Talbot County Agricultural Economic Dashboard – Delmarva Index
To activate the interactive dashboard in full screen, click the double arrow at the bottom right of the image. Then, choose ‘Talbot’ on the left-hand menu to see our county’s data.
The Eastern Shore Regional GIS Cooperative (ESRGC) has unveiled a groundbreaking Agricultural Census Dashboard, a dynamic new data visualization tool that delivers unprecedented access to agricultural insights across the state of Maryland.
Built on publicly available data from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, a comprehensive survey conducted every five years, the dashboard offers a clear, user-friendly view of land use, production trends, farm demographics, and the economic forces shaping American agriculture. With just a few clicks, users can explore both statewide and county-level data on farm income, expenses, production practices, and more.
“This dashboard brings Maryland’s agriculture story to life,” says Project Manager Erin Silva. “It takes thousands of rows of complex data and transforms it into information that’s clear, compelling, and incredibly useful, whether you’re a farmer, planner, policymaker, or community advocate.”
Developed in partnership with the Mid-Shore Regional Council and the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland with support from the Rural Maryland Council’s Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund, the dashboard includes a robust set of features:
- Income and Farm Expenses: Visualizes changes in farm sales, production costs, and related income over a 10-year period.
- Producer Demographics: Offers insights into the age, gender, race, decision-making roles, and tenure of Maryland’s farmers.
- Crops and Livestock: Tracks harvested cropland by commodity, livestock inventory, and county-level production patterns.
- Agricultural Practices: Highlights organic farming, fertilizer use, land management practices, and more.
The dashboard provides comprehensive statewide and county-level coverage, enabling users to evaluate local strengths, compare regional trends, and monitor the economic and demographic forces driving agriculture on the Delmarva Peninsula. It is hosted on the Delmarva Index, an interactive data platform that tracks regional indicators such as population, economy, housing, workforce, and health to support informed decision-making.
Housed at Salisbury University, the ESRGC is nationally recognized for its expertise in geospatial analysis and data visualization. For more than 20 years, the Cooperative has worked with local governments and regional organizations to transform complex data into accessible, actionable tools that support planning, policy, and community development across Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
“A critical part of the mission of Salisbury University is to serve the economic and cultural needs of our Eastern Shore community,” says Dr. Michael Scott, SU’s dean of the Henson School of Science and Technology. “The work on the Agricultural Census dashboard exemplifies how our ESRGC team seeks to achieve that mission by putting the power of visualization of critical agricultural datasets in the hands of decision makers, elected leaders, producers, and the broader community.”
The Agricultural Census Dashboard is the latest in a series of regional data tools supported by the Mid-Shore Regional Council, the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore, and local economic development offices in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties.
Cassandra Vanhooser, director of economic development and tourism for Talbot County, says the dashboard is already proving valuable in her work.
“These tools empower informed decisions,” Vanhooser explains. “They provide the kind of visualized data that can help guide investments, policy, and planning in agriculture for years to come.”
The Agricultural Census Dashboard is available now on the Delmarva Index here.
About Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism’s mission is to enhance and promote a business-friendly environment for current and prospective enterprises and to advocate for policies that support and strengthen the economic vitality of Talbot County. The department’s vision for Talbot County is built on the principles of strong communities, empowered businesses, and innovative solutions.
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