Agricultural Lands
Agricultural lands include a variety of landscapes dedicated to the production of commodities such as corn and other row crops, fruit and nut-bearing trees, and hayfields and other pastures. In 2024, agricultural lands made up approximately 60% of Indiana’s total acreage. This ecosystem is found across all of Indiana’s six SWAP regions, but is most prevalent in the corn belt. In agricultural lands, some typical fauna include Western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), Eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis), and black kingsnakes (Lampropeltis nigra). Species of Greatest Conservation Need that use agricultural lands include Eastern prairie fringed orchids (Platanthera leucophaea), whooping cranes (Grus americana), and plains leopard frogs (Lithobates blairi).
Areas classified as agricultural land ecosystems in Indiana in 2024.
Agricultural lands include a variety of landscapes dedicated to the production of commodities such as corn and other row crops, fruit and nut-bearing trees, and hayfields and other pastures. In 2024, agricultural lands made up approximately 60% of Indiana’s total acreage. This ecosystem is found across all of Indiana’s six SWAP regions, but is most prevalent in the corn belt. In agricultural lands, some typical fauna include Western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), Eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis), and black kingsnakes (Lampropeltis nigra). Species of Greatest Conservation Need that use agricultural lands include Eastern prairie fringed orchids (Platanthera leucophaea), whooping cranes (Grus americana), and plains leopard frogs (Lithobates blairi).
Areas classified as agricultural land ecosystems in Indiana in 2024.
- Ecosystem Services and Human Benefits
Agriculture is an integral part of Midwestern culture, and Indiana’s agricultural lands are equally important to that tradition. Healthy agricultural lands provide food and goods for America’s plants, animals, and people. Indiana's soil and climatic conditions are prized for their ability to grow crops such as corn and soybeans. The state produced more than 1 billion bushels of corn and more than 330 million bushels of soybeans in 2023. Additionally, Indiana is the top United States producer of ducks, popcorn, and gourds. Total agricultural production adds $35.1 billion to the state economy annually. Indiana’s agricultural lands are also an important habitat for many types of wildlife, including migratory birds, mammals, and pollinator species.
- Ecosystem Status
Between 2014 and 2024, the area of Indiana’s agricultural lands declined by 1.4%, primarily due to urban and suburban development. Despite the decrease in the total amount of agricultural land cover, corn and soybean yields increased during the same period due to agricultural advances. The relative condition of Indiana agricultural lands is highly dependent on seasonal temperature and precipitation ranges. For example, in 2024, Indiana’s growing season had temperatures ranging 1-2°F above normal, and precipitation patterns were overall drier than usual. Large monthly variations in precipitation were present, causing patterns of excessive wetness and drought. Climate patterns are key regulators of agricultural ecosystems within the state and may affect agricultural yields as they continue to change over time.
Native wildlife and pollinator health is another key indicator of the relative condition of Indiana agricultural lands. Bees have been noted as a population at significant risk of neonicotinoid toxicity in and around agricultural ecosystems. Neonicotinoids are a class of synthetic, neurotoxic insecticides used for pest control in crops. Within Indiana, bees are a vital part of agricultural systems, pollinating fruit crops and producing honey; however, statewide hive numbers are declining. Research conducted by Purdue University found that neonicotinoids from corn crops can be found in dust and water runoff 100 meters outside of agricultural lands, impacting native bee populations within the state.
- Ecosystem Pressures
Broad scale changes to typical fluctuations in temperature and precipitation present major pressures on agricultural lands. Temperature changes may include increases to the number of hot days in a season or year, increases in the number of frost-free days in a season or year, or increases in water temperature. Precipitation changes include fluctuations in precipitation timing and increases in annual precipitation rates. These climate pattern alterations impact nearly all aspects of the ecosystem’s ability to thrive, creating downstream effects on agricultural productivity, market and trade patterns, habitat and biological control, and consumer and producer welfare.
As crops and livestock on agricultural lands are subject to strict temperature and precipitation windows for optimal growth, they are directly vulnerable to changes in climate pattern. Notable effects of such shifts are seen on crop and livestock development, overall yield, and habitat viability. Indirectly, changes to temperature and precipitation present challenges to pest control, disease development, pollination ability, and wildlife diversity, all of which dictate the ability of the ecosystem to thrive.
Additional pressures affecting agricultural lands in Indiana can be explored here.
- Ecosystem Conservation Opportunities
Opportunities to decrease the pressures being placed on agricultural land ecosystems include active work and promotion of sustainable, environmentally friendly agricultural and production practices. Conservation professionals highlighted two opportunities for reducing pressures in agricultural land ecosystems. The first is to work with key actors to reduce the use of neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids act as toxins for pests consuming the plant and can be found in plant tissue, pollen, and nectar. Environmental concerns pertain to pollinators, persistence in soil, and their ability to contaminate water and air sources, all components necessary for the viability of agricultural ecosystems and their biological diversity over time. The second highlighted opportunity is to develop and promote market incentives for conservation. Indiana currently offers various incentives for environmentally friendly practices within agricultural lands, including financial and technical assistance programs and tax incentives. The expansion and promotion of these programs will lead to improved ecosystem function and services over time.