Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary

United States
Department of
Agriculture
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service

Farms and Land in Farms
2016 Summary
February 2017

ISSN: 1995-2004

Contents
2016 Farms and Land in Farms Highlights ............................................................................................................................. 4
Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2015 and 2016 ........................................................................ 6
Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2015 and 2016 ..................................................................... 6
Farms and Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2016 ........................................................................... 7
Number of Farms and Average Farm Size – United States: 2009-2016 ................................................................................. 7
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – United States: 2009-2016 ....................................................... 8
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2015-2016 ............. 8
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – States and United States: 2015-2016 ..................................... 9
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $1,000-$9,999 – States and United States: 2015-2016 .......... 10
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $10,000-$99,999 – States and United States: 2015-2016 ...... 11
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $100,000-$249,999 – States and United States: 2015-2016 .. 12
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $250,000-$499,999 – States and United States: 2015-2016 .. 13
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $500,000-$999,999 – States and United States: 2015-2016 .. 14
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $1,000,000 or more – States and United States: 2015-2016 .. 15
Statistical Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 16
Terms and Definitions........................................................................................................................................................... 17
Farm Definition History ........................................................................................................................................................ 18
Information Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................ 19

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

2016 Farms and Land in Farms Highlights
The number of farms in the United States for 2016 is estimated at 2.06 million, down 8 thousand farms from 2015. Total
land in farms, at 911 million acres, decreased 1 million acres from 2015. The average farm size for 2016 is 442 acres, up
1 acre from the previous year.
Farm numbers and land in farms are differentiated by six economic sales classes. Farms and ranches are classified into
these six sales classes by summing the sales of agricultural products and government program payments. Sales class
breaks occur at $10,000, $100,000, $250,000, $500,000, and $1,000,000. Producers were asked during the 2016 mid-year
surveys to report the value of sales based on production during the 2015 calendar year.
Point Farms are farms that did not have the required minimum $1,000 in sales for the year to qualify as a farm, but had
sufficient crops and livestock to normally have sales of $1,000 or more. Point Farms are assigned a sales class based on
the sum of the agricultural point (dollar) values assigned to the quantity of commodities produced but not sold. The
2012 Census of Agriculture showed that 428,810 farms or 20.3 percent of the 2.11 million farms were Point Farms. These
Point Farms operated 63.0 million acres or 6.9 percent of the 914.5 million acres of farmland.
Number of farms declined by 8 thousand from 2015. The number of farms in Sales Class $250,000 - $499,999 increased
while all other sales classes declined slightly. Fifty percent of all farms had less than $10,000 in sales. Eighty percent of
all farms had less than $100,000 in sales. Eight percent of all farms had sales of $500,000 or more.
Changes in the number of farms by sales class are:
 Sales Class $1,000 - $9,999 at 1.03 million farms, declined by 5 thousand farms.
 Sales Class $10,000 - $99,999 at 621 thousand farms, declined by 2 thousand farms.
 Sales Class $100,000 - $249,999 at 145 thousand farms, declined by 4 hundred farms.
 Sales Class $250,000 - $499,999 at 98 thousand farms, increased by 4 hundred farms.
 Sales Class $500,000 - $999,999 at 82 thousand farms, declined by 5 hundred farms.
 Sales Class $1,000,000 or more at 82 thousand farms, declined by 2 hundred farms.
The percent of all farms by sales class are:
 Sales Class $1,000 - $9,999: 50.1%
 Sales Class $10,000 - $99,999: 30.1%
 Sales Class $100,000 - $249,999: 7.0%
 Sales Class $250,000 - $499,999: 4.8%
 Sales Class $500,000 - $999,999: 4.0%
 Sales Class $1,000,000 or more: 4.0%
Land in farms, at 911 million acres, was down 1 million acres from 2015. The biggest changes for 2016 are that
producers in Sales Class $250,000-$499,999 operated 1.29 million more acres and those in Sales Class $1,000,000 or
more operated 1.01 million fewer acres. Similar to the previous year, in 2016 nearly 31 percent of all farmland was
operated by farms with less than $100,000 in sales. Forty-one percent of all farmland was operated by farms with sales of
$500,000 or more.
Farmland changes by sales class are:
 Sales Class $1,000 - $9,999 at 86.9 million acres, declined by 850 thousand acres.
 Sales Class $10,000 - $99,999 at 192.0 million acres, increased by 410 thousand acres.
 Sales Class $100,000 - $249,999 at 129.9 million acres, declined by 940 thousand acres.
 Sales Class $250,000 - $499,999 at 127.1 million acres, increased by 1.29 million acres.
 Sales Class $500,000 - $999,999 at 156.5 million acres, increased by 100 thousand acres.
 Sales Class $1,000,000 or more at 218.6 million acres, declined by 1.01 million acres.

