropland about 46%.

In St. Joseph County, farmers have increasingly sold land – especially older operations or those facing succession challenges – to accommodate residential, industrial, and corporate developments. This land turnover is driven by elevated maintenance and production costs, aging operations, and attractive non-farm alternatives, and local observers expect this trend to continue in the near term.

Despite structural challenges like rising interest rates and tighter farm income margins, tight supply and ongoing non-agricultural interest in land have kept demand firm. Farmland transitioning to development use has been notably increasing, signaling continued pressure on the county’s agricultural land base, even as farm output continues to be produced with fewer acres.

History & Background of St. Joseph County, Indiana

County Seat: South Bend

Townships: Centre / Clay / German / Greene / Harris / Liberty / Lincoln / Madison / Olive / Penn / Portage / Union / Warren

History: Founded in 1830, named for the St. Joseph River

Population: 272,912

Cities & Towns: Indian Village / Lakeville / Mishawaka / New Carlisle / North Liberty / Osceola / Roseland / South Bend / Walkerton

Acreage: 295,040

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

The 2022 Ag Census for St. Joseph County, Indiana, reported the following crop statistics: