Oregon farm and ranch sales were at $4.1 billion in 2005, the highest mark ever recorded since Oregon State University Extension Service began compiling the data three decades ago.

Benton County’s agricultural sales were at $105 million, the 13th highest in the state. That was down slightly from 2004, when ag sales here were valued at about $109 million.

Linn County was at $249 million, and the sixth-most for an Oregon county in 2005.

The 2005 state sales were a 5 percent increase from 2004.

“While breaking the $4 billion mark is noteworthy, 2005 can best be described as a good but not necessarily great year for Oregon agriculture,” said Larry Burt, an OSU Extension economist.

“Price instability and market volatility depressed earnings in some sectors of the farm and ranch commodity. On the other hand, several commodities enjoyed significant growth in value of sales in 2005,” he said.

Burt also is the primary author and coordinator of the 2005 sales report by OSU agricultural economists.

The study is available online at oregonstate.edu/oain. Select the green ag summaries button on the right side of the page, and on the subsequent page, go to Oregon County and State Agricultural Estimates. Click on the 2005 link.

Nine commodity categories topped more than $200 million: nursery and greenhouse crops, $752 million; cattle and calves, $619 million; small woodlots and Christmas trees, $412 million; grass and legume seeds, $373 million; dairy products, $340 million; vegetable and truck crops, including onions, $261 million; hay and forage crops, $258 million; tree fruits and nuts, $244 million; and field crops, including potatoes, $203 million.

Grain crops suffered the only noteworthy downturn in 2005, recording a drop of 6.4 percent in gross sales to $199 million.

Marion County led the state with $540 million in agricultural sales.