b'E C O N O M YThe Countys largest industry-sector percentage is in agriculture, which is mostly attributed to the growth in the dairy industry over the 25-year period from 1993 to 2018. Manufacturing is the second largest with a substantial increase for the same period. This was most likely due to the growth in cheese, milk, milk powders, and cheese powders in Jerome. Supporting industries have increased in correlation to the growth in agriculture. The next highest is transportation and utilitieslargely a result of dairy industry growth. Proximity to the major corridors of Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 93 has inuenced the transportation industry. The County has also grown its goods-producing sectors over the last 25 years, and the number of jobs continue to trend upward. To ensure economic vitality, Jerome County aims to encourage diversied growth and promote business opportunities to create jobs, broaden the tax base, and minimize the impact of economic uctuations.7AgricultureTotal and Per Farm Overview, 2017 and change since 20122017 % change since 2012Number of farms 486 -13Land in farms (acres) 171,643 -9Average size of farm (acres) 353 +5Percent of county land in farms 44.6%FIGURE 6. Jerome County Total Farm Overview 82017 Market Value of Agricultural Products SoldCounties Sales ($1,000) Rank in State Producing ItemTotal639,583 4 44Crops121,144 9 44Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, dry peas57,847 4 42Tobacco- - -Cotton and cottonseed- - -Vegetables, melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes(D) 12 41Fruits, tree nuts, berries82 11 37Nursery, greenhouse, \x1boriculture, sod(D) 7 43Cultivated Christmas trees, short rotation woody crops- - 14Other crops and hay31,394 9 44Livestock, poultry, and products518,440 3 44Poultry and eggs15 22 43Cattle and calves242,741 2 44Milk from cows274,290 3 35Hogs and pigs6 29 40JEROME County 445'