Southwest Missouri
Farming shapes life in Polk County: cattle, dairy, and crops
Cattle and hay lead Polk County's farm economy, with dairy ranking high statewide and some row crops mixed in. That farming base shapes land use and what to expect on rural roads and near working farms.
Farming is a big part of life in Polk County. The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 1,380 farms here, covering about 340,780 acres. Most of that land is pasture and hay ground. Cattle bring in the most money by far, and the county also ranks high in the state for milk from dairy cows. Farmers grow some row crops too, mainly soybeans, corn, and wheat.
This matters if you live near a working farm. Tractors share the rural roads, and farms can mean smells, dust, and noise. Missouri’s constitution protects the right to farm and ranch, so a quiet, no-farm setting is not a safe assumption.
Moving to a rural parcel? Learn the area first. The Missouri Department of Agriculture and University of Missouri Extension can answer questions about farm rules, fences, ponds, and rural living.
References
More from Polk County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: June 20, 2026.