Farms and Land in Farms National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 26, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Farms and Land in Farms" call Brad Parks at 202-690-3229, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Farm Numbers Up Slightly and Land in Farms Down Slightly The number of farms in the United States in 1998 is estimated at 2.19 million, up fractionally from 1997. Total land in farms is 953.8 million acres, down 2.2 million acres from last year. The decline in land in farms continues to follow historical trends. The average farm size decreased 1 acre from 1997 to 435 acres. The U.S. number of farms in the economic sales class between $1,000-$9,999 increased 1,150 farms during 1998 to 1,192,200. Those with sales in the $10,000-$99,999 class decreased 3,760 farms from 1997 to 642,200 in 1998. The $100,000 and over sales class increased 3,610 farms from 1997 to 357,110 farms in 1998. These changes in the sales class mix of farms continues the trend of losing farms in the $10,000-$99,999 sales class, while gaining farms in both the $1,000-$9,999 and the $100,000 and over sales classes. The West Region showed the largest increase in number of farms, up 4,500 farms or 1.5 percent. The largest decrease was in the North Central Region with a loss of 3,500 farms or 0.4 percent. Eleven States increased in farm numbers while 10 States decreased from a year ago. California showed the largest increase with 2,000 farms while Texas, Georgia, Washington, and Ohio showed increases of 1,000 farms from last year. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, Iowa, and North Carolina had decreases of 1,000 farms each. Texas remained the State with the most farms at 226,000, up 1,000 from a year earlier. Missouri was second with 110,000 farms, the same as last year, followed by Iowa with 97,000 farms, down 1,000 from 1997. Texas continued to lead the nation in land in farms and ranches with 131.5 million acres, unchanged from 1997. Oregon, Montana, and Colorado tied for the largest decrease in agricultural land from a year ago, each decreasing 300,000 acres. There were 13 States with decreases of 100,000 acres or more in agricultural land from a year ago. Sp Sy 3 (2-99) Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm: United States, 1988-98 1/ 2/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Land : Average Year : of Farms : in Farms : Farm Size -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres Acres : 1988 : 2,200,940 994,423 452 1989 : 2,174,520 990,723 456 1990 : 2,145,820 986,850 460 1991 : 2,116,760 981,736 464 1992 : 2,107,840 978,503 464 1993 : 2,201,590 968,845 440 1994 : 2,197,690 965,935 440 1995 : 2,196,400 962,515 438 1996 : 2,190,500 958,675 438 1997 : 2,190,510 956,010 436 1998 : 2,191,510 953,765 435 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ A farm is any establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were sold or would normally be sold during the year. See the Survey Procedures, page 13, that denote changes to the definition of a farm. 2/ 1988-1992 estimates are for a June 1 reference date. 1993-1998 estimates are for the entire calendar year. Number of Farms: By State and United States, 1996-98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 49,000 49,000 49,000 AK : 550 560 560 AZ : 7,900 7,900 7,900 AR : 49,500 49,000 49,500 CA : 86,000 87,000 89,000 CO : 29,500 29,500 29,500 CT : 4,100 4,100 4,100 DE : 2,800 2,800 2,700 FL : 45,000 45,000 45,000 GA : 49,000 49,000 50,000 HI : 5,400 5,500 5,500 ID : 24,000 24,500 24,500 IL : 79,000 79,000 79,000 IN : 66,000 66,000 66,000 IA : 99,000 98,000 97,000 KS : 65,000 65,000 65,000 KY : 92,000 91,000 90,000 LA : 30,000 30,000 30,000 ME : 7,200 7,000 6,900 MD : 13,700 13,000 12,500 MA : 6,000 6,000 6,000 MI : 54,000 53,000 52,000 MN : 82,000 81,000 80,000 MS : 42,000 42,000 42,000 MO : 110,000 110,000 110,000 MT : 26,500 27,000 27,500 NE : 56,000 55,000 55,000 NV : 3,000 3,000 3,000 NH : 2,900 3,000 3,100 NJ : 9,500 9,600 9,600 NM : 15,500 15,500 16,000 NY : 38,000 38,000 38,000 NC : 59,000 59,000 58,000 ND : 32,000 31,500 31,000 OH : 78,000 79,000 80,000 OK : 82,000 83,000 83,000 OR : 38,500 39,000 39,500 PA : 59,000 60,000 60,000 RI : 750 750 750 SC : 25,000 25,000 25,000 SD : 32,500 32,500 32,500 TN : 91,000 91,000 91,000 TX : 224,000 225,000 226,000 UT : 15,000 15,000 15,000 VT : 6,500 6,600 6,700 VA : 49,000 49,000 49,000 WA : 39,000 39,000 40,000 WV : 21,000 21,000 21,000 WI : 79,000 79,000 78,000 WY : 9,200 9,200 9,200 : US : 2,190,500 2,190,510 2,191,510 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land in Farms: By State and United States, 1996-98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : AL : 9,700 9,600 9,500 AK : 920 910 910 AZ : 28,300 28,300 28,300 AR : 14,900 14,800 14,750 CA : 29,000 28,700 28,500 CO : 32,500 32,500 32,200 CT : 380 380 380 DE : 590 585 580 FL : 10,700 10,600 10,600 GA : 11,400 11,300 11,300 HI : 1,440 1,440 1,440 ID : 12,100 12,000 12,000 IL : 27,900 27,800 27,800 IN : 15,600 15,600 15,600 IA : 33,000 33,000 33,000 KS : 47,500 47,500 47,500 KY : 14,000 13,900 13,900 LA : 8,300 8,200 8,200 ME : 1,310 1,280 1,280 MD : 2,200 2,200 2,100 MA : 570 570 570 MI : 10,600 10,400 10,400 MN : 29,200 29,100 28,900 MS : 11,900 11,700 11,600 MO : 30,100 30,100 30,100 MT : 58,500 57,800 57,500 NE : 46,400 46,400 46,400 NV : 6,900 6,900 6,900 NH : 420 420 420 NJ : 840 830 830 NM : 45,100 45,300 45,300 NY : 7,800 7,800 7,800 NC : 9,500 9,500 9,400 ND : 39,900 39,700 39,500 OH : 14,900 14,900 14,900 OK : 34,000 34,000 34,000 OR : 17,500 17,500 17,200 PA : 7,600 7,700 7,700 RI : 65 65 65 SC : 5,000 5,000 4,900 SD : 44,000 44,000 44,000 TN : 12,000 12,000 11,900 TX : 132,000 131,500 131,500 UT : 11,400 11,600 11,600 VT : 1,340 1,330 1,340 VA : 8,800 8,800 8,800 WA : 15,700 15,700 15,700 WV : 3,700 3,700 3,700 WI : 16,600 16,500 16,400 WY : 34,600 34,600 34,600 : US : 958,675 956,010 953,765 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Northeast : NY : 18,400 11,000 8,600 38,000 PA : 33,300 17,200 9,500 60,000 Other States 1/ : 24,700 8,800 3,650 37,150 Total : 76,400 37,000 21,750 135,150 : North Central : IL : 27,700 27,800 23,500 79,000 IN : 31,000 22,500 12,500 66,000 IA : 26,500 38,500 32,000 97,000 KS : 24,200 27,300 13,500 65,000 MI : 27,000 17,000 8,000 52,000 MN : 29,500 29,500 21,000 80,000 MO : 62,700 36,700 10,600 110,000 NE : 14,000 22,600 18,400 55,000 ND : 8,200 14,000 8,800 31,000 OH : 41,500 27,300 11,200 80,000 SD : 7,000 15,300 10,200 32,500 WI : 34,000 25,500 18,500 78,000 Total : 333,300 304,000 188,200 825,500 : South : AL 2/ : 35,000 49,000 AR : 27,500 11,500 10,500 49,500 FL 2/ : 29,500 45,000 GA : 32,500 9,700 7,800 50,000 KY 2/ : 51,000 90,000 LA 2/ : 19,000 30,000 MS 2/ : 30,000 42,000 NC : 34,000 14,000 10,000 58,000 OK : 52,000 25,000 6,000 83,000 TN 2/ : 69,000 91,000 TX : 153,000 56,000 17,000 226,000 VA 2/ : 32,000 49,000 Other States 2/ 3/ : 51,000 61,200 Total : 615,500 216,200 92,000 923,700 : West : CA : 42,600 24,400 22,000 89,000 OR 2/ : 26,500 39,500 WA : 25,700 7,500 6,800 40,000 Other States 2/ 4/ : 72,200 138,660 Total : 