17
United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service ISSN: 1995-2004 Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary February 2020
United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service
ISSN: 1995-2004
Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary February 2020
Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) 3 USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Contents
Farms and Land in Farms Highlights ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – United States: 2012-2019 ....................................................... 5
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2018-2019 ............. 5
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – States and United States: 2018-2019 ..................................... 6
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $1,000-$9,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 ............ 7
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $10,000-$99,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 ........ 8
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $100,000-$249,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 .... 9
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $250,000-$499,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 .. 10
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $500,000-$999,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 .. 11
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $1,000,000 or more – States and United States: 2018-2019 .. 12
Statistical Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 13
Terms and Definitions ........................................................................................................................................................... 14
Farm Definition History ........................................................................................................................................................ 15
Information Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................ 16
4 Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Farms and Land in Farms Highlights
The number of farms in the United States for 2019 is estimated at 2,023,400, down 5,800 farms from 2018. Total land in
farms, at 897,400,000 acres, decreased 2,100,000 acres from 2018. The average farm size for 2019 is 444 acres, up 1 acre
from the previous year.
Farm numbers and land in farms are differentiated by six economic sales classes. Farms and ranches are classified into
these six sales classes by summing the sales of agricultural products and government program payments. Sales class
breaks occur at $10,000, $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000. Producers were asked during the 2019 mid-year
surveys to report the value of sales based on production during the 2018 calendar year.
Point Farms are farms that did not have the required minimum $1,000 in sales for the year to qualify as a farm, but had
sufficient crops and livestock to normally have sales of $1,000 or more. Point Farms are assigned a sales class based on
the sum of the agricultural point (dollar) values assigned to the quantity of commodities produced but not sold. The
2017 Census of Agriculture showed that 471,593 farms or 23.1 percent of the 2,042,220 farms were Point Farms. These
Point Farms operated 59,166,158 acres or 6.6 percent of the 900,217,576 acres of farmland.
Number of farms declined by 5,800 from 2018. The number of farms in the $100,000 - $249,999 and $250,000 -
$499,999 sales classes increased while all other sales classes declined. In 2019, 51.1 percent of all farms had less than
$10,000 in sales and 81.5 percent of all farms had less than $100,000 in sales. In 2019, 7.4 percent of all farms had sales
of $500,000 or more.
Land in farms, at 897,400,000 acres, is down 2,100,000 acres from 2018. The biggest change for 2019 is that producers
in Sales Class $100,000 - $249,999 operated 1,170,000 fewer acres than in 2018. In 2019, 30.2 percent of all farmland
was operated by farms with less than $100,000 in sales, while 40.8 percent of all farmland was operated by farms with
sales of $500,000 or more.
The average farm size continued to increase in 2019 as the number of farms declined. The overall average size increased
by 1 acre to 444 acres per farm. Average farm size decreased in the $100,000-$249,999 and $250,000 - $499,999 sales
classes and increased or remained unchanged in all others.
Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) 5 USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – United States: 2012-2019
Year Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size
(number) (1,000 acres) (acres)
2012 ...................................... 2013 ...................................... 2014 ...................................... 2015 ...................................... 2016 ...................................... 2017 ...................................... 2018 ...................................... 2019 ......................................
2,109,810 2,100,350 2,082,440 2,063,890 2,055,340 2,042,000 2,029,200 2,023,400
914,600 911,720 908,920 905,790 902,680 900,370 899,500 897,400
433 434 436 439 439 441 443 444
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2018-2019
Economic sales class
Percent of total Average farm size
Number of Farms Land in farms
2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019
(percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (acres) (acres)
$1,000 - $9,999 ................... $10,000 - $99,999 ................ $100,000 - $249,999 ............ $250,000 - $499,999 ............ $500,000 - $999,999 ............ $1,000,000 or more ............. Total 1 ..................................
51.0 30.5
6.7 4.4 3.6 3.9
100.0
51.1 30.4 6.7 4.4 3.5 3.9
100.0
9.4 20.8 14.8 14.3 15.4 25.3
100.0
9.4 20.8 14.7 14.3 15.4 25.4
100.0
81 302 987
1,450 1,925 2,897
443
81 304 976
1,448 1,940 2,910
444
1 Percent of total may not add to 100 due to rounding.
6 Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – States and United States: 2018-2019
State Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size
2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019
(number) (number) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (acres) (acres)
Alabama ....................................... Alaska ........................................... Arizona ......................................... Arkansas ....................................... California ...................................... Colorado ....................................... Connecticut ................................... Delaware ...................................... Florida ........................................... Georgia ......................................... Hawaii ........................................... Idaho ............................................. Illinois ............................................ Indiana .......................................... Iowa .............................................. Kansas .......................................... Kentucky ....................................... Louisiana ...................................... Maine ............................................ Maryland ....................................... Massachusetts .............................. Michigan ....................................... Minnesota ..................................... Mississippi .................................... Missouri ........................................ Montana ........................................ Nebraska ...................................... Nevada ......................................... New Hampshire ............................ New Jersey ................................... New Mexico .................................. New York ...................................... North Carolina ............................... North Dakota ................................. Ohio .............................................. Oklahoma ..................................... Oregon .......................................... Pennsylvania ................................ Rhode Island ................................. South Carolina .............................. South Dakota ................................ Tennessee .................................... Texas ............................................ Utah .............................................. Vermont ........................................ Virginia .......................................... Washington ................................... West Virginia ................................. Wisconsin ..................................... Wyoming ....................................... United States ................................
39,700 1,000
19,200 42,500 69,400 38,900 5,500 2,300
47,500 41,600
7,300
24,800 72,000 56,100 86,000 58,900 75,100 27,400 7,600
12,400
7,200 47,000 68,500 34,700 95,000 26,900 45,900 3,400 4,100 9,900
24,700 33,400 46,400 26,100 77,800 77,300 37,200 53,000 1,100
24,600
29,600 70,000
247,000 18,100 6,800
42,500 35,700 23,400 64,800 11,900
2,029,200
38,800 1,050
19,000 42,300 69,900 38,700 5,500 2,300
47,400 41,500
7,300
24,600 71,400 56,000 85,300 58,500 74,800 27,400 7,600
12,400
7,200 47,000 68,000 34,500 95,200 26,800 45,700 3,350 4,100 9,900
24,800 33,400 46,200 26,100 77,800 77,300 37,200 52,700 1,100
24,600
29,600 69,700
247,000 17,800 6,800
42,400 35,600 22,900 64,900 12,000
2,023,400
8,500 850
26,200 13,900 24,300 31,800
380 530
9,700 10,100
1,100
11,600 27,000 15,000 30,600 45,800 12,900 8,000 1,300 2,000
500
9,800 25,500 10,400 27,700 58,000 45,000 6,100
430 750
40,500 6,900 8,400
39,300 13,900 34,200 16,000 7,300
60 4,800
43,200 10,900
127,000 10,700 1,200 7,800
14,700 3,600
14,300 29,000
899,500
8,300 850
26,200 14,000 24,300 31,800
380 530
9,700 10,200
1,100
11,500 27,000 14,900 30,600 45,700 12,900 8,000 1,300 2,000
500
9,800 25,500 10,400 27,600 58,000 44,900 6,100
430 750
40,000 6,900 8,400
39,300 13,600 34,400 15,800 7,300
60 4,800
43,200 10,800
126,500 10,700 1,200 7,800
14,600 3,500
14,300 29,000
897,400
214 850
1,365 327 350 817 69
230 204 243
151 468 375 267 356 778 172 292 171 161
69
209 372 300 292
2,156 980
1,794 105 76
1,640
207 181
1,506 179 442 430 138 55
195
1,459 156 514 591 176 184 412 154 221
2,437
443
214 810
1,379 331 348 822 69
230 205 246
151 467 378 266 359 781 172 292 171 161
69
209 375 301 290
2,164 982
1,821 105 76
1,613
207 182
1,506 175 445 425 139 55
195
1,459 155 512 601 176 184 410 153 220
2,417
444
Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) 7 USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and United States: 2018-2019
State
Economic sales class: $1,000-$9,999
Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size
2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019
(number) (number) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (acres) (acres)
Alabama ....................................... Alaska .......................................... Arizona ......................................... Arkansas ...................................... California ...................................... Colorado ....................................... Connecticut .................................. Delaware ...................................... Florida .......................................... Georgia ........................................ Hawaii .......................................... Idaho ............................................ Illinois ........................................... Indiana ......................................... Iowa .............................................. Kansas ......................................... Kentucky ....................................... Louisiana ...................................... Maine ........................................... Maryland ....................................... Massachusetts .............................. Michigan ....................................... Minnesota ..................................... Mississippi .................................... Missouri ........................................ Montana ....................................... Nebraska ...................................... Nevada ......................................... New Hampshire ............................ New Jersey ................................... New Mexico .................................. New York ...................................... North Carolina .............................. North Dakota ................................ Ohio .............................................. Oklahoma ..................................... Oregon ......................................... Pennsylvania ................................ Rhode Island ................................ South Carolina .............................. South Dakota ................................ Tennessee .................................... Texas ........................................... Utah .............................................. Vermont ........................................ Virginia ......................................... Washington .................................. West Virginia ................................ Wisconsin ..................................... Wyoming ...................................... United States ................................
22,600 540
14,300 20,700 26,400 21,900 3,650
820 29,000 23,300
4,250
13,500 27,900 25,800 25,400 21,800 44,300 15,300 4,800 6,700
4,500
24,000 25,400 19,700 44,400 11,600 11,500 1,700 2,750 6,400
16,800 15,400 26,100 7,200
40,400 39,800 23,400 25,000
630 16,500
7,200
43,800 156,500 11,000 3,750
24,100 21,800 17,000 28,800 5,600
1,035,690
21,800 590
14,200 20,500 27,200 22,000 3,650
820 28,900 23,200
4,250
13,300 27,700 26,100 25,000 21,300 44,000 15,400 4,800 6,700
4,500
24,500 24,900 19,600 44,500 11,400 11,300 1,700 2,750 6,400
17,000 15,500 25,900 7,400
41,400 40,300 23,500 24,900
630 16,400
7,000
43,600 156,500 10,800 3,750
24,100 21,700 16,600 29,000 5,600
1,034,540
2,100 80
4,800 1,800 1,400 2,100
130 20
1,300 2,300
70
700 1,200
900 900
2,000 3,100 1,100
390 260
190
1,200 1,600 2,300 3,300 1,900
800 500 170 160
5,100 1,100 1,500 1,100 1,600 4,100 1,000 1,300
20 1,600
900
2,700 15,600
600 280
1,700 800
1,600 1,800 1,200
84,370
1,900 80
4,800 1,750 1,300 2,200
130 20
1,300 2,300
70
650 1,200 1,000
900 1,900 3,000 1,100
390 260
190
1,250 1,600 2,200 3,200 2,000
800 520 170 160
5,000 1,100 1,400 1,200 1,900 4,200 1,100 1,300
20 1,500
1,000 2,700
15,200 600 280
1,700 800
1,500 1,900 1,200
83,940
93 148 336 87 53 96 36 24 45 99
16 52 43 35 35 92 70 72 81 39
42 50 63
117 74
164 70
294 62 25
304 71 57
153 40
103 43 52 32 97
125 62
100 55 75 71 37 94 63
214
81
87 136 338 85 48
100 36 24 45 99
16 49 43 38 36 89 68 71 81 39
42 51 64
112 72
175 71
306 62 25
294 71 54
162 46
104 47 52 32 91
143 62 97 56 75 71 37 90 66
214
81
8 Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and United States: 2018-2019
State
Economic sales class: $10,000-$99,999
Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size
2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019
(number) (number) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (acres) (acres)
Alabama ....................................... Alaska ........................................... Arizona ......................................... Arkansas ....................................... California ...................................... Colorado ....................................... Connecticut ................................... Delaware ...................................... Florida ........................................... Georgia ......................................... Hawaii ........................................... Idaho ............................................. Illinois ............................................ Indiana .......................................... Iowa .............................................. Kansas .......................................... Kentucky ....................................... Louisiana ...................................... Maine ............................................ Maryland ....................................... Massachusetts .............................. Michigan ....................................... Minnesota ..................................... Mississippi .................................... Missouri ........................................ Montana ........................................ Nebraska ...................................... Nevada ......................................... New Hampshire ............................ New Jersey ................................... New Mexico .................................. New York ...................................... North Carolina ............................... North Dakota ................................. Ohio .............................................. Oklahoma ..................................... Oregon .......................................... Pennsylvania ................................ Rhode Island ................................. South Carolina .............................. South Dakota ................................ Tennessee .................................... Texas ............................................ Utah .............................................. Vermont ........................................ Virginia .......................................... Washington ................................... West Virginia ................................. Wisconsin ..................................... Wyoming ....................................... United States ................................
12,500 360
3,550 14,700 22,500 11,200 1,400
510 13,500 11,500
2,500 6,500
20,200 16,600 26,200 21,300 24,200 8,800 2,050 3,300
1,950
14,400 20,400 10,700 37,200 8,000
14,500 970
1,100 2,350
6,100
11,400 12,700 7,400
23,000 29,000 9,000
16,700 340
5,900
9,300 21,700 72,800 5,100 1,950
14,000 8,300 5,600
20,100 3,700
619,030
12,500 360
3,450 14,500 22,600 10,800 1,400
510 13,500 11,500
2,500 6,500
20,000 16,100 25,800 21,500 24,200 8,700 2,050 3,300
1,950
14,000 20,500 10,600 37,300 8,100
14,300 980
1,100 2,350
6,000
11,500 12,700 7,300
22,000 28,500 8,900
16,700 340
6,000
9,400 21,600 72,800 5,000 1,950
13,900 8,300 5,500
20,200 3,800
615,340
3,200 450
5,300 3,700 4,000 7,100
100 50
2,100 2,700
200
1,800 2,600 1,800 3,700 7,100 4,400 1,900
350 390
160
1,700 3,600 3,000 8,600
10,400 5,000
500 170 170
10,400 1,800 1,800 4,000 2,700
11,400 3,000 2,200
20 1,300
4,600 3,900
38,300 1,900
310 2,800 1,800 1,400 2,900 4,000
