United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Sp Sy 3 (01)a Farms and Land in Farms February 2001 ************************************************************** Update Alert The Average Size Farm by State table on Page 13 was corrected. Changes were made to 1999 for Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. ************************************************************** Released February 23, 2001, 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. Farms and Ranches Decline in 2000 The number of farms and ranches in the United States in 2000 is estimated at 2.17 million, down 0.9 percent from 1999. The decline in farms and ranches occurred primarily in agricultural operations with less than $10,000 in sales. This is the largest decline in farms and ranches since 1991 when just over 29,000 operations were lost. Total land in farms, at 943.0 million acres, declined 0.5 percent or 4.4 million acres from last year. The average size of farm increased 2 acres from 432 acres in 1999 to 434 acres in 2000. The U.S. number of agricultural operations in the economic sales class $1,000-$9,999 declined 1.8 percent to 1,173,650 in 2000. Farms and ranches with sales in the $10,000-$99,999 economic class increased slightly from 1999 to 649,350 operations while the number of farms and ranches with sales over $100,000 rose 0.1% to 349,080. The impact of adverse weather, lower commodity prices, and competition for land contributed to the overall reduction and consolidation of farms and ranches during 2000. The North Central Region's loss of farms was the largest with a decline of 9,200 operations, 1.1% less than was estimated in 1999. The South Region lost 7,000 farms and ranches, 0.8% fewer than the previous year. The number of farms and ranches declined 2,690 or 0.9% in the West Region and 1,100 or 0.8% in the Northeast Region. The number of farms and ranches during 2000 declined in 27 States, remained unchanged in 19 States, and increased in 4 States. States losing 1,000 farms during the year were Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. Of the four States showing increases in the number of farms and ranches, only Oklahoma increased significantly, adding 1,000 operations. Texas, although losing 500,000 acres of farm and ranch land in 2000, continues to lead the Nation with 130 million acres in farms and ranches. Other States showing significant decreases in agricultural acreage were Arizona (800,000), New Mexico (700,000 acres), Mississippi (300,000 acres), and Montana (300,000 acres). Overall, farm and ranch acreage declined in 20 States, remained unchanged in 29 States, and increased in 1 State. Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm: United States, 1990-2000 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Land : Average Year : of Farms : in Farms : Farm Size -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number 1,000 Acres Acres : 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 : 2,192,070 947,440 432 2000 : 2,172,080 942,990 434 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Percent of Farms and Land in Farms for Places with Less Than $1,000 of Reported Sales, but with Sufficient Crops and Livestock to Normally Have Sales of at least $1,000, United States, 1998-2000 -------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent of Total Year : ----------------------------------------------- : Farms : Land -------------------------------------------------------------- : 1998 : 14.5 1.5 1999 : 15.5 2.0 2000 : 15.5 2.0 --------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Farms: By State and United States, 1998-2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 49,000 48,000 47,000 AK : 560 570 580 AZ : 7,800 7,700 7,500 AR : 49,500 48,500 48,000 CA : 89,000 89,000 87,500 CO : 29,500 29,000 29,000 CT : 4,100 4,000 3,900 DE : 2,700 2,600 2,600 FL : 45,000 45,000 44,000 GA : 50,000 50,000 50,000 HI : 5,500 5,500 5,700 ID : 24,500 24,500 24,500 IL : 79,000 79,000 78,000 IN : 