167,000 85,000 55,160 307,160 : US : 1,192,200 642,200 357,110 2,191,510 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, SC, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : Northeast : NY : 1,800 2,200 3,800 7,800 PA : 2,100 2,500 3,100 7,700 Other States 1/ : 1,575 1,310 2,000 4,885 Total : 5,475 6,010 8,900 20,385 : North Central : IL : 1,700 6,000 20,100 27,800 IN : 1,500 4,000 10,100 15,600 IA : 1,700 9,200 22,100 33,000 KS : 3,500 16,000 28,000 47,500 MI : 1,900 2,800 5,700 10,400 MN : 3,100 8,500 17,300 28,900 MO : 7,300 11,600 11,200 30,100 NE : 2,100 12,500 31,800 46,400 ND : 3,400 14,000 22,100 39,500 OH : 2,800 4,600 7,500 14,900 SD : 2,000 14,400 27,600 44,000 WI : 2,800 4,800 8,800 16,400 Total : 33,800 108,400 212,300 354,500 : South : AL 2/ : 4,000 9,500 AR : 2,250 3,300 9,200 14,750 FL 2/ : 1,800 10,600 GA : 3,000 2,400 5,900 11,300 KY 2/ : 3,900 13,900 LA 2/ : 1,800 8,200 MS 2/ : 3,800 11,600 NC : 2,300 1,900 5,200 9,400 OK : 6,900 14,100 13,000 34,000 TN 2/ : 4,800 11,900 TX : 22,000 45,500 64,000 131,500 VA 2/ : 2,800 8,800 Other States 2/ 3/ : 5,350 11,280 Total : 64,700 93,730 128,300 286,730 : West : CA : 3,000 7,300 18,200 28,500 OR 2/ : 1,700 17,200 WA : 2,600 2,800 10,300 15,700 Other States 2/ 4/ : 23,700 230,750 Total : 31,000 77,500 183,650 292,150 : US : 134,975 285,640 533,150 953,765 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, SC, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 1997 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Northeast : NY : 18,700 11,000 8,300 38,000 PA : 33,300 17,200 9,500 60,000 Other States 1/ : 24,050 9,100 3,900 37,050 Total : 76,050 37,300 21,700 135,050 : North Central : IL : 27,700 27,800 23,500 79,000 IN : 31,500 22,000 12,500 66,000 IA : 27,500 38,500 32,000 98,000 KS : 24,200 27,300 13,500 65,000 MI : 28,500 17,000 7,500 53,000 MN : 29,500 30,500 21,000 81,000 MO : 62,700 36,500 10,800 110,000 NE : 13,500 23,300 18,200 55,000 ND : 8,500 14,000 9,000 31,500 OH : 40,600 27,500 10,900 79,000 SD : 7,000 15,500 10,000 32,500 WI : 33,600 26,700 18,700 79,000 Total : 334,800 306,600 187,600 829,000 : South : AL 2/ : 35,000 49,000 AR : 26,500 12,000 10,500 49,000 FL 2/ : 29,500 45,000 GA : 31,900 9,600 7,500 49,000 KY 2/ : 53,000 91,000 LA 2/ : 19,500 30,000 MS 2/ : 30,000 42,000 NC : 35,000 14,000 10,000 59,000 OK : 52,700 24,000 6,300 83,000 TN 2/ : 69,000 91,000 TX : 154,000 54,000 17,000 225,000 VA 2/ : 32,000 49,000 Other States 2/ 3/ : 49,900 61,800 Total : 618,000 216,000 89,800 923,800 : West : CA : 42,000 25,000 20,000 87,000 OR 2/ : 26,000 39,000 WA : 24,300 7,800 6,900 39,000 Other States 2/ 4/ : 69,900 137,660 Total : 162,200 86,060 54,400 302,660 : US : 1,191,050 645,960 353,500 2,190,510 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, SC, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 1997 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : Northeast : NY : 1,900 2,200 3,700 7,800 PA : 2,100 2,500 3,100 7,700 Other States 1/ : 1,475 1,400 2,000 4,875 Total : 5,475 6,100 8,800 20,375 : North Central : IL : 1,700 6,000 20,100 27,800 IN : 1,500 4,100 10,000 15,600 IA : 1,800 9,500 21,700 33,000 KS : 3,800 16,000 27,700 47,500 MI : 2,000 2,900 5,500 10,400 MN : 3,100 8,700 17,300 29,100 MO : 7,300 11,500 11,300 30,100 NE : 2,100 12,700 31,600 46,400 ND : 3,500 14,000 22,200 39,700 OH : 2,800 4,800 7,300 14,900 SD : 2,100 14,800 27,100 44,000 WI : 2,800 4,900 8,800 16,500 Total : 34,500 109,900 210,600 355,000 : South : AL 2/ : 4,000 9,600 AR : 2,200 3,300 9,300 14,800 FL 2/ : 1,800 10,600 GA : 3,000 2,500 5,800 