186,770
3,200 450
5,200 3,700 4,300 7,000
100 50
2,100 2,700
200
1,800 2,500 1,700 3,600 7,200 4,500 1,900
350 390
160
1,600 3,600 3,000 8,600
10,300 4,900
530 170 170
10,200 1,800 1,800 4,100 2,900
11,400 2,900 2,200
20 1,400
4,500 3,800
39,000 1,900
310 2,800 1,700 1,400 2,900 4,100
187,100
256 1,250 1,493
252 178 634 71 98
156 235
80
277 129 108 141 333 182 216 171 118
82
118 176 280 231
1,300 345 515 155 72
1,705
158 142 541 117 393 333 132 59
220
495 180 526 373 159 200 217 250 144
1,081
302
256 1,250 1,507
255 190 648 71 98
156 235
80
277 125 106 140 335 186 218 171 118
82
114 176 283 231
1,272 343 541 155 72
1,700
157 142 562 132 400 326 132 59
233
479 176 536 380 159 201 205 255 144
1,079
304
Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) 9 USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and United States: 2018-2019
State
Economic sales class: $100,000-$249,999
Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size
2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019
(number) (number) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (acres) (acres)
Alabama ....................................... Alaska .......................................... Arizona ......................................... Arkansas ...................................... California ...................................... Colorado ....................................... Connecticut .................................. Delaware ...................................... Florida .......................................... Georgia ........................................ Hawaii .......................................... Idaho ............................................ Illinois ........................................... Indiana ......................................... Iowa .............................................. Kansas ......................................... Kentucky ....................................... Louisiana ...................................... Maine ........................................... Maryland ....................................... Massachusetts .............................. Michigan ....................................... Minnesota ..................................... Mississippi .................................... Missouri ........................................ Montana ....................................... Nebraska ...................................... Nevada ......................................... New Hampshire ............................ New Jersey ................................... New Mexico .................................. New York ...................................... North Carolina .............................. North Dakota ................................ Ohio .............................................. Oklahoma ..................................... Oregon ......................................... Pennsylvania ................................ Rhode Island ................................ South Carolina .............................. South Dakota ................................ Tennessee .................................... Texas ........................................... Utah .............................................. Vermont ........................................ Virginia ......................................... Washington .................................. West Virginia ................................ Wisconsin ..................................... Wyoming ...................................... Other States 1 ............................... United States ................................
1,050 40
530 1,350 6,450 2,550
190 130
1,900 1,450
270
1,700 8,000 5,000
11,100 6,300 2,900
950 320 720
340
3,150 7,700
920 5,800 3,100 6,400
220 (D) 450
820
3,000 1,650 3,100 6,400 4,250 1,850 5,100
(D) 630
4,450 1,800 7,500
900 470
1,750 1,800
370 6,900 1,200
190
135,110
1,150 40
510 1,400 6,500 2,600
190 130
1,900 1,400
270
1,700 8,000 5,200
11,000 6,100 3,000
950 320 720
340
3,200 7,700
940 5,800 3,150 6,500
220 (D) 450
810
2,850 1,700 3,200 6,500 4,250 1,800 5,000
(D) 630
4,500 1,800 7,400
890 470
1,700 1,800
370 7,000 1,200
190
135,440
750 210
10,300 950
3,200 5,900
30 40
1,200 690
130
1,700 2,700 1,700 3,600 6,600 1,200
790 100 210
40
1,200 2,900
610 3,500
10,200 5,700
900 (D) 110
6,300
880 600
4,700 2,200 6,300 2,600 1,100
(D) 320
6,800
850 20,200 1,300
140 950
3,100 270
2,100 5,400
40
133,310
810 210
10,400 950
3,200 5,800
30 40
1,100 710
130
1,700 2,700 1,600 3,600 6,500 1,200
790 100 210
40
1,300 2,900
620 3,500
10,300 5,900
960 (D) 110
6,200
880 700
4,600 2,000 6,400 2,500 1,100
(D) 300
6,900
850 19,200 1,300
140 950
3,000 270
2,100 5,300
40
132,140
714 5,250
19,434 704 496
2,314 158 308 632 476
481
1,000 338 340 324
1,048 414 832 313 292
118 381 377 663 603
3,290 891
4,091 (D) 244
7,683
293 364
1,516 344
1,482 1,405
216 (D) 508
1,528
472 2,693 1,444
298 543
1,722 730 304
4,500
(X)
987
704 5,250
20,392 679 492
2,231 158 308 579 507
481
1,000 338 308 327
1,066 400 832 313 292
118 406 377 660 603
3,270 908
4,364 (D) 244
7,654
309 412
1,438 308
1,506 1,389
220 (D) 476
1,533
472 2,595 1,461
298 559
1,667 730 300
4,417
(X)
976
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 1 Includes data withheld above.
10 Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and United States: 2018-2019
State
Economic sales class: $250,000-$499,999
Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size
2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019
(number) (number) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (acres) (acres)
Alabama ....................................... Alaska ........................................... Arizona ......................................... Arkansas ....................................... California ...................................... Colorado ....................................... Connecticut ................................... Delaware ...................................... Florida ........................................... Georgia ......................................... Hawaii ........................................... Idaho ............................................. Illinois ............................................ Indiana .......................................... Iowa .............................................. Kansas .......................................... Kentucky ....................................... Louisiana ...................................... Maine ............................................ Maryland ....................................... Massachusetts .............................. Michigan ....................................... Minnesota ..................................... Mississippi .................................... Missouri ........................................ Montana ........................................ Nebraska ...................................... Nevada ......................................... New Hampshire ............................ New Jersey ................................... New Mexico .................................. New York ...................................... North Carolina ............................... North Dakota ................................. Ohio .............................................. Oklahoma ..................................... Oregon .......................................... Pennsylvania ................................ Rhode Island ................................. South Carolina .............................. South Dakota ................................ Tennessee .................................... Texas ............................................ Utah .............................................. Vermont ........................................ Virginia .......................................... Washington ................................... West Virginia ................................. Wisconsin ..................................... Wyoming ....................................... Other States 1 ............................... United States ................................
650 (D) 210
1,050 3,900 1,450
110 110
1,000 1,050
120
1,200 6,200 3,350 8,900 4,050 1,450
540 180 490
(D)
2,200 5,800
600 2,950 2,300 5,000
240 70
280
390 1,750 1,250 3,000 3,300 2,050 1,150 3,150
(D) 280
3,700 1,000 3,650
520 320 910
1,250 130
4,300 810
250
88,610
650 (D) 200
1,100 4,000 1,500
110 110
1,000 1,100
120
1,200 6,100 3,250 9,200 4,150 1,400
570 180 490
(D)
2,150 5,800
580 2,950 2,250 5,100
200 70
280
390 1,700 1,250 3,000 3,000 2,100 1,150 3,100
(D) 280
3,800 1,000 3,600
510 320 960
1,250 130
4,250 810
250
88,660
560 (D)
1,700 750
2,300 5,700
20 50
850 610
170
1,500 4,000 2,000 5,500 7,600
900 610 100 230
(D)
1,200 3,900
590 2,900
13,400 7,800 1,000
30 80
6,400
780 700
6,500 1,900 4,600 2,900
980 (D) 270
8,700
660 14,700 2,000
130 680
2,100 120
2,000 6,200
130
128,500
580 (D)
1,600 800
2,200 5,800
20 50
850 690
170
1,500 4,000 2,000 5,500 7,500
900 610 100 230
(D)
1,300 4,000
580 2,900
13,300 7,900
900 30 80
6,300
780 700
6,600 1,600 4,600 2,800
980 (D) 230
8,800
660 14,800 2,000
130 680
2,200 110
2,100 6,100
130
128,390
862 (D)
8,095 714 590
3,931 182 455 850 581
1,417 1,250
645 597 618
1,877 621
1,130 556 469
(D) 545 672 983 983
5,826 1,560 4,167
429 286
16,410
446 560
2,167 576
2,244 2,522
311 (D) 964
2,351
660 4,027 3,846
406 747
1,680 923 465
7,654
(X)
1,450
892 (D)
8,000 727 550
3,867 182 455 850 627
1,417 1,250
656 615 598
1,807 643
1,070 556 469
(D) 605 690
1,000 983
5,911 1,549 4,500
429 286
16,154
459 560
2,200 533
2,190 2,435
316 (D) 821
2,316
660 4,111 3,922
406 708
1,760 846 494
7,531
(X)
1,448
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 1 Includes data withheld above.
Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) 11 USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and United States: 2018-2019
State
Economic sales class: $500,000-$999,999
Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size
2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019
(number) (number) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (acres) (acres)
Alabama ....................................... Alaska .......................................... Arizona ......................................... Arkansas ...................................... California ...................................... Colorado ....................................... Connecticut .................................. Delaware ...................................... Florida .......................................... Georgia ........................................ Hawaii .......................................... Idaho ............................................ Illinois ........................................... Indiana ......................................... Iowa .............................................. Kansas ......................................... Kentucky ....................................... Louisiana ...................................... Maine ........................................... Maryland ....................................... Massachusetts .............................. Michigan ....................................... Minnesota ..................................... Mississippi .................................... Missouri ........................................ Montana ....................................... Nebraska ...................................... Nevada ......................................... New Hampshire ............................ New Jersey ................................... New Mexico .................................. New York ...................................... North Carolina .............................. North Dakota ................................ Ohio .............................................. Oklahoma ..................................... Oregon ......................................... Pennsylvania ................................ Rhode Island ................................ South Carolina .............................. South Dakota ................................ Tennessee .................................... Texas ........................................... Utah .............................................. Vermont ........................................ Virginia ......................................... Washington .................................. West Virginia ................................ Wisconsin ..................................... Wyoming ...................................... United States ................................