66,000 65,000 64,000 IA : 97,000 96,000 95,000 KS : 65,000 65,000 64,000 KY : 90,000 91,000 90,000 LA : 30,000 30,000 29,500 ME : 6,900 6,900 6,800 MD : 12,500 12,400 12,400 MA : 6,000 6,100 6,100 MI : 52,000 53,000 52,000 MN : 80,000 80,000 79,000 MS : 42,000 43,000 43,000 MO : 110,000 110,000 109,000 MT : 27,500 28,000 27,600 NE : 55,000 55,000 54,000 NV : 3,000 3,000 3,000 NH : 3,100 3,100 3,100 NJ : 9,600 9,600 9,600 NM : 16,000 15,500 15,200 NY : 38,000 39,000 38,000 NC : 58,000 58,000 57,000 ND : 31,000 30,500 30,300 OH : 80,000 80,000 80,000 OK : 83,000 84,000 85,000 OR : 39,500 40,500 40,000 PA : 60,000 59,000 59,000 RI : 700 700 700 SC : 25,000 25,000 24,000 SD : 32,500 32,500 32,500 TN : 91,000 91,000 90,000 TX : 226,000 227,000 226,000 UT : 15,000 15,500 15,500 VT : 6,700 6,700 6,800 VA : 49,000 49,000 49,000 WA : 40,000 40,000 40,000 WV : 21,000 20,500 20,500 WI : 78,000 78,000 77,000 WY : 9,200 9,200 9,200 : US : 2,191,360 2,192,070 2,172,080 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Land in Farms: By State and United States, 1998-2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : AL : 9,500 9,200 9,000 AK : 910 910 920 AZ : 28,100 27,500 26,700 AR : 14,750 14,650 14,600 CA : 28,500 27,800 27,800 CO : 32,200 31,800 31,600 CT : 380 370 360 DE : 580 580 580 FL : 10,600 10,400 10,300 GA : 11,300 11,200 11,100 HI : 1,440 1,440 1,440 ID : 12,000 11,900 11,900 IL : 27,800 27,700 27,700 IN : 15,600 15,500 15,500 IA : 33,000 33,000 32,800 KS : 47,500 47,500 47,500 KY : 13,800 13,600 13,600 LA : 8,200 8,150 8,100 ME : 1,270 1,270 1,270 MD : 2,150 2,100 2,100 MA : 570 570 570 MI : 10,400 10,400 10,400 MN : 28,900 28,800 28,600 MS : 11,600 11,400 11,100 MO : 30,100 30,100 30,000 MT : 57,500 57,000 56,700 NE : 46,400 46,400 46,400 NV : 6,900 6,800 6,800 NH : 420 420 420 NJ : 830 830 830 NM : 45,300 44,700 44,000 NY : 7,800 7,800 7,700 NC : 9,400 9,300 9,200 ND : 39,500 39,400 39,400 OH : 14,900 14,900 14,900 OK : 34,000 34,000 34,000 OR : 17,200 17,200 17,200 PA : 7,700 7,700 7,700 RI : 60 60 60 SC : 4,900 4,850 4,700 SD : 44,000 44,000 44,000 TN : 11,900 11,900 11,700 TX : 131,500 130,500 130,000 UT : 11,600 11,600 11,600 VT : 1,340 1,340 1,340 VA : 8,800 8,700 8,700 WA : 15,700 15,700 15,700 WV : 3,700 3,600 3,600 WI : 16,400 16,300 16,200 WY : 34,600 34,600 34,600 : US : 953,500 947,440 942,990 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, Region, and United States, 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Northeast : CT 2/ : 2,450 3,900 ME 2/ : 4,300 6,800 MA 2/ : 3,300 6,100 NH 2/ : 2,100 3,100 NJ 2/ : 6,400 9,600 NY : 18,400 11,200 8,400 38,000 PA : 33,000 16,500 9,500 59,000 RI 2/ : 350 700 VT 2/ : 3,700 6,800 Oth Sts 1/ : 10,300 4,100 Total : 74,000 38,000 22,000 134,000 : North Central : IL : 28,000 26,000 24,000 78,000 IN : 29,700 22,000 12,300 64,000 IA : 27,000 38,000 30,000 95,000 KS : 23,100 27,200 13,700 64,000 MI : 27,500 16,500 8,000 52,000 MN : 30,000 29,000 20,000 79,000 MO : 62,000 36,600 10,400 109,000 NE : 13,500 22,000 18,500 54,000 ND : 8,500 13,100 8,700 30,300 OH : 43,000 27,000 10,000 80,000 SD : 7,000 15,300 10,200 32,500 WI : 34,500 24,500 18,000 77,000 Total : 333,800 297,200 183,800 814,800 : South : AL : 33,000 9,000 5,000 47,000 AR : 26,000 12,000 10,000 48,000 DE 2/ : 800 2,600 FL : 28,500 10,500 5,000 44,000 GA : 32,600 9,900 7,500 50,000 KY : 51,000 33,000 6,000 90,000 LA : 18,500 6,600 4,400 29,500 MD 2/ : 5,900 12,400 MS : 31,000 7,400 4,600 43,000 NC : 34,000 13,000 10,000 57,000 OK : 52,500 26,500 6,000 85,000 SC : 17,700 4,000 2,300 24,000 TN : 68,000 18,000 4,000 90,000 TX : 153,000 56,000 17,000 226,000 VA : 32,000 14,000 3,000 49,000 WV 2/ : 17,000 20,500 Other States 3/ : 7,320 4,480 Total : 601,500 227,220 89,280 918,000 : West : AK 2/ : 350 580 AZ 2/ : 4,500 7,500 CA : 43,500 25,000 19,000 87,500 CO : 14,000 10,100 4,900 29,000 HI 2/ : 3,400 5,700 ID : 12,500 7,200 4,800 24,500 MT : 10,400 10,800 6,400 27,600 NV 2/ : 1,600 3,000 NM : 9,500 4,100 1,600 15,200 OR : 26,500 9,000 4,500 40,000 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 : 164,350 86,930 54,000 305,280 : US : 1,173,650 649,350 349,080 2,172,080 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Economic Sales Class : State :--------------------------------------: and : $1,000- : $10,000- : $100,000 : Total Region : $9,999 : $99,999 : & Over : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Acres : Northeast : CT 2/ : 130 360 ME 2/ : 450 1,270 MA 2/ : 230 570 NH 2/ : 200 420 NJ 2/ : 190 830 NY : 1,800 2,200 3,700 7,700 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 : 5,470 5,900 8,880 20,250 : North Central : IL : 1,700 5,600 20,400 27,700 IN : 1,300 3,900 10,300 15,500 IA : 1,700 9,400 21,700 32,800 KS : 2,800 15,500 29,200 47,500 MI : 1,900 2,800 5,700 10,400 MN : 3,000 8,500 17,100 28,600 MO : 7,200 11,500 11,300 30,000 NE : 1,800 11,800 32,800 46,400 ND : 3,400 13,800 22,200 39,400 OH : 2,900 4,800 7,200 14,900 SD : 2,000 14,400 27,600 44,000 WI : 2,800 4,700 8,700 16,200 Total : 32,500 106,700 214,200 353,400 : South : AL : 3,500 2,800 2,700 9,000 AR : 2,100 3,400 9,100 14,600 DE 2/ : 33 580 FL : 1,800 2,500 6,000 10,300 GA : 2,900 2,500 5,700 11,100 KY : 3,700 5,800 4,100 13,600 LA : 1,700 1,900 4,500 8,100 MD 2/ : 365 2,100 MS : 3,500 2,500 5,100 11,100 NC : 2,000 1,800 5,400 9,200 OK : 6,700 14,800 12,500 34,000 SC : 2,500 1,100 1,100 4,700 TN : 4,400 4,000 3,300 11,700 TX : 21,000 48,000 61,000 130,000 VA : 2,400 3,900 2,400 8,700 WV 2/ : 2,300 3,600 Other States 3/ : 1,607 1,975 Total : 60,898 96,607 124,875 282,380 : West : AK 2/ : 210 920 AZ 2/ : 1,900 26,700 CA : 2,800 7,000 18,000 27,800 CO : 3,800 10,200 17,600 31,600 HI 2/ : 106 1,440 ID : 1,500 3,300 7,100 11,900 MT : 4,300 16,400 36,000 56,700 NV 2/ : 1,000 6,800 NM : 4,700 11,700 27,600 44,000 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 46,159 Total : 28,816 76,885 181,259 286,960 : US : 127,684 286,092 529,214 942,990 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 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 : 30,500 29,500 20,000 80,000 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 : 340,600 299,900 183,500 824,000 : 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 : 35,000 13,000 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 : 33,000 13,000 3,000 49,000 WV 2/ : 17,000 20,500 Other States 3/ : 7,320 4,180 Total : 611,900 224,120 88,980 925,000 : 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 : 1,194,340 648,850 348,880 2,192,070 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 : 1,300 3,900 10,300 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 : 33,900 108,500 211,600 354,000 : 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 : 2,700 3,600 2,400 8,700 WV 2/ : 2,300 3,600 Other States 3/ : 1,607 1,980 Total : 64,343 96,307 123,480 284,130 : 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 : 133,028 288,492 525,920 947,440 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 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, 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 : 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, 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, 1998-2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic : Percent of Total : Sales :-------------------------------: Average Size Farm Class : Farms : Land : (Acres) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 4.5 72 $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 16.9 670 $100,000 - $249,999 : 9.2 23.3 1,095 $250,000 - $499,999 : 3.7 13.3 1,554 $500,000 + : 3.0 19.0 2,737 : Total : 100.0 100.0 432 : : : : 2000 : $1,000 - $2,499 : 26.8 4.4 71 $2,500 - $4,999 : 15.1 4.2 121 $5,000 - $9,999 : 12.1 4.9 176 $10,000 - $19,999 : 10.2 5.6 238 $20,000 - $39,999 : 9.0 8.6 415 $40,000 - $99,999 : 10.7 16.1 653 $100,000 - $249,999 : 9.3 22.8 1,064 $250,000 - $499,999 : 3.8 13.9 1,588 $500,000 + : 3.0 19.5 2,822 : Total : 100.0 100.0 434 : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Average Size Farm: By State and United States, 1998-2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : 1998 : 1999 : 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Acres : AL : 194 192 191 AK : 1,625 1,596 1,586 AZ : 3,603 3,571 3,560 AR : 298 302 304 CA : 320 312 318 CO : 1,092 1,097 1,090 CT : 93 93 92 DE : 215 223 223 FL : 236 231 234 GA : 226 224 222 HI : 262 262 253 ID : 490 486 486 IL : 352 351 355 IN : 236 238 242 IA : 340 344 345 KS : 731 731 742 KY : 153 149 151 LA : 273 272 275 ME : 184 184 187 MD : 172 169 169 MA : 95 93 93 MI : 200 196 200 MN : 361 360 362 MS : 276 265 258 MO : 274 274 275 MT : 2,091 2,036 2,054 NE : 844 844 859 NV : 2,300 2,267 2,267 NH : 135 135 135 NJ : 86 86 86 NM : 2,831 2,884 2,895 NY : 205 200 203 NC : 162 160 161 ND : 1,274 1,292 1,300 OH : 186 186 186 OK : 410 405 400 OR : 435 425 430 PA : 128 131 131 RI : 86 86 86 SC : 196 194 196 SD : 1,354 1,354 1,354 TN : 131 131 130 TX : 582 575 575 UT : 773 748 748 VT : 200 200 197 VA : 180 178 178 WA : 393 393 393 WV : 176 176 176 WI : 210 209 210 WY : 3,761 3,761 3,761 : US : 435 432 434 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reliability of Data in this Report Survey Procedures: These data were collected by the National Agricultural Statistics Service during the June Agricultural Survey using sampling procedures to ensure every farm and ranch had a chance of being selected. Two samples of farm and ranch operators are selected. First, NASS maintains a list of farms and ranches which are classified and sampled by size and type. Larger farms and ranches are selected with greater frequency but all farms are represented. A second sample consists of area segments of land scientifically selected from aerial photography. Each June, highly trained interviewers locate each selected land segment and identify every farm and ranch operating land within the boundaries of the sample segments. The names associated with those farms and ranches found in the area segments are matched against the list of farms. The names 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 the number of farms and ranches and their associated land. 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. 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 were efforts 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 1993-1998 estimates. These changes bring comparability between the Census of Agriculture data and the annually published NASS estimates and also provide users a consistent data series. Because of these changes in the farm definition, the official estimates show a level difference in he number of farms between 1992 and 1993 in some states. Estimation Procedures: National, Regional, and State data are 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 and ranch 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 1993-1997 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. Farm Definition History Minimum Criteria for "FARM" Definition, 1840-Present and Enumeration of Apiaries and Fur Farms Value of Sales Required some Apiaries & Acres in Value of Agric. of Agric. Agric. Fur Farms Year Place Products (Produced) Products Operations Enumerated 1974-pres -- -- $1,000 or more -- -- 1959 Less than 10 -- $250 or more -- 10 or more -- $50 or more -- 1954 Less than 3 -- $150 or more -- -- 3 or more $150 or more -- -- -- 1950 Less than 3 -- $150 or more -- Apiaries 3 or more $150 or more -- -- Fur Farms 1935-1945 Less than 3 $250 or more -- -- Apiaries 3 or more -- -- X Fur Farms 1930 Less than 3 $250 or more -- -- Apiaries 3 or more -- -- X 1925 Less than 3 $250 or more -- -- -- 3 or more -- -- X 1910-1920 Less than 3 $250 or more -- -- Apiaries 3 or more -- -- X 1900 -- -- -- -- Apiaries -- -- -- X 1870-1890 Less than 3 -- $500 or more -- Apiaries 3 or more -- -- X 1860 -- -- -- -- -- 1850 -- $100 or more -- -- Apiaries 1840 -- -- -- -- -- The next "Farms and Land in Farms" report will be released in February, 2002. 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