Southwest Missouri
Poultry leads Barry County's farms
Barry County is one of Missouri's top poultry counties, and that farming identity shapes land use, rural roads, and life near working farms.
Farming is a big part of Barry County. Poultry leads the way. In the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, poultry and eggs brought in about $471 million in sales here. That made Barry County the second-ranked poultry county in Missouri. The county counted more than 12 million meat-type chickens at the end of that year. Cattle and hay round out the picture. About 97% of farm sales came from livestock, poultry, and farm products.
This farming life shapes the area. It affects how land is used, the trucks you see on rural roads, and what comes up when a home sits next to a working farm. Missouri’s constitution protects the right to farm and ranch (Article I, Section 35).
If you are moving to rural land near a poultry or livestock farm, learn the area first. Do not assume it will be quiet. For farm rules, fence law, and landowner tips, check with the county clerk, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, or your local University of Missouri Extension office.
References
Where this fits: this note belongs to Barry County. See every local note for the county on its page.