1,200 30
200 1,350 3,550
900 70
260 900
1,800
70 800
5,300 2,450 8,000 3,000 1,000
710 110 520
140
1,550 4,800
880 2,400 1,300 4,400
140 30
200
260 930
1,450 2,800 2,550 1,150
850 1,700
20 410
2,700
830 3,000
310 140 830
1,100 150
2,550 390
72,180
1,100 30
220 1,400 3,200
920 70
260 900
1,850
70 800
5,200 2,500 7,900 2,900 1,000
730 110 520
140
1,500 4,800
880 2,400 1,250 4,300
110 30
200
260 930
1,450 2,700 2,650 1,100
870 1,650
20 380
2,600
830 3,100
320 140 850
1,100 150
2,400 380
71,170
690 20
1,000 1,200 2,200 4,500
20 110 650
1,400
210 1,800 6,100 2,800 7,800 9,200
900 1,050
70 330
30
1,500 5,100
900 3,700
12,200 9,400
700 10 90
6,300
640 900
9,100 2,300 3,600 2,800
750 10
400
8,900 890
14,500 1,000
80 670
2,300 100
1,900 6,100
138,920
660 20
1,000 1,200 2,300 4,700
20 110 650
1,400
210 1,750 6,000 2,700 7,800 9,200
900 1,050
70 330
30
1,400 5,100
900 3,700
12,100 9,200
640 10 90
6,200
640 900
8,800 2,200 3,600 2,800
750 10
400
8,800 890
14,800 1,000
80 670
2,300 110
1,800 6,100
138,090
575 667
5,000 889 620
5,000 286 423 722 778
3,000 2,250 1,151 1,143
975 3,067
900 1,479
636 635
214 968
1,063 1,023 1,542 9,385 2,136 5,000
333 450
24,231
688 621
3,250 902
3,130 3,294
441 500 976
3,296 1,072 4,833 3,226
571 807
2,091 667 745
15,641
1,925
600 667
4,545 857 719
5,109 286 423 722 757
3,000 2,188 1,154 1,080
987 3,172
900 1,438
636 635
214 933
1,063 1,023 1,542 9,680 2,140 5,818
333 450
23,846
688 621
3,259 830
3,273 3,218
455 500
1,053
3,385 1,072 4,774 3,125
571 788
2,091 733 750
16,053
1,940
12 Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and United States: 2018-2019
State
Economic sales class: $1,000,000 or more
Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size
2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019
(number) (number) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (acres) (acres)
Alabama ....................................... Alaska ........................................... Arizona ......................................... Arkansas ....................................... California ...................................... Colorado ....................................... Connecticut ................................... Delaware ...................................... Florida ........................................... Georgia ......................................... Hawaii ........................................... Idaho ............................................. Illinois ............................................ Indiana .......................................... Iowa .............................................. Kansas .......................................... Kentucky ....................................... Louisiana ...................................... Maine ............................................ Maryland ....................................... Massachusetts .............................. Michigan ....................................... Minnesota ..................................... Mississippi .................................... Missouri ........................................ Montana ........................................ Nebraska ...................................... Nevada ......................................... New Hampshire ............................ New Jersey ................................... New Mexico .................................. New York ...................................... North Carolina ............................... North Dakota ................................. Ohio .............................................. Oklahoma ..................................... Oregon .......................................... Pennsylvania ................................ Rhode Island ................................. South Carolina .............................. South Dakota ................................ Tennessee .................................... Texas ............................................ Utah .............................................. Vermont ........................................ Virginia .......................................... Washington ................................... West Virginia ................................. Wisconsin ..................................... Wyoming ....................................... Other States 1 ............................... United States ................................
1,700 (D) 410
3,350 6,600
900 80
470 1,200 2,500
90
1,100 4,400 2,900 6,400 2,450 1,250 1,100
140 670
(D)
1,700 4,400 1,900 2,250
600 4,100
130 (D) 220
330 920
3,250 2,600 2,150 1,050
950 1,350
(D) 880
2,250
870 3,550
270 170 910
1,450 150
2,150 200
120
78,580
1,600 (D) 420
3,400 6,400
880 80
470 1,200 2,450
90
1,100 4,400 2,850 6,400 2,550 1,200 1,050
140 670
(D)
1,650 4,300 1,900 2,250
650 4,200
140 (D) 220
340 920
3,200 2,500 2,250 1,050
980 1,350
(D) 910
2,300
870 3,600
280 170 890
1,450 150
2,050 210
120
78,250
1,200 (D)
3,100 5,500
11,200 6,500
80 260
3,600 2,400
320
4,100 10,400 5,800 9,100
13,300 2,400 2,550
290 580
(D)
3,000 8,400 3,000 5,700 9,900
16,300 2,500
(D) 140
6,000 1,700 2,900
13,900 3,200 4,200 3,700
970 (D) 910
13,300 1,900
23,700 3,900
260 1,000 4,600
110 3,600 6,100
60
227,630
1,150 (D)
3,200 5,600
11,000 6,300
80 260
3,700 2,400
320
4,100 10,600 5,900 9,200
13,400 2,400 2,550
290 580
(D)
2,950 8,300 3,100 5,700
10,000 16,200 2,550
(D) 140
6,100 1,700 2,900
14,000 3,000 4,200 3,700
970 (D) 970
13,200 1,900
23,500 3,900
260 1,000 4,600
110 3,500 6,200
60
227,740
706 (D)
7,561 1,642 1,697 7,222 1,000
553 3,000
960
3,556 3,727 2,364 2,000 1,422 5,429 1,920 2,318 2,071
866
(D) 1,765 1,909 1,579 2,533
16,500 3,976
19,231 (D) 636
18,182 1,848
892 5,346 1,488 4,000 3,895
719 (D)
1,034
5,911 2,184 6,676
14,444 1,529 1,099 3,172
733 1,674
30,500
(X)
2,897
719 (D)
7,619 1,647 1,719 7,159 1,000
553 3,083
980
3,556 3,727 2,409 2,070 1,438 5,255 2,000 2,429 2,071
866
(D) 1,788 1,930 1,632 2,533
15,385 3,857
18,214 (D) 636
17,941 1,848
906 5,600 1,333 4,000 3,776
719 (D)
1,066
5,739 2,184 6,528
13,929 1,529 1,124 3,172
733 1,707
29,524
(X)
2,910
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 1 Includes data withheld above.
Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) 13 USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: Data are collected by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) during the June
Agricultural Survey using sampling procedures to ensure every farm and ranch has a chance of being selected. NASS uses
a multiple sampling frame approach to count farms and measure land in farms. An Area Sampling Frame that divides all
land into segments is built for every state except Alaska. A sample of segments is selected in each state except Alaska and
Hawaii and enumerated in early June. Highly trained interviewers locate each sampled segment and identify every farm
and ranch operating land in the segment and the number of acres in each operation.
These data are used to compute summaries of farm numbers and acres of land in farms. Additionally, all farms found in
the segments are checked against a list of farms and ranches maintained by NASS to determine if the farm is on the list.
Operations found in the Area Frame sample that are not on the list provide a measure of incompleteness of the list. The
summarized totals for these non-overlap (or not-on-list) operations are combined with summarized totals collected from a
sample selected from the list to calculate additional indications of farms and land in farms.
Estimation Procedures: Data are checked for reasonableness and consistency and summarized for each state. State
estimates are aggregated to national totals for Headquarters review. Field Offices perform a thorough review of their
survey results and historical data relationships and recommend official estimates. Headquarters establishes national
estimates and ensures that state estimates are in balance with the national numbers.
Revision Policy: Estimates are subject to revision the following year and following review of the five-year Census of
Agriculture. The basis for revision must be supported by additional data which directly affect the level of the estimate.
Reliability: Two types of errors, sampling and non-sampling, are possible in an estimate based on a sample survey. Both
types can affect the quality of the estimates.
Sampling error occurs because a complete census is not taken. The sampling error measures the variation in estimates
from the average of all possible samples. An estimate of 100 with a sampling error of 1 would mean that chances are 19
out of 20 that the estimates from all possible samples averaged together would be between 98 and 102; which is the
survey estimate, plus or minus two times the sampling error. The sampling error expressed as a percent of the estimate is
called the relative sampling error. In 2019, the relative sampling error for the United States number of farms was 1.9
percent and land in farms was 2.0 percent. Relative sampling errors by economic sales class ranged from 1.8 to
6.1 percent for number of farms and 2.2 to 9.0 percent for land in farms at the United States level.
Non-sampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as sample surveys. They are caused by the inability to obtain
correct information from each person surveyed, differences in interpreting questions or definitions, and mistakes in coding
or processing the data. Special efforts are taken at each step of the survey to minimize non-sampling errors.
14 Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Terms and Definitions A farm is “any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would
have been sold, during the year.” Government payments are included in sales. Ranches, institutional farms, experimental
and research farms, and Indian Reservations are included as farms. Places with the entire acreage enrolled in the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and other government conservation programs
are counted as farms.
The definition of a farm was first established in 1850 and has changed nine times since. The current definition was first
used for the 1974 Census.
Land in farms consists of agricultural land used for crops, pasture, or grazing. Also included is woodland and wasteland
not actually under cultivation or used for pasture or grazing, provided it was part of the farm operator’s total operation.
Land in farms includes acres in CRP, WRP, and other government conservation programs.
Land in farms includes land owned and operated as well as land rented from others. Land used rent-free is included as
land rented from others. All grazing land, except land used under government permits on a per-head basis, is included as
land in farms provided it was part of a farm or ranch. Land under the exclusive use of a grazing association is reported by
the grazing association and included as land in farms. All land in American Indian reservations used for growing crops or
grazing livestock is included as land in farms. Land in reservations not reported by individual American Indians or non-
Native Americans is reported in the name of the cooperative group that used the land. In many instances, the entire
American Indian reservation is reported as one farm.
Economic sales classes are based on the gross value of agricultural products sold. Government program payments are
also included.
Point Farms are places that did not have $1,000 of reported sales for the year, but had sufficient crops and livestock to
normally have sales of $1,000 or more.
Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) 15 USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Farm Definition History The definition of a farm has remained the same since 1974. Activities included as agriculture, however, have undergone
modification in recent years. Beginning in 1995, operations having 5 or more horses or ponies and no other agricultural
sales were counted as horse farms. An operation with 1 or more horses with agricultural sales of at least $1,000, qualified
as a farm. Two industries, maple syrup and short rotation woody crop farms, were added beginning in 1997 as a result of
the new North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). These changes were made to achieve comparability
with the Census of Agriculture farm definition. All the changes in the farm definition beginning in 1995 were carried back
to 1993 and included in the 1993-1998 estimates. These changes bring comparability between the Census of Agriculture
data and the annually published NASS estimates. Because of these changes in the farm definition, the official estimates
show a level difference in the number of farms between 1992 and 1993 in some states. To further align the counting of
farms with the Census of Agriculture, places with 100 acres or more of pasture only in 2002 were included in farm and
land in farm numbers. The handling of Indian reservation land was changed in 2002 to provide some accounting for
individual farms.
Minimum Criteria for “FARM” Definition, 1840 – Present and Enumeration of Apiaries and Fur Farms
Year Acres in Place
Value of Agricultural
Products (Produced)
Value of Sales of Agricultural
Products
Required some
Agricultural Operations
Apiaries and Fur Farms
Enumerated
1974 - Present - - - - $1,000 or more - - - -
1959 Less than 10 10 or more
- - - -
$250 or more $50 or more
- - - -
- - - -
1954 Less than 3 3 or more
- - $150 or more
$150 or more - -
- - - -
- - - -
1950 Less than 3 3 or more
- - $150 or more
$150 or more - -
- - - -
Apiaries Fur Farms
1935 - 1945 Less than 3 3 or more
$250 or more - -
- - - -
- - X
Apiaries Fur Farms
1930 Less than 3 3 or more
$250 or more - -
- - - -
- - X
Apiaries - -
1925 Less than 3 3 or more
$250 or more - -
- - - -
- - X
- - - -
1910 - 1925 Less than 3 3 or more
$250 or more - -
- - - -
- - X
Apiaries - -
1900 Less than 3 3 or more
- - - -
- - - -
- - X
Apiaries - -
1870 - 1890 Less than 3 3 or more
- - - -
$500 or more - -
- - X
Apiaries - -
1860 - - - - - - - - - -
1850 - - $100 or more - - - - Apiaries
1840 - - - - - - - - - -
Historic Estimates: Final estimates of Farms and Land in Farms in earlier years are available in Statistical Bulletins No.
1049 for 2013-2017, No. 1030 for 2008-2012, No. 1018 for 2003-2007, No. 991 for 1998-2002, No. 955 for 1993-97, No.
895 for 1988-92, No. 792 for 1979-87, SpSy3 for 1975-80, No. 594 for 1969-75, No. 507 for 1959-70, No. 316 for
number of farm estimates for 1910-59 and land in farms estimates for 1950-59.
16 Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch of the National
Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected].
Jody McDaniel, Chief, Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch............................................. (202) 720-6146
Bruce Boess, Head, Economics Section ........................................................................................................... (202) 720-4447
Eric Barnes – Cash Receipts, Farm Computer Use, Land Values ............................................................. (202) 690-3225
Stephanie Brennan – Farm Production Expenditures ................................................................................ (202) 690-0392
Kuan Chen – Prices, Prices Indexes, Parity Prices .................................................................................... (202) 690-3347
Ryan Cowen – Farm Production Expenditures .......................................................................................... (202) 720-2250
Doug Farmer – Chemical Use ................................................................................................................... (202) 690-3229
Stephen Habets – Prices, Prices Indexes, Parity Prices ............................................................................. (202) 720-9168
Michael Mathison – Cash Rents, Farms, Land in Farms, Grazing Fees .................................................... (202) 720-3243
John Stephens – Prices, Prices Indexes, Parity Prices ............................................................................... (202) 720-8844
Theresa Varner – Farm Labor .................................................................................................................... (202) 690-3231
Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov
Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on “National” or “State” in upper right corner above “search”
box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive.
Cornell’s Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS’s and other agency’s archived
reports. The new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing reports will
be sent from the new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. To continue receiving the reports via e-
mail, you will have to go to the new website, create a new account and re-subscribe to the reports. If you
need instructions to set up an account or subscribe, they are located at:
https://usda.library.cornell.edu/help. You should whitelist notifications@usda-
esmis.library.cornell.edu in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for
employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where
applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's
income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program
or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or
employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint Form (PDF), found online at www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, or
at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the
information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax
(202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].
https://www.nass.usda.gov/https://www.nass.usda.gov/https://usda.library.cornell.edu/https://usda.library.cornell.edu/https://usda.library.cornell.edu/helpmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdfhttp://www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_12.pdfhttp://www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customermailto:[email protected]
