Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. 2007 CENSUS of AGRICULTURE Small Farms Reserve The 2007 Census of Agriculture shows an increase in the number of aHD1476 small farms in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture . U6A14 defines small farms as farms with $250,000 or less in sales of agricultural 2009 commodities. In 2007, there were 18,467 more small farms counted than in 2002. It is important to understand the attributes and characteristics of these farms and the role they play in the changing structure of U.S. agriculture. Growth Trends The number of small farms counted in the 2007 Census of Agriculture was 1,995,133, or 91 percent of all farms. Overall small farms increased 1 percent from 2002 to 2007, but the increase was not seen in all sales Small farms account for classes. Farms with sales less than $10,000 increased while farms with 91 percent of all farms sales of more than $10,000 decreased. U.S. farms with sales between $100,000 and $249,999 decreased by 7 percent. in the United States. Number of Small Farms, 1997 to 2007 □ $100,000 to $249,999 ■ $10,000 to $99,999 ■ Less than $10,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 U.S. Department 600,000 of Agriculture National Agricultural 400,000 Statistics Service 200,000 0 www.agcensus.usda.gov 2007 CENSUS of AGRICULTURE How Do They Compare? Small farms account for 91 percent of all U.S. farms and more than half of the land in farms. Operators of farms with value of sales between $100,000 and $249,999 are younger than average and are more likely to be full time farmers. Operators of farms with sales of less than $10,000 typically work off farm. Sales Sales OPERATIONS Sales < $100,000- $10,000- (Percent of Total U.S.) $10,000 $249,999 $99,999 All Farms 7% 24% 60% Land in Farms 16% 22% 18% Sales 8% 6% 1% Government Payments 15% 13% 18% Value of Land and Buildings 12% 20% 24% Cropland Harvested 16% 14% 4% The majority, 57 percent, Cattle Inventory 13% 22% 9% of direct to consumer Horse Inventory 6% 22% 65% sales is from small farms. Hay 17% 33% 18% Organic Sales 12% 9% 1% Direct to Consumer Sales 15% 31% 11% Sales Sales All Sales < OPERATORS $100,000- $10,000- Farms $10,000 $249,999 $99,999 Average Age 57.1 55.1 57.9 57.6 65 Years or Older 30% 25% 33% 31% Not White 7% 3% 6% 8% or Hispanic Female 14% 5% 10% 18% Worked Off Farm 65% 49% 65% 71% 4 Years or Less 10% 5% 8% 13% on Present Farm Small Farms What Is Produced? Almost 50 percent of the farms that sold between $100,000 and $249,999 of agricultural products in 2007 specialized in grain and oilseed production followed by cattle and milk production. The largest category of production for farms with sales between $10,000 and $99,999 was beef cattle and calves followed by grains and oilseeds. More than half of farms that produced less than $10,000 were beef cattle or “other crop” farms. This category includes hay farms and farms where no single crop comprised more than 50 percent of sales. Percent of Farms by North American Industry Classification System Grain and Oilseed Vegetables □ $100,000 to $249,999 Small farms account for ■$10,000 to $99,999 Fruits and Nuts □ Less than $10,000 56 percent of the total Horticulture U.S. value of agricultural Other Crops land and buildings. Beef Cattle Cattle Feedlots Dairy Hogs and Pigs Poultry and Eggs Sheep and Goats Other Animals o% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% TimffllMIIIi^S'CULrUHAL LIBRARY 2007 CENSUS of 1022735618 AGRICULTURE Where Are Small Farms Located? Nationally, 91 percent of all farms fall under the USDA small farm definition, which are places that sell less than $250,000 in agricultural products annually. The percentage of small farms is highest in the South and New England. There are 14 states where 95 percent or more of all farms are small. West Virginia has the highest percentage of small farms. There are only five states where less than 80 percent of all farms are small - Delaware, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. Percent of Farms with Sales Less than $250,000 For more information: www.nass.usda.gov www.agcensus.usda.gov Agricultural Statistics Hotline (800) 727-9540 Percent of Farms 0% - 60% J 61% - 70% | 71% - 80% 1 81% - 90% | 91% - 95% I 96% - 100% Small Farms www.agcensus.usda.gov