11,300 KY 2/ : 4,000 13,900 LA 2/ : 1,800 8,200 MS 2/ : 3,700 11,700 NC : 2,400 2,000 5,100 9,500 OK : 7,000 14,000 13,000 34,000 TN 2/ : 4,800 12,000 TX : 22,000 45,500 64,000 131,500 VA 2/ : 2,800 8,800 Other States 2/ 3/ : 5,400 11,485 Total : 64,900 93,985 128,500 287,385 : West : CA : 3,000 7,300 18,400 28,700 OR 2/ : 1,700 17,500 WA : 2,500 2,900 10,300 15,700 Other States 2/ 4/ : 23,300 231,350 Total : 30,500 78,500 184,250 293,250 : US : 135,375 288,485 532,150 956,010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, SC, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 1996 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Northeast : NY : 18,600 11,200 8,200 38,000 PA : 32,600 17,200 9,200 59,000 Other States 1/ : 24,650 8,500 3,800 36,950 Total : 75,850 36,900 21,200 133,950 : North Central : IL : 27,000 28,500 23,500 79,000 IN : 30,000 23,000 13,000 66,000 IA : 27,000 41,000 31,000 99,000 KS : 23,500 28,500 13,000 65,000 MI : 29,800 17,000 7,200 54,000 MN : 29,000 31,500 21,500 82,000 MO : 61,500 38,200 10,300 110,000 NE : 12,800 25,000 18,200 56,000 ND : 7,400 15,100 9,500 32,000 OH : 39,000 28,600 10,400 78,000 SD : 6,000 17,000 9,500 32,500 WI : 32,900 27,400 18,700 79,000 Total : 325,900 320,800 185,800 832,500 : South : AL 2/ : 35,000 49,000 AR : 26,500 12,500 10,500 49,500 FL 2/ : 29,500 45,000 GA : 32,000 9,700 7,300 49,000 KY 2/ : 52,000 92,000 LA 2/ : 19,000 30,000 MS 2/ : 30,000 42,000 NC : 34,000 15,000 10,000 59,000 OK : 50,200 25,500 6,300 82,000 TN 2/ : 68,000 91,000 TX : 151,000 56,000 17,000 224,000 VA 2/ : 32,000 49,000 Other States 2/ 3/ : 49,300 62,500 Total : 608,500 227,400 88,100 924,000 : West : CA : 41,500 26,000 18,500 86,000 OR 2/ : 25,500 38,500 WA : 24,200 7,700 7,100 39,000 Other States 2/ 4/ : 66,350 136,550 Total : 157,550 88,500 54,000 300,050 : US : 1,167,800 673,600 349,100 2,190,500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, SC, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 1996 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : Northeast : NY : 1,900 2,200 3,700 7,800 PA : 2,100 2,500 3,000 7,600 Other States 1/ : 1,490 1,400 2,035 4,925 Total : 5,490 6,100 8,735 20,325 : North Central : IL : 1,700 6,400 19,800 27,900 IN : 1,400 4,300 9,900 15,600 IA : 1,800 10,600 20,600 33,000 KS : 3,800 16,800 26,900 47,500 MI : 2,200 3,100 5,300 10,600 MN : 3,100 9,000 17,100 29,200 MO : 7,300 11,900 10,900 30,100 NE : 2,100 13,300 31,000 46,400 ND : 3,400 14,500 22,000 39,900 OH : 2,800 5,200 6,900 14,900 SD : 2,100 15,700 26,200 44,000 WI : 2,700 5,100 8,800 16,600 Total : 34,400 115,900 205,400 355,700 : South : AL 2/ : 4,100 9,700 AR : 2,200 3,500 9,200 14,900 FL 2/ : 1,800 10,700 GA : 2,900 2,700 5,800 11,400 KY 2/ : 4,000 14,000 LA 2/ : 1,800 8,300 MS 2/ : 3,600 11,900 NC : 2,400 2,100 5,000 9,500 OK : 7,300 14,000 12,700 34,000 TN 2/ : 4,800 12,000 TX : 22,000 46,000 64,000 132,000 VA 2/ : 2,800 8,800 Other States 2/ 3/ : 5,990 11,490 Total : 65,690 95,500 127,500 288,690 : West : CA : 3,100 7,600 18,300 29,000 OR 2/ : 1,700 17,500 WA : 2,500 3,100 10,100 15,700 Other States 2/ 4/ : 20,910 231,760 Total : 28,210 79,700 186,050 293,960 : US : 133,790 297,200 527,685 958,675 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, SC, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY. Percent of Farms, Land in Farms and Average Farm Size: By Economic Sales Class, United States, 1996-98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic : Percent of Total : Sales :-------------------------------: Average Size Farm Class : Farms : Land : (Acres) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1996 : $1,000 - $2,499 : 26.2 4.3 72 $2,500 - $4,999 : 14.5 4.4 133 $5,000 - $9,999 : 12.6 5.3 184 $10,000 - $19,999 : 10.5 6.0 250 $20,000 - $39,999 : 9.4 7.5 349 $40,000 - $99,999 : 10.9 17.5 703 $100,000 - $249,999 : 9.5 25.3 1,166 $250,000 - $499,999 : 3.8 13.8 1,589 $500,000 + : 2.6 15.9 2,676 : Total : 100.0 100.0 438 : : : 1997 : $1,000 - $2,499 : 27.4 4.4 70 $2,500 - $4,999 : 14.6 4.4 132 $5,000 - $9,999 : 12.4 5.4 190 $10,000 - $19,999 : 9.9 5.8 256 $20,000 - $39,999 : 9.0 7.4 359 $40,000 - $99,999 : 10.6 17.0 700 $100,000 - $249,999 : 9.0 24.0 1,164 $250,000 - $499,999 : 4.1 14.2 1,512 $500,000 + : 3.0 17.4 2,531 : Total : 100.0 100.0 436 : : : 1998 : $1,000 - $2,499 : 27.6 4.3 68 $2,500 - $4,999 : 14.7 4.4 130 $5,000 - $9,999 : 12.1 5.5 198 $10,000 - $19,999 : 9.9 5.8 255 $20,000 - $39,999 : 8.9 7.3 357 $40,000 - $99,999 : 10.5 16.8 696 $100,000 - $249,999 : 8.9 23.5 1,149 $250,000 - $499,999 : 4.3 14.8 1,498 $500,000 + : 3.1 17.6 2,471 : Total : 100.0 100.0 435 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average Farm Size: By State and United States, 1996-98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1996 : 1997 : 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 198 196 194 AK : 1,673 1,625 1,625 AZ : 3,582 3,582 3,582 AR : 301 302 298 CA : 337 330 320 CO : 1,102 1,102 1,092 CT : 93 93 93 DE : 211 209 215 FL : 238 236 236 GA : 233 231 226 HI : 267 262 262 ID : 504 490 490 IL : 353 352 352 IN : 236 236 236 IA : 333 337 340 KS : 731 731 731 KY : 152 153 154 LA : 277 273 273 ME : 182 183 186 MD : 161 169 168 MA : 95 95 95 MI : 196 196 200 MN : 356 359 361 MS : 283 279 276 MO : 274 274 274 MT : 2,208 2,141 2,091 NE : 829 844 844 NV : 2,300 2,300 2,300 NH : 145 140 135 NJ : 88 86 86 NM : 2,910 2,923 2,831 NY : 205 205 205 NC : 161 161 162 ND : 1,247 1,260 1,274 OH : 191 189 186 OK : 415 410 410 OR : 455 449 435 PA : 129 128 128 RI : 87 87 87 SC : 200 200 196 SD : 1,354 1,354 1,354 TN : 132 132 131 TX : 589 584 582 UT : 760 773 773 VT : 206 202 200 VA : 180 180 180 WA : 403 403 393 WV : 176 176 176 WI : 210 209 210 WY : 3,761 3,761 3,761 : US : 438 436 435 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reliability of Data in this Report Survey Procedures: These data were collected by the National Agricultural Statistics Service during the June Agricultural Survey and the Fall Agricultural Survey using sampling procedures to ensure every farm operator had a chance of being selected. Two samples of farm operators are selected for June, while only the area sample is surveyed in the Fall. First, NASS maintains a list of farms which are classified and sampled by size and type. Larger farms are selected with greater frequency but all farms are represented. A second sample, used in June and the Fall consists of area segments of land scientifically selected from aerial photography. Each June and December, highly trained interviewers locate each selected land segment and identify every farm operating land within the sample segment's boundaries. The names associated with those farms found in the area segments are matched against the list of farms; those not found on the list represent all farms not on the NASS list. This methodology is known as multiple frame sampling, with an area sample used to measure incompleteness of the list. The area segments also provide independent indications of number of farms and land in farms. Beginning in 1995, interviewers counted operations having 5 or more horses or ponies and no other agricultural sales as horse