Total population (1996 census): 44,915
County seat: Sidney
Crop Statistics (1997 US Census of Agriculture)
| Cereals | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Maize=Corn | 653 | 61902 | 7992387 bu | |
| Wheat for Grain, Total | 447 | 18454 | 1008887 bu | |
| Oats | 81 | 1116 | 95620 bu | |
| Grain Legumes | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Soybean | 681 | 77236 | 3418915 bu | |
| Forages | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Field Seed and Grass Seed Crops | 3 | 50 | X | |
| Red Clover Seed | 3 | 50 | 4660 lbs | |
| Total Hay* | 324 | 11624 | 32716 tons, dry | |
| Alfalfa Hay | 244 | 6773 | 23124 tons, dry | |
| Small Grain Hay | 31 | 726 | 1515 tons, dry | |
| Tame Hay | 98 | 2026 | 3892 tons, dry | |
| Wild Hay | 5 | 52 | 72 tons dry | |
| Grass Silage | 51 | 2047 | 12337 tons, grn | |
| Corn for Silage | 122 | 4772 | 85678 tons, grn | |
| Vegetables | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Sweet Corn | 3 | D | ||
| Fruits | Farms | Acres | Yield | |
| Apples | 4 | D | 1085 trees | |
| Strawberries | 3 | 1 | 1825 lbs | |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops, Cut Christmas Trees Harvested, Mushrooms, and Sod Grown for Sale | Farms | Sq. ft. under glass or other protection | Acres in the open | Sales ($1,000) |
| Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 11 | 71580 | 121 | 777 |
| Nursery, Floriculture, Vegetable and Flower Seed Crops | 3 | X | 9 | X |
| Florculture Crops | 5 | 71850 | D | 372 |
| Bedding/Garden Plants | 5 | D | D | D |
| Cut Christmas Trees Harvested | 3 | X | 7 | D |
| Nursery Crops | 5 | D | 83 | D |
| Other Nursery and Greenhouse Crops | 3 | D | D | D |
*Alfalfa, grass silage, green chops etc.
D=Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.
X=Not applicable.