2007 Census of Agriculture Reveals Smaller Farms, More Diversity

The U.S Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2007 Census of Agriculture on Feb. 2, 2009 revealing the number of farms in the United States has grown 4 percent, the number of small farms is increasing, and farms have become more diverse over the past five years.

"Through the census, we’re able to take the aspects of agriculture that make it most unique – the numbers and the people – and incorporate them into the most accurate profile possible of U.S. agriculture,” said Secretary Tom Vilsack.

In conducting the 2007 census, NASS placed a special emphasis on outreach to traditionally underrepresented populations, including small, minority, female and limited resource operators.

Working in partnership with community-based organizations nationwide, NASS engaged in an extensive effort to make the 2007 census mailing list included all farms and ranches regardless of size, location or type of operation. The extra efforts paid off – over three million forms were sent out and the census achieved a response rate of over 85 percent. NASS coordinated an extensive promotional campaign by relying on radio and print ads, in addition to providing help sessions, creating a toll-free help line, and sending direct mail reminders.

Number of Farms

• The number of farms nationwide has been on a declining trend since World War II. The 2007 census figure, 2,204,792, indicates a leveling of the trend with a net increase of over 75,000 farms.
  
  
• Most of the growth in farm numbers came from small operations. Between 2002 and 2007, the number of farms with sales of less than $1,000 increased by 118,000. The number of farms with sales of more than $500,000 grew by 46,000 during the same period, while farms with sales ranging from $1,000 to $249,000 experienced a decline.
  
  
• Since the previous census, over 290,000 new farms have started operating and these farms tend to be smaller - they average 201 acres of land; and they have lower sales - they average $71,000 in sales.

Economics

• U.S. farms sold $297 billion in agricultural products in 2007 while incurring $241 billion in production expenses. Income from sales increased 48 percent since the 2002 census ($202 billion) and production expenses increased 39 percent from 2002 ($173 billion).
  
  
• The production value increase over the production expenses resulted in an 84-perecent net increased in net cash income to agricultural operations.
  
  
• The steepest cost increases for production were for gasoline and fuel in 2007, which increased 93 percent since the previous census. The second biggest increase was for the cost of fertilizer, which is up 86 percent since 2002.
  
  
• The top five states for the value of agricultural products sold are California (11.4 percent), Texas (7.1 percent), Iowa (6.9 percent), Nebraska (5.9 percent) and Kansas (4.8 percent). Fresno County, Calif., remained the largest single county in terms of agricultural products sold, representing 1.2 percent of the total U.S. value ($3.7 billion).
  

Demographics

• Of the 2.2 million farms in the United States, women now make up approximately 14 percent of farm operators (306,209). This is an increase of almost 30 percent since 2002 (237, 819).
  
  
• The number of operators of Hispanic origin has increased 10 percent.
  
  
• The average age of U.S. farm operators increased from 55.3 to 57.1.
  
  
• Sixty percent of all farms reported less than $10,000 in sales of agricultural products and the share of farmers working off-farm grew to 65 percent (10 percent increase).
  
  
• Only 1 million of the 2.2 million farms show positive net cash income from the farm operation; the remaining 1.2 million farms depend on non-farm income to cover farm expenses.

Extensive coverage of the 2007 Census results, including online databases and other resources, is available at: http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/

The Census of Agriculture, conducted every five years, is a complete count of the nation’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. It provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation. NASS will be conducting supplemental surveys this year, including "Farm and Ranch Irrigation" and "Organic Production." Results will be available in late 2009. In addition, plans are already underway for conducting the 2012 Census of Agriculture and NASS is looking for changes and new questions to include. Please email them to nass@nass.usda.gov.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack delivers remarks at the release of the 2007 Census of Agriculture in the Jefferson Auditorium at the U. S. Department of Agriculture Washington, DC.