4

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Percent of all farmland by sales class are:
 Sales Class $1,000 - $9,999: 9.5%
 Sales Class $10,000 - $99,999: 21.1%
 Sales Class $100,000 - $249,999: 14.3%
 Sales Class $250,000 - $499,999: 14.0%
 Sales Class $500,000 - $999,999: 17.2%
 Sales Class $1,000,000 or more: 24.0%
The average farm size continued to increase in 2016 as the number of farms declined more than land in farms. The
overall average size increased by 1 acre to 442 acres per farm. Average farm sizes increased in the $10,000 - $99,999,
$250,000 - $499,999, and $500,000 - $999,999 sales classes and decreased in the others.
Average farm size by sales class are:
 Sales Class $1,000 - $9,999: 84 acres
 Sales Class $10,000 - $99,999: 309 acres
 Sales Class $100,000 - $249,999: 896 acres
 Sales Class $250,000 - $499,999: 1,296 acres
 Sales Class $500,000 - $999,999: 1,897 acres
 Sales Class $1,000,000 or more: 2,656 acres

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class –
United States: 2015 and 2016
Thousands of
Farms
1,200
1,000
800
2015

2016

600
400
200
0
<$10,000

$10,000$99,999

$100,000$249,999

$250,000$499,999

$500,000$999,999

$1,000,000+

Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class –
United States: 2015 and 2016
Acres
3,000
2015

2016

2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
<$10,000

6

$10,000$99,999

$100,000$250,000$249,999
$499,999
Economic Sales Class

$500,000$999,999

$1,000,000+

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Farms and Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class –
United States: 2016
Percent of total
60
50
40

Number of farms

Land in farms

30
20
10
0
<$10,000

$10,000$99,999

$100,000$250,000$249,999
$499,999
Economic Sales Class

$500,000$999,999

$1,000,000+

Number of Farms and Average Farm Size –
United States: 2009-2016
Millions of farms

Average farm size

2.18

450

2.16

445

Number of farms

2.14

440

Average farm size

2.12

435

2.10

430

2.08

425

2.06

420

2.04
2009

415

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Year

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – United States: 2009-2016
Year

2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016

Number of farms

Land in farms

Average farm size

(number)

(1,000 acres)

(acres)

.....................................
.....................................
.....................................
.....................................
.....................................
.....................................
.....................................
.....................................

2,169,660
2,149,520
2,131,240
2,109,810
2,102,010
2,085,000
2,068,000
2,060,000

917,590
915,660
914,420
914,600
914,030
913,000
912,000
911,000

423
426
429
433
435
438
441
442

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class –
United States: 2015-2016
Percent of total
Economic sales class

1

8

Farms

Average farm size

Land in farms

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(acres)

(acres)

$ 1,000 - $ 9,999 ...............
$ 10,000 - $ 99,999 .............
$100,000 - $249,999 ...........
$250,000 - $499,999 ...........
$500,000 - $999,999 ...........
$1,000,000 or more .............

50.1
30.1
7.0
4.7
4.0
4.0

50.1
30.1
7.0
4.8
4.0
4.0

9.6
21.0
14.3
13.8
17.1
24.1

9.5
21.1
14.3
14.0
17.2
24.0

85
308
900
1,288
1,884
2,662

84
309
896
1,296
1,897
2,656

Total1 ..................................

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

441

442

May not add due to rounding.

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – States and United States: 2015-2016
State

Number of farms

Land in farms

Average farm size

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

(number)

(number)

(1,000 acres)

(1,000 acres)

(acres)

(acres)

Alabama .......................................
Alaska ..........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas ......................................
California ......................................
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ..................................
Delaware ......................................
Florida ..........................................
Georgia ........................................

43,200
760
19,500
43,500
77,400
34,200
6,000
2,500
47,300
41,000

44,000
760
19,600
43,000
76,700
33,800
6,000
2,500
47,100
41,800

8,900
830
26,000
13,800
25,400
31,700
440
500
9,450
9,400

8,900
830
25,900
13,700
25,400
31,700
440
500
9,410
9,500

206
1,092
1,333
317
328
927
73
200
200
229

202
1,092
1,321
319
331
938
73
200
200
227

Hawaii ..........................................
Idaho ............................................
Illinois ...........................................
Indiana .........................................
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas .........................................
Kentucky .......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ...........................................
Maryland .......................................

7,000
24,400
73,400
57,700
87,500
60,400
76,400
26,900
8,200
12,200

7,000
24,300
72,200
57,500
87,000
59,600
76,000
26,900
8,200
12,300

1,120
11,800
26,800
14,700
30,500
46,000
13,000
7,750
1,450
2,030

1,120
11,800
26,700
14,700
30,500
45,900
12,900
7,750
1,450
2,030

160
484
365
255
349
762
170
288
177
166

160
486
370
256
351
770
170
288
177
165

Massachusetts ..............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
Missouri ........................................
Montana .......................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
New Jersey ...................................