farms. An operation with 1 or more horses with agricultural sales of at least $1,000, qualified as a farm. Beginning in 1997 the Fall Agricultural Survey was added to estimate all operations qualifying as a farm during the year. Two new 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. These changes are a continuing effort to have 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 1993-98 estimates. This change ensured comparability between the Census of Agriculture data and the annually published NASS estimates and also provided users a consistent data series. 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. Estimation Procedures: National, Regional, and State data were reviewed for reasonableness and consistency. Each State Statistical Office submits its analysis to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) which prepares the estimates for publication. Farm numbers and land in farm estimates are based on survey results and the historical relationship of official estimates to the survey results. Revision Policy: Farm numbers information is 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 that directly affect the level of the estimate. A historical publication with revisions for 1993-97 was published January 19, 1999. Reliability: Two types of errors, sampling and nonsampling, are possible in an estimate based on a sample survey. Both types affect the "precision" 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. The relative sampling error for the U.S. number of farms was just above 1 percent and just above 1 percent for land in farms. The sampling error for total number of farms and total land in farms is less than the sampling error for each component of the total, such as number of farms by economic sales class. Relative sampling errors by economic sales class generally ranged from 2.2 to 3.5 percent for number of farms and 2.6 to 7.9 percent for land in farms at the U.S. level. Nonsampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as sample surveys. They are caused by the inability to obtain correct information from each person sampled, 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 nonsampling errors. Terms and Definition A farm is defined as "any establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were sold or would normally be sold during the year". Government payments are included in sales. Institutional farms, experimental and research farms, and Indian Reservations are included as farms. Places with their entire acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, set aside, or other government programs are considered operating farms. Land in farms is all land operated by farms during the year. It includes crop and livestock acreage, wasteland, woodland, pasture, land in summer fallow, idle cropland, and land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program and other set aside or commodity acreage programs. It excludes public, industrial, and grazing association land and nonagricultural land. It excludes all land operated by establishments not qualifying as farms. Economic sales classes are based on the gross value of sales, which includes sales of agricultural products such as crops, livestock, horses, honey, furs, fish, nursery and greenhouse products, rabbits, etc. Government program payments from the previous year are also included. The next "Farms and Land in Farms" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on February 18, 2000. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. 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