United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Sp Sy 3 (00) Farms and Land in Farms February 2000 Released February 18, 2000, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Farms and Land in Farms" call Daryl Brinkman at 202-690-3226, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. Farm Numbers Continue Gradual Upward Trend The number of farms in the United States in 1999 is estimated at 2.19 million, up fractionally from 1998. The increase in farm numbers can be attributed to the continued rise in the number of small farms. Total land in farms, at 947.3 million acres, was down 0.7 percent or 6.2 million acres from last year. This decline in land in farms continues the historical trend of less land in farms. The average farm size decreased 3 acres from 1998 to 432 acres. The U.S. number of farms in the $1,000-$9,999 economic sales class increased 15,690 to 1,196,640 in 1999. Those with sales in the $10,000-$99,999 economic sales class decreased 3,760 from 1998 to 648,550 farms. The $100,000 and over sales class dropped 9,220 farms from 1998 to 348,880 in 1999. The drop in this class is attributed to low commodity prices during 1999. The South Region showed the largest increase in number of farms, up 2,300 or 0.2 percent. The North Central Region was the only region to decline in farm numbers during 1999. This region was down 500 farms or less than 0.1 percent from 1998. Farm numbers during 1999 increased in 13 States, declined in 13 States, and remained unchanged in 24 States. States with an increase of 1,000 farms were Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia. States with a decrease of 1,000 farms were Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. Farm and ranch land declined in a total of 26 States while the remaining 24 were unchanged. Texas continues to lead the Nation with 130.5 million acres of land in farms and ranches, down 1 million acres from the previous year. Other States with significant decreases in farmland were California (700,000 acres), Arizona and New Mexico (600,000 acres), and Montana (500,000 acres). Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm: United States, 1989-99 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Land : Average Year : of Farms : in Farms : Farm Size -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres Acres : 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 : 2,191,360 953,500 435 1999 : 2,194,070 947,340 432 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Number of Farms: By State and United States, 1997-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 49,000 49,000 48,000 AK : 560 560 570 AZ : 7,900 7,800 7,700 AR : 49,000 49,500 48,500 CA : 87,000 89,000 89,000 CO : 29,500 29,500 29,000 CT : 4,100 4,100 4,000 DE : 2,800 2,700 2,600 FL : 45,000 45,000 45,000 GA : 49,000 50,000 50,000 HI : 5,500 5,500 5,500 ID : 24,500 24,500 24,500 IL : 79,000 79,000 79,000 IN : 66,000 66,000 65,000 IA : 98,000 97,000 96,000 KS : 65,000 65,000 65,000 KY : 91,000 90,000 91,000 LA : 30,000 30,000 30,000 ME : 7,000 6,900 6,900 MD : 13,000 12,500 12,400 MA : 6,000 6,000 6,100 MI : 53,000 52,000 53,000 MN : 81,000 80,000 81,000 MS : 42,000 42,000 43,000 MO : 110,000 110,000 110,000 MT : 27,000 27,500 28,000 NE : 55,000 55,000 55,000 NV : 3,000 3,000 3,000 NH : 3,000 3,100 3,100 NJ : 9,600 9,600 9,600 NM : 15,500 16,000 15,500 NY : 38,000 38,000 39,000 NC : 59,000 58,000 58,000 ND : 31,500 31,000 30,500 OH : 79,000 80,000 80,000 OK : 83,000 83,000 84,000 OR : 39,000 39,500 40,500 PA : 60,000 60,000 59,000 RI : 750 700 700 SC : 25,000 25,000 25,000 SD : 32,500 32,500 32,500 TN : 91,000 91,000 91,000 TX : 225,000 226,000 227,000 UT : 15,000 15,000 15,500 VT : 6,600 6,700 6,700 VA : 49,000 49,000 50,000 WA : 39,000 40,000 40,000 WV : 21,000 21,000 20,500 WI : 79,000 78,000 78,000 WY : 9,200 9,200 9,200 : US : 2,190,510 2,191,360 2,194,070 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land in Farms: By State and United States, 1997-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : AL : 9,600 9,500 9,200 AK : 910 910 910 AZ : 28,300 28,100 27,500 AR : 14,800 14,750 14,650 CA : 28,700 28,500 27,800 CO : 32,500 32,200 31,800 CT : 380 380 370 DE : 585 580 580 FL : 10,600 10,600 10,400 GA : 11,300 11,300 11,200 HI : 1,440 1,440 1,440 ID : 12,000 12,000 11,900 IL : 27,800 27,800 27,700 IN : 15,600 15,600 15,500 IA : 33,000 33,000 33,000 KS : 47,500 47,500 47,500 KY : 13,900 13,800 13,600 LA : 8,200 8,200 8,150 ME : 1,280 1,270 1,270 MD : 2,200 2,150 2,100 MA : 570 570 570 MI : 10,400 10,400 10,400 MN : 29,100 28,900 28,800 MS : 11,700 11,600 11,400 MO : 30,100 30,100 30,100 MT : 57,800 57,500 57,000 NE : 46,400 46,400 46,400 NV : 6,900 6,900 6,800 NH : 420 420 420 NJ : 830 830 830 NM : 45,300 45,300 44,700 NY : 7,800 7,800 7,800 NC : 9,500 9,400 9,300 ND : 39,700 39,500 39,400 OH : 14,900 14,900 14,900 OK : 34,000 34,000 34,000 OR : 17,500 17,200 17,200 PA : 7,700 7,700 7,700 RI : 65 60 60 SC : 5,000 4,900 4,850 SD : 44,000 44,000 44,000 TN : 12,000 11,900 11,900 TX : 131,500 131,500 130,500 UT : 11,600 11,600 11,600 VT : 1,330 1,340 1,340 VA : 8,800 8,800 8,600 WA : 15,700 15,700 15,700 WV : 3,700 3,700 3,600 WI : 16,500 16,400 16,300 WY : 34,600 34,600 34,600 : US : 956,010 953,500 947,340 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Northeast : CT 2/ : 2,550 4,000 ME 2/ : 4,400 6,900 MA 2/ : 3,300 6,100 NH 2/ : 2,100 3,100 NJ 2/ : 6,400 9,600 NY : 19,400 10,900 8,700 39,000 PA : 33,000 16,500 9,500 59,000 RI 2/ : 350 700 VT 2/ : 3,600 6,700 Oth Sts 1/ : 9,700 4,700 Total : 75,100 37,100 22,900 135,100 : North Central : IL : 28,500 26,500 24,000 79,000 IN : 30,200 22,000 12,800 65,000 IA : 28,000 38,100 29,900 96,000 KS : 24,400 27,200 13,400 65,000 MI : 28,500 16,500 8,000 53,000 MN : 31,000 30,000 20,000 81,000 MO : 63,100 36,700 10,200 110,000 NE : 14,000 22,600 18,400 55,000 ND : 8,400 13,500 8,600 30,500 OH : 43,000 27,000 10,000 80,000 SD : 7,000 15,300 10,200 32,500 WI : 35,000 25,000 18,000 78,000 Total : 341,100 300,400 183,500 825,000 : South : AL : 34,000 9,000 5,000 48,000 AR : 26,500 11,500 10,500 48,500 DE 2/ : 800 2,600 FL : 29,500 10,500 5,000 45,000 GA : 32,600 9,700 7,700 50,000 KY : 52,000 33,000 6,000 91,000 LA : 19,000 6,600 4,400 30,000 MD 2/ : 6,200 12,400 MS : 31,000 7,500 4,500 43,000 NC : 35,800 12,200 10,000 58,000 OK : 52,600 25,500 5,900 84,000 SC : 18,700 4,000 2,300 25,000 TN : 69,000 18,000 4,000 91,000 TX : 155,000 55,500 16,500 227,000 VA : 34,000 13,000 3,000 50,000 WV 2/ : 17,000 20,500 Other States 3/ : 7,320 4,180 Total : 613,700 223,320 88,980 926,000 : West : AK 2/ : 340 570 AZ 2/ : 4,700 7,700 CA : 44,500 25,500 19,000 89,000 CO : 13,700 10,400 4,900 29,000 HI 2/ : 3,200 5,500 ID : 12,500 7,200 4,800 24,500 MT : 11,500 10,700 5,800 28,000 NV 2/ : 1,600 3,000 NM : 9,600 4,200 1,700 15,500 OR : 27,000 9,000 4,500 40,500 UT : 9,000 5,000 1,500 15,500 WA : 25,700 7,500 6,800 40,000 WY 2/ : 3,400 9,200 Other States 4/ : 8,230 4,500 Total : 166,740 87,730 53,500 307,970 : US : 1,196,640 648,550 348,880 2,194,070 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY. Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : Northeast : CT 2/ : 140 370 ME 2/ : 450 1,270 MA 2/ : 230 570 NH 2/ : 200 420 NJ 2/ : 190 830 NY : 1,900 2,100 3,800 7,800 PA : 2,100 2,400 3,200 7,700 RI 2/ : 20 60 VT 2/ : 350 1,340 Oth Sts 1/ : 1,300 1,980 Total : 5,580 5,800 8,980 20,360 : North Central : IL : 1,700 5,800 20,200 27,700 IN : 1,200 3,900 10,400 15,500 IA : 1,800 9,700 21,500 33,000 KS : 3,400 16,100 28,000 47,500 MI : 1,900 2,800 5,700 10,400 MN : 3,100 8,600 17,100 28,800 MO : 7,300 11,600 11,200 30,100 NE : 2,000 12,000 32,400 46,400 ND : 3,500 14,000 21,900 39,400 OH : 3,000 4,900 7,000 14,900 SD : 2,000 14,400 27,600 44,000 WI : 2,900 4,700 8,700 16,300 Total : 33,800 108,500 211,700 354,000 : South : AL : 3,700 2,800 2,700 9,200 AR : 2,150 3,350 9,150 14,650 DE 2/ : 33 580 FL : 1,800 2,600 6,000 10,400 GA : 3,000 2,400 5,800 11,200 KY : 4,000 5,700 3,900 13,600 LA : 1,750 1,900 4,500 8,150 MD 2/ : 360 2,100 MS : 3,700 2,600 5,100 11,400 NC : 2,200 1,900 5,200 9,300 OK : 6,800 14,700 12,500 34,000 SC : 2,550 1,150 1,150 4,850 TN : 4,800 4,000 3,100 11,900 TX : 22,500 48,000 60,000 130,500 VA : 2,900 3,300 2,400 8,600 WV 2/ : 2,300 3,600 Other States 3/ : 1,607 1,980 Total : 64,543 96,007 123,480 284,030 : West : AK 2/ : 200 910 AZ 2/ : 2,000 27,500 CA : 2,800 7,000 18,000 27,800 CO : 3,800 10,300 17,700 31,800 HI 2/ : 105 1,440 ID : 1,500 3,300 7,100 11,900 MT : 4,100 17,000 35,900 57,000 NV 2/ : 1,000 6,800 NM : 5,200 12,000 27,500 44,700 OR : 1,700 4,800 10,700 17,200 UT : 1,100 2,800 7,700 11,600 WA : 2,600 2,700 10,400 15,700 WY 2/ : 3,100 34,600 Other States 4/ : 17,985 46,860 Total : 29,205 77,885 181,860 288,950 : US : 133,128 288,192 526,020 947,340 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY. Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, June 1, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Northeast : CT 2/ : 2,650 4,100 ME 2/ : 4,400 6,900 MA 2/ : 3,300 6,000 NH 2/ : 2,100 3,100 NJ 2/ : 6,300 9,600 NY : 18,400 11,000 8,600 38,000 PA : 33,300 17,200 9,500 60,000 RI 2/ : 350 700 VT 2/ : 3,600 6,700 Oth Sts 1/ : 9,700 4,700 Total : 74,400 37,900 22,800 135,100 : 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 : 35,000 9,000 5,000 49,000 AR : 27,500 11,500 10,500 49,500 DE 2/ : 800 2,700 FL : 29,500 10,500 5,000 45,000 GA : 32,500 9,700 7,800 50,000 KY : 51,000 33,000 6,000 90,000 LA : 19,000 6,500 4,500 30,000 MD 2/ : 6,300 12,500 MS : 30,000 7,400 4,600 42,000 NC : 34,000 14,000 10,000 58,000 OK : 52,000 25,000 6,000 83,000 SC : 18,700 4,000 2,300 25,000 TN : 69,000 18,000 4,000 91,000 TX : 153,000 56,000 17,000 226,000 VA : 32,000 13,000 4,000 49,000 WV 2/ : 17,400 21,000 Other States 3/ : 7,400 4,300 Total : 607,700 225,000 91,000 923,700 : West : AK 2/ : 350 560 AZ 2/ : 4,800 7,800 CA : 42,600 24,400 22,000 89,000 CO : 13,900 10,800 4,800 29,500 HI 2/ : 3,200 5,500 ID : 12,500 7,200 4,800 24,500 MT : 12,000 10,000 5,500 27,500 NV 2/ : 1,600 3,000 NM : 10,000 4,200 1,800 16,000 OR : 26,500 8,600 4,400 39,500 UT : 9,000 4,500 1,500 15,000 WA : 25,700 7,500 6,800 40,000 WY 2/ : 3,400 9,200 Other States 4/ : 8,210 4,500 Total : 165,550 85,410 56,100 307,060 : US : 1,180,950 652,310 358,100 2,191,360 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY. Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, June 1, 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : Northeast : CT 2/ : 150 380 ME 2/ : 450 1,270 MA 2/ : 230 570 NH 2/ : 200 420 NJ 2/ : 180 830 NY : 1,800 2,200 3,800 7,800 PA : 2,100 2,500 3,100 7,700 RI 2/ : 20 60 VT 2/ : 350 1,340 Oth Sts 1/ : 1,305 1,985 Total : 5,480 6,005 8,885 20,370 : 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 : 4,000 2,800 2,700 9,500 AR : 2,250 3,300 9,200 14,750 DE 2/ : 33 580 FL : 1,800 2,800 6,000 10,600 GA : 3,000 2,400 5,900 11,300 KY : 3,900 5,900 4,000 13,800 LA : 1,800 1,900 4,500 8,200 MD 2/ : 370 2,150 MS : 3,800 2,900 4,900 11,600 NC : 2,300 1,900 5,200 9,400 OK : 6,900 14,100 13,000 34,000 SC : 2,550 1,200 1,150 4,900 TN : 4,800 4,000 3,100 11,900 TX : 22,000 45,500 64,000 131,500 VA : 2,800 3,200 2,800 8,800 WV 2/ : 2,350 3,700 Other States 3/ : 1,652 2,025 Total : 64,653 93,552 128,475 286,680 : West : AK 2/ : 200 910 AZ 2/ : 2,100 28,100 CA : 3,000 7,300 18,200 28,500 CO : 4,100 10,600 17,500 32,200 HI 2/ : 105 1,440 ID : 1,500 3,400 7,100 12,000 MT : 4,000 16,900 36,600 57,500 NV 2/ : 1,000 6,900 NM : 5,350 12,000 27,950 45,300 OR : 1,700 4,800 10,700 17,200 UT : 1,100 2,800 7,700 11,600 WA : 2,600 2,800 10,300 15,700 WY 2/ : 3,100 34,600 Other States 4/ : 18,460 46,985 Total : 29,855 79,060 183,035 291,950 : US : 133,788 287,017 532,695 953,500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2/ Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3/ DE, MD, and WV. 4/ AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY. Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, June 1, 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 Oth Sts 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, June 1, 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 Oth Sts 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. Percent of Farms, Land in Farms and Average Size Farm: By Economic Sales Class, United States, 1997-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic : Percent of Total : Sales :-------------------------------: Average Size Farm Class : Farms : Land : (Acres) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 : 26.9 4.4 71 $2,500 - $4,999 : 14.6 4.4 131 $5,000 - $9,999 : 12.4 5.2 182 $10,000 - $19,999 : 10.0 5.9 257 $20,000 - $39,999 : 9.0 7.4 358 $40,000 - $99,999 : 10.8 16.8 677 $100,000 - $249,999 : 9.0 23.8 1,151 $250,000 - $499,999 : 4.2 14.6 1,513 $500,000 + : 3.1 17.5 2,456 : Total : 100.0 100.0 435 : : : : 1999 : $1,000 - $2,499 : 27.2 4.6 73 $2,500 - $4,999 : 15.0 4.4 127 $5,000 - $9,999 : 12.3 5.1 179 $10,000 - $19,999 : 10.2 6.0 254 $20,000 - $39,999 : 8.5 7.5 381 $40,000 - $99,999 : 10.9 16.9 669 $100,000 - $249,999 : 9.2 23.2 1,089 $250,000 - $499,999 : 3.7 13.3 1,552 $500,000 + : 3.0 19.0 2,735 : Total : 100.0 100.0 432 : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average Size Farm: By State and United States, 1997-99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1997 : 1998 : 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 196 194 192 AK : 1,625 1,625 1,596 AZ : 3,582 3,603 3,571 AR : 302 298 302 CA : 330 320 312 CO : 1,102 1,092 1,097 CT : 93 93 93 DE : 209 215 223 FL : 236 236 231 GA : 231 226 224 HI : 262 262 262 ID : 490 490 486 IL : 352 352 351 IN : 236 236 238 IA : 337 340 344 KS : 731 731 731 KY : 153 153 149 LA : 273 273 272 ME : 183 184 184 MD : 169 172 169 MA : 95 95 93 MI : 196 200 196 MN : 359 361 356 MS : 279 276 265 MO : 274 274 274 MT : 2,141 2,091 2,036 NE : 844 844 844 NV : 2,300 2,300 2,267 NH : 140 135 135 NJ : 86 86 86 NM : 2,923 2,831 2,884 NY : 205 205 200 NC : 161 162 160 ND : 1,260 1,274 1,292 OH : 189 186 186 OK : 410 410 405 OR : 449 435 425 PA : 128 128 131 RI : 87 86 86 SC : 200 196 194 SD : 1,354 1,354 1,354 TN : 132 131 131 TX : 584 582 575 UT : 773 773 748 VT : 202 200 200 VA : 180 180 172 WA : 403 393 393 WV : 176 176 176 WI : 209 210 209 WY : 3,761 3,761 3,761 : US : 436 435 432 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Program changes initiated with the 2000 Farms and Land in Farms release include publishing the number of farms with less than $10,000 in sales for all states for 1998, 1999, and future years. Estimates of number of farms with $10,000-$99,999 and $100,000 plus in sales are expanded to include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. 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 ith 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 1.8 to 3.8 percent for number of farms and 2.3 to 6.7 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. 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 in February, 2001. 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 There are two options for subscribing via e-mail. All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. 1) Starting with the NASS Home Page at http://www.usda.gov/nass/, click on Publications, then click on the Subscribe by E-mail button which takes you to the page describing e-mail delivery of reports. Finally, click on Go to the Subscription Page and follow the instructions. 2) If you do NOT have Internet access, 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. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-834-0125 FAX: 703-834-0110 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.