7,800
51,500
73,600
36,700
97,100
27,500
48,700
4,200
4,400
9,100

7,800
51,400
73,300
36,200
96,800
27,400
48,400
4,000
4,400
9,100

520
9,950
25,900
10,800
28,300
59,700
45,200
5,950
470
720

520
9,950
25,900
10,700
28,500
59,700
45,200
5,960
470
720

67
193
352
294
291
2,171
928
1,417
107
79

67
194
353
296
294
2,179
934
1,490
107
79

New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ..............................
North Dakota ................................
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon .........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
Rhode Island ................................
South Carolina ..............................

24,700
35,500
48,800
30,000
74,400
78,000
34,600
57,900
1,240
24,400

24,600
35,500
48,000
29,800
74,500
78,100
34,400
58,200
1,240
24,500

43,200
7,200
8,300
39,200
14,000
34,200
16,400
7,700
70
5,000

43,200
7,300
8,200
39,100
14,000
34,200
16,300
7,630
70
5,000

1,749
203
170
1,307
188
438
474
133
56
205

1,756
206
171
1,312
188
438
474
131
56
204

South Dakota ................................
Tennessee ....................................
Texas ...........................................
Utah ..............................................
Vermont ........................................
Virginia .........................................
Washington ..................................
West Virginia ................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming ......................................

31,300
67,300
242,000
18,100
7,300
45,000
36,000
20,900
68,900
11,600

31,000
66,600
241,500
18,100
7,300
44,800
35,900
20,600
68,700
11,600

43,300
10,900
130,000
11,000
1,250
8,100
14,700
3,600
14,400
30,400

43,300
10,800
129,800
11,000
1,250
8,100
14,700
3,600
14,400
30,300

1,383
162
537
608
171
180
408
172
209
2,621

1,397
162
537
608
171
181
409
175
210
2,612

United States ................................

2,068,000

2,060,000

912,000

911,000

441

442

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2015-2016
Economic sales class: $1,000-$9,999
State

Number of farms

Land in farms

2015

2016

2015

(number)

(number)

(1,000 acres)

Average farm size
2016

2015

(1,000 acres)

2016

(acres)

(acres)

Alabama .......................................
Alaska ...........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas .......................................
California ......................................
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ...................................
Delaware ......................................
Florida ...........................................
Georgia .........................................

25,000
380
14,700
21,700
30,400
18,500
4,000
870
27,100
23,000

25,700
380
14,800
21,500
29,500
18,300
4,000
870
27,000
23,700

2,650
270
700
1,650
1,400
2,300
150
20
1,240
2,100

2,650
270
600
1,700
1,300
2,200
150
20
1,240
2,400

106
711
48
76
46
124
38
23
46
91

103
711
41
79
44
120
38
23
46
101

Hawaii ...........................................
Idaho .............................................
Illinois ............................................
Indiana ..........................................
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas ..........................................
Kentucky .......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ............................................
Maryland .......................................

3,850
12,200
29,300
27,500
26,600
22,000
42,000
16,200
5,000
6,500

3,850
12,100
28,500
27,600
26,000
21,400
41,500
16,200
5,000
6,500

100
800
1,300
960
1,100
2,400
2,800
1,180
480
300

100
800
1,200
930
900
2,400
2,800
1,180
480
300

26
66
44
35
41
109
67
73
96
46

26
66
42
34
35
112
67
73
96
46

Massachusetts ..............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
Missouri ........................................
Montana ........................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
New Jersey ...................................

5,000
25,600
26,500
21,100
44,200
11,600
12,500
2,300
3,100
5,600

5,000
25,500
26,500
21,300
44,200
11,500
12,000
2,150
3,100
5,600

210
1,050
2,100
2,700
3,700
2,800
800
150
240
160

210
1,100
2,100
2,600
3,900
2,700
900
140
240
160

42
41
79
128
84
241
64
65
77
29

42
43
79
122
88
235
75
65
77
29

New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ...............................
North Dakota .................................
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon ..........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
Rhode Island .................................
South Carolina ..............................

16,200
16,700
27,500
9,000
33,300
41,100
21,000
26,100
710
16,800

16,100
16,900
26,500
9,100
33,200
41,000
20,900
26,300
710
17,000

4,200
1,450
1,400
1,500
1,600
5,100
1,500
1,800
20
1,800

4,100
1,600
1,300
1,600
1,600
5,000
1,440
1,800
20
1,800

259
87
51
167
48
124
71
69
28
107

255
95
49
176
48
122
69
68
28
106

South Dakota ................................
Tennessee ....................................
Texas ............................................
Utah ..............................................
Vermont ........................................
Virginia ..........................................
Washington ...................................
West Virginia .................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming .......................................

8,500
42,400
151,000
10,600
4,050
25,800
21,500
14,600
30,500
5,000

8,600
42,400
150,000
10,700
4,050
25,500
21,400
14,400
30,400
5,000

1,200
2,950
17,200
650
340
1,800
1,020
1,600
1,950
900

1,300
2,900
16,500
700
340
1,800
1,020
1,600
1,950
900

141
70
114
61
84
70
47
110
64
180

151
68
110
65
84
71
48
111
64
180

United States ................................

1,036,660

1,031,410

87,790

86,940

85

84

10

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2015-2016
Economic sales class: $10,000-$99,999
State

Number of farms

Land in farms

2015

2016

2015

(number)

(number)

(1,000 acres)

Average farm size
2016

2015

(1,000 acres)

2016

(acres)

(acres)

Alabama .......................................
Alaska ..........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas ......................................
California ......................................
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ..................................
Delaware ......................................
Florida ..........................................
Georgia ........................................

13,300
290
3,350
14,100
26,400
10,000
1,550
(D)
14,600
10,500

13,300
290
3,350
13,700
26,200
10,000
1,550
(D)
14,500
10,400

3,400
450
8,200
3,600
4,200
7,000
110
(D)
1,900
2,200

3,450
450
8,000
3,600
4,400
6,900
110
(D)
1,850
2,100

256
1,552
2,448
255
159
700
71
(D)
130
210

259
1,552
2,388
263
168
690
71
(D)
128
202

Hawaii ..........................................
Idaho ............................................
Illinois ...........................................
Indiana .........................................
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas .........................................
Kentucky .......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ...........................................
Maryland .......................................

2,600
7,000
18,300
15,500
23,600
21,500
27,400
7,300
2,400
3,500

2,600
7,000
18,300
15,300
23,800
21,300
27,600
7,300
2,400
3,600

260
2,050
2,700
1,830
3,100
8,000
4,700
1,800
400
400

260
2,050
2,900
1,900
3,300
8,300
4,700
1,800
400
400

100
293
148
118
131
372
172
247
167
114

100
293
158
124
139
390
170
247
167
111

Massachusetts ..............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
Missouri ........................................
Montana .......................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
New Jersey ...................................

2,000
14,700
21,900
10,800
38,300
7,800
13,900
850
1,050
2,350

2,000
14,600
21,600
10,000
38,500
7,900
13,500
830
1,050
2,350

140
1,650
3,700
2,900
8,700
8,800
4,800
280
150
160

140
1,600
3,600
2,800
9,300
8,900
4,700
270
150
160

70
112
169
269
227
1,128
345
329
143
68

70
110
167
280
242
1,127
348
325
143
68

New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ..............................
North Dakota ................................
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon .........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
Rhode Island ................................
South Carolina ..............................

6,200
11,600
12,800
6,200
25,300
28,000
9,100
19,400
(D)
5,500

6,200
11,200
12,800
7,100
25,300
28,100
9,000
19,800
(D)
5,400

11,300
1,800
1,500
2,600
2,650
11,300
2,860
2,300
(D)
1,300

11,100
1,600
1,500
3,400
2,650
11,400
2,830
2,280
(D)
1,300

1,823
155
117
419
105
404
314
119
(D)
236

1,790
143
117
479
105
406
314
115
(D)
241

South Dakota ................................
Tennessee ....................................
Texas ...........................................
Utah ..............................................
Vermont ........................................
Virginia .........................................
Washington ..................................
West Virginia ................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming ......................................

9,400
20,200
71,000
5,500
2,100
14,200
8,400
5,400
21,000
3,700

9,300
19,500
71,000
5,500
2,100
14,200
8,400
5,400
20,900
3,800

4,900
3,700
41,700
1,900
320
2,800
1,900
1,400
2,900
4,800

4,900
3,600
41,000
2,000
320
2,800
1,900
1,400
2,850
4,600

521
183
587
345
152
197
226
259
138
1,297

527
185
577
364
152
197
226
259
136
1,211

Other States 1 ...............................

1,010

1,010

60

60

(NA)

(NA)

United States ................................

622,850

620,830

191,570

191,980

308

309

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
1
Includes data withheld above.

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2015-2016
Economic sales class: $100,000-$249,999
State

Number of farms
2015

Land in farms

2016

(number)

(number)

Average farm size

2015

2016

2015

2016

(1,000 acres)

(1,000 acres)

(acres)

(acres)

Alabama .......................................
Alaska ...........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas .......................................
California ......................................
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ...................................
Delaware ......................................
Florida ...........................................
Georgia .........................................

1,100
50
590
1,600
6,100
2,600
(D)
(D)
2,300
1,400

1,150
50
570
1,900
6,300
2,500
(D)
(D)
2,250
1,500

750
70
11,200
1,000
3,700
5,400
(D)
(D)
940
630

800
70
11,300
1,200
3,700
5,500
(D)
(D)
920
630

682
1,400
18,983
625
607
2,077
(D)
(D)
409
450

696
1,400
19,825
632
587
2,200
(D)
(D)
409
420

Hawaii ...........................................
Idaho .............................................
Illinois ............................................
Indiana ..........................................
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas ..........................................
Kentucky .......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ............................................
Maryland .......................................

280
1,900
8,500
5,300
10,400
6,500
3,300
850
340
600

280
1,900
8,500
5,300
10,300
6,400
3,300
800
340
600

160
1,650
2,900
1,580
3,000
7,200
1,200
520
100
230

160
1,650
3,100
1,540
2,900
6,900
1,200
520
100
230

571
868
341
298
288
1,108
364
612
294
383

571
868
365
291
282
1,078
364
650
294
383

Massachusetts ..............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
Missouri ........................................
Montana ........................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
New Jersey ...................................

380
4,100
8,500
1,000
7,400
3,100
7,300
270
(D)
450

380
4,200
8,600
1,100
6,200
3,150
7,600
260
(D)
450

50
1,050
2,500
600
4,400
9,700
5,900
600
(D)
80

50
1,100
2,600
700
3,900
9,800
5,900
580
(D)
80

132
256
294
600
595
3,129
808
2,222
(D)
178

132
262
302
636
629
3,111
776
2,231
(D)
178

New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ...............................
North Dakota .................................
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon ..........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
Rhode Island .................................
South Carolina ..............................

1,050
3,300
1,800
3,600
7,100
4,450
1,700
5,600
(D)
600

1,050
3,600
2,000
3,100
7,200
4,450
1,700
5,500
(D)
600

7,600
850
600
3,800
1,950
5,750
2,900
1,050
(D)
270

7,700
950
700
3,700
1,950
5,700
2,900
1,040
(D)
270

7,238
258
333
1,056
275
1,292
1,706
188
(D)
450

7,333
264
350
1,194
271
1,281
1,706
189
(D)
450

South Dakota ................................
Tennessee ....................................
Texas ............................................
Utah ..............................................
Vermont ........................................
Virginia ..........................................
Washington ...................................
West Virginia .................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming .......................................

4,200
2,000
8,700
900
490
1,950
2,150
400
7,300
1,300

4,100
2,000
8,700
800
490
2,050
2,200
350
7,300
1,300

5,300
800
21,600
1,400
140
1,000
1,550
240
1,900
4,900

5,200
850
20,500
1,300
140
1,000
1,550
240
1,950
5,000

1,262
400
2,483
1,556
286
513
721
600
260
3,769

1,268
425
2,356
1,625
286
488
705
686
267
3,846

Other States 1 ...............................

530

530

100

100

(NA)

(NA)

United States ................................

145,330

144,900

130,810

129,870

900

896

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
1
Includes data withheld above.

12

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2015-2016
Economic sales class: $250,000-$499,999
State

Number of farms
2015

Land in farms

2016

(number)

2015

(number)

Average farm size
2016

(1,000 acres)

(1,000 acres)

2015

2016

(acres)

(acres)

Alabama .......................................
Alaska ..........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas ......................................
California ......................................
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ..................................
Delaware ......................................
Florida ..........................................
Georgia ........................................

900
(D)
230
1,200
4,600
1,300
(D)
(D)
1,250
900

950
(D)
240
1,000
4,700
1,300
(D)
(D)
1,300
1,000

450
(D)
2,600
650
2,500
5,800
(D)
(D)
970
470

400
(D)
2,600
600
2,400
5,800
(D)
(D)
1,000
470

500
(D)
11,304
542
543
4,462
(D)
(D)
776
522

421
(D)
10,833
600
511
4,462
(D)
(D)
769
470

Hawaii ..........................................
Idaho ............................................
Illinois ...........................................
Indiana .........................................
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas .........................................
Kentucky .......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ...........................................
Maryland .......................................

120
1,300
7,300
3,900
9,700
4,200
1,500
550
220
650

120
1,300
7,000
4,000
9,700
4,300
1,500
650
220
650

60
1,400
4,500
2,100
5,100
7,400
1,000
450
110
250

60
1,400
4,400
2,100
4,900
7,500
900
550
110
250

500
1,077
616
538
526
1,762
667
818
500
385

500
1,077
629
525
505
1,744
600
846
500
385

Massachusetts ..............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
Missouri ........................................
Montana .......................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
New Jersey ...................................

(D)
2,900
6,300
800
3,000
2,500
5,300
440
(D)
270

(D)
2,900
6,200
800
3,500
2,450
5,600
420
(D)
270

(D)
1,250
3,300
500
3,400
12,200
7,500
970
(D)
90

(D)
1,200
3,300
500
3,400
12,300
7,700
970
(D)
90

(D)
431
524
625
1,133
4,880
1,415
2,205
(D)
333

(D)
414
532
625
971
5,020
1,375
2,310
(D)
333

New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ..............................
North Dakota ................................
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon .........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
Rhode Island ................................
South Carolina ..............................

550
1,800
1,500
3,000
3,800
2,050
1,000
3,600
(D)
300

500
1,700
1,600
3,000
3,800
2,100
1,000
3,500
(D)
300

6,300
800
700
5,100
1,900
4,550
2,290
950
(D)
230

6,300
750
700
5,300
1,900
4,600
2,280
960
(D)
230

11,455
444
467
1,700
500
2,220
2,290
264
(D)
767

12,600
441
438
1,767
500
2,190
2,280
274
(D)
767

South Dakota ................................
Tennessee ....................................
Texas ...........................................
Utah ..............................................
Vermont ........................................
Virginia .........................................
Washington ..................................
West Virginia ................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming ......................................

3,300
950
4,600
600
350
1,200
1,250
150
4,900
850

3,100
950
4,800
600
350
1,200
1,200
150
4,800
800

7,200
700
16,700
1,550
150
700
2,250
110
2,050
6,400

7,000
700
18,300
1,450
150
700
2,250
120
2,050
6,300

2,182
737
3,630
2,583
429
583
1,800
733
418
7,529

2,258
737
3,813
2,417
429
583
1,875
800
427
7,875

Other States 1 ...............................

560

560

150

150

(NA)

(NA)

United States ................................

97,640

98,080

125,800

127,090

1,288

1,296

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
1
Includes data withheld above.

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2015-2016
Economic sales class: $500,000-$999,999
State

Number of farms
2015

Land in farms

2016

(number)

2015

(number)

Average farm size
2016

(1,000 acres)

2015

(1,000 acres)

2016

(acres)

(acres)

Alabama .......................................
Alaska ...........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas .......................................
California ......................................
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ...................................
Delaware ......................................
Florida ...........................................
Georgia .........................................

1,500
(D)
300
1,500
3,200
900
(D)
370
820
2,900

1,500
(D)
300
1,400
3,250
800
(D)
370
820
2,900

500
(D)
400
1,300
2,600
5,400
(D)
100
650
1,680

550
(D)
500
1,100
2,800
5,400
(D)
100
600
1,620

333
(D)
1,333
867
813
6,000
(D)
270
793
579

367
(D)
1,667
786
862
6,750
(D)
270
732
559

Hawaii ...........................................
Idaho .............................................
Illinois ............................................
Indiana ..........................................
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas ..........................................
Kentucky .......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ............................................
Maryland .......................................

70
800
5,500
3,000
9,900
3,000
1,100
900
110
400

70
800
5,400
2,900
10,000
3,000
1,000
850
110
400

240
1,900
6,300
2,880
8,700
9,600
1,340
1,000
90
250

240
2,000
6,100
2,930
8,900
9,600
1,290
900
90
260

3,429
2,375
1,145
960
879
3,200
1,218
1,111
818
625

3,429
2,500
1,130
1,010
890
3,200
1,290
1,059
818
650

Massachusetts ..............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
Missouri ........................................
Montana ........................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
New Jersey ...................................

(D)
2,350
5,100
1,100
2,300
1,500
4,900
180
(D)
210

(D)
2,350
5,100
1,100
2,400
1,450
5,000
180
(D)
210

(D)
1,800
4,800
950
4,000
13,600
9,800
1,050
(D)
80

(D)
1,800
4,900
1,000
4,000
13,500
9,800
1,100
(D)
80

(D)
766
941
864
1,739
9,067
2,000
5,833
(D)
381

(D)
766
961
909
1,667
9,310
1,960
6,111
(D)
381

New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ...............................
North Dakota .................................
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon ..........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
Rhode Island .................................
South Carolina ..............................

370
1,000
1,600
4,700
2,850
1,350
850
1,950
(D)
400

370
1,000
1,600
4,200
2,850
1,400
800
1,850
(D)
400

8,100
650
950
10,800
2,400
4,000
2,650
750
(D)
450

8,300
650
950
10,100
2,400
3,900
2,650
750
(D)
450

21,892
650
594
2,298
842
2,963
3,118
385
(D)
1,125

22,432
650
594
2,405
842
2,786
3,313
405
(D)
1,125

South Dakota ................................
Tennessee ....................................
Texas ............................................
Utah ..............................................
Vermont ........................................
Virginia ..........................................
Washington ...................................
West Virginia .................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming .......................................

3,500
850
3,400
240
160
1,050
1,050
170
2,850
500

3,500
850
3,700
240
160
1,050
1,050
170
2,900
470

11,300
850
15,100
4,500
90
830
2,930
110
2,050
6,800

11,500
900
15,400
4,550
90
830
2,880
110
2,050
6,800

3,229
1,000
4,441
18,750
563
790
2,790
647
719
13,600

3,286
1,059
4,162
18,958
563
790
2,743
647
707
14,468

Other States 1 ...............................

260

260

80

80

(NA)

(NA)

United States ................................

83,010

82,480

156,400

156,500

1,884

1,897

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
1
Includes data withheld above.

14

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2015-2016
Economic sales class: $1,000,000 or more
State

Number of farms
2015

Land in farms

2016

(number)

(number)

Average farm size

2015

2016

2015

2016

(1,000 acres)

(1,000 acres)

(acres)

(acres)

Alabama .......................................
Alaska ..........................................
Arizona .........................................
Arkansas ......................................
California ......................................
Colorado .......................................
Connecticut ..................................
Delaware ......................................
Florida ..........................................
Georgia ........................................

1,400
(D)
330
3,400
6,700
900
90
380
1,230
2,300

1,400
(D)
340
3,500
6,750
900
90
380
1,230
2,300

1,150
(D)
2,900
5,600
11,000
5,800
100
270
3,750
2,320

1,050
(D)
2,900
5,500
10,800
5,900
100
270
3,800
2,280

821
(D)
8,788
1,647
1,642
6,444
1,111
711
3,049
1,009

750
(D)
8,529
1,571
1,600
6,556
1,111
711
3,089
991

Hawaii ..........................................
Idaho ............................................
Illinois ...........................................
Indiana .........................................
Iowa ..............................................
Kansas .........................................
Kentucky .......................................
Louisiana ......................................
Maine ...........................................
Maryland .......................................

80
1,200
4,500
2,500
7,300
3,200
1,100
1,100
130
550

80
1,200
4,500
2,400
7,200
3,200
1,100
1,100
130
550

300
4,000
9,100
5,350
9,500
11,400
1,960
2,800
270
600

300
3,900
9,000
5,300
9,600
11,200
2,010
2,800
270
590

3,750
3,333
2,022
2,140
1,301
3,563
1,782
2,545
2,077
1,091

3,750
3,250
2,000
2,208
1,333
3,500
1,827
2,545
2,077
1,073

Massachusetts ..............................
Michigan .......................................
Minnesota .....................................
Mississippi ....................................
Missouri ........................................
Montana .......................................
Nebraska ......................................
Nevada .........................................
New Hampshire ............................
New Jersey ...................................

80
1,850
5,300
1,900
1,900
1,000
4,800
160
(D)
220

80
1,850
5,300
1,900
2,000
950
4,700
160
(D)
220

50
3,150
9,500
3,150
4,100
12,600
16,400
2,900
(D)
150

50
3,150
9,400
3,100
4,000
12,500
16,200
2,900
(D)
150

625
1,703
1,792
1,658
2,158
12,600
3,417
18,125
(D)
682

625
1,703
1,774
1,632
2,000
13,158
3,447
18,125
(D)
682

New Mexico ..................................
New York ......................................
North Carolina ..............................
North Dakota ................................
Ohio ..............................................
Oklahoma .....................................
Oregon .........................................
Pennsylvania ................................
Rhode Island ................................
South Carolina ..............................

330
1,100
3,600
3,500
2,050
1,050
950
1,250
(D)
800

380
1,100
3,500
3,300
2,150
1,050
1,000
1,250
(D)
800

5,700
1,650
3,150
15,400
3,500
3,500
4,200
850
(D)
950

5,700
1,750
3,050
15,000
3,500
3,600
4,200
800
(D)
950

17,273
1,500
875
4,400
1,707
3,333
4,421
680
(D)
1,188

15,000
1,591
871
4,545
1,628
3,429
4,200
640
(D)
1,188

South Dakota ................................
Tennessee ....................................
Texas ...........................................
Utah ..............................................
Vermont ........................................
Virginia .........................................
Washington ..................................
West Virginia ................................
Wisconsin .....................................
Wyoming ......................................

2,400
900
3,300
260
150
800
1,650
180
2,350
250

2,400
900
3,300
260
150
800
1,650
130
2,400
230

13,400
1,900
17,700
1,000
210
970
5,050
140
3,550
6,600

13,400
1,850
18,100
1,000
210
970
5,100
130
3,550
6,700

5,583
2,111
5,364
3,846
1,400
1,213
3,061
778
1,511
26,400

5,583
2,056
5,485
3,846
1,400
1,213
3,091
1,000
1,479
29,130

Other States 1 ...............................

40

40

40

40

(NA)

(NA)

United States ................................

82,510

82,300

219,630

218,620

2,662

2,656

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(NA) Not available.
1
Includes data withheld above.

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

15

Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: Data are collected by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) during the June
Agricultural Survey using sampling procedures to ensure every farm and ranch has a chance of being selected. NASS uses
a multiple sampling frame approach to count farms and measure land in farms. An Area Sampling Frame that divides all
land into segments is built for every State except Alaska. A sample of segments is selected in each State except Alaska
and Hawaii and enumerated in early June. Highly trained interviewers locate each sampled segment and identify every
farm and ranch operating land in the segment and the number of acres in each operation.
These data are used to compute summaries of farm numbers and acres of land in farms. Additionally, all farms found in
the segments are checked against a list of farms and ranches maintained by NASS to determine if the farm is on the list.
Operations found in the Area Frame sample that are not on the list provide a measure of incompleteness of the list. The
summarized totals for these non-overlap (or not-on-list) operations are combined with summarized totals collected from a
sample selected from the list to calculate additional indications of farms and land in farms.
Estimation Procedures: Data are checked for reasonableness and consistency and summarized for each state. State
estimates are aggregated to national totals for Headquarters review. Field Offices perform a thorough review of their
survey results and historical data relationships and recommend official estimates. Headquarters establishes national
estimates and ensures that state estimates are in balance with the national numbers.
Revision Policy: Estimates are 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 which directly affect the level of the estimate.
Reliability: Two types of errors, sampling and non-sampling, are possible in an estimate based on a sample survey. Both
types can affect the quality 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. In 2016, the relative sampling error for the United States number of farms is 1.6 percent
and land in farms is 2.2 percent. 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 ranged from 2.3 to 6.4 percent for number of farms and 2.8 to 9.1 percent for land in farms at the
United States level.
Non-sampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as sample surveys. They are caused by the inability to obtain
correct information from each person surveyed, 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 non-sampling errors.

16

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Terms and Definitions
A farm is “any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would
have been sold, during the year.” Government payments are included in sales. Ranches, institutional farms, experimental
and research farms, and Indian Reservations are included as farms. Places with the entire acreage enrolled in the
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and other government conservation programs
are counted as farms.
The definition of a farm was first established in 1850 and has changed nine times since. The current definition was first
used for the 1974 Census.
Land in farms consists of agricultural land used for crops, pasture, or grazing. Also included is woodland and wasteland
not actually under cultivation or used for pasture or grazing, provided it was part of the farm operator’s total operation.
Land in farms includes acres in CRP, WRP, and other government conservation programs.
Land in farms includes land owned and operated as well as land rented from others. Land used rent-free is included as
land rented from others. All grazing land, except land used under government permits on a per-head basis, is included as
land in farms provided it was part of a farm or ranch. Land under the exclusive use of a grazing association is reported by
the grazing association and included as land in farms. All land in American Indian reservations used for growing crops or
grazing livestock is included as land in farms. Land in reservations not reported by individual American Indians or nonNative Americans is reported in the name of the cooperative group that used the land. In many instances, the entire
American Indian reservation is reported as one farm.
Economic sales classes are based on the gross value of agricultural products sold. Government program payments are
also included.
Point Farms are places that did not have $1,000 of reported sales for the year, but had sufficient crops and livestock to
normally have sales of $1,000 or more.

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

17

Farm Definition History
The definition of a farm has remained the same since 1974. Activities included as agriculture, however, have undergone
modification in recent years. Beginning in 1995, operations having 5 or more horses or ponies and no other agricultural
sales were counted as horse farms. An operation with 1 or more horses with agricultural sales of at least $1,000, qualified
as a farm. Two 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 (NAICS). These changes were made to achieve 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. 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. To further align the counting of
farms with the Census of Agriculture, places with 100 acres or more of pasture only in 2002 were included in farm and
land in farm numbers. The handling of Indian reservation land was changed in 2002 to provide some accounting for
individual farms.
Minimum Criteria for “FARM” Definition, 1840 – Present and Enumeration of Apiaries and Fur Farms
Year

Acres in
Place

Value of Sales of
Agricultural
Products

-Less than 10
10 or more

Value of
Agricultural
Products
(Produced)
----

Apiaries and
Fur Farms
Enumerated

$1,000 or more
$250 or more
$50 or more

Required
some
Agricultural
Operations
----

1974 - Present
1959
1954

Less than 3
3 or more

-$150 or more

$150 or more
--

---

---

1950

Less than 3
3 or more

-$150 or more

$150 or more
--

---

Apiaries
Fur Farms

1935 - 1945

Less than 3
3 or more

$250 or more
--

---

-X

Apiaries
Fur Farms

1930

Less than 3
3 or more

$250 or more
--

---

-X

Apiaries
--

1925

Less than 3
3 or more

$250 or more
--

---

-X

---

1910 - 1925

Less than 3
3 or more

$250 or more
--

---

-X

Apiaries
--

1900

Less than 3
3 or more

---

---

-X

Apiaries
--

1870 - 1890

Less than 3
3 or more

---

$500 or more
--

-X

Apiaries
--

1860
1850

---

-$100 or more

---

---

-Apiaries

1840

--

--

--

--

--

----

Historic Estimates: Final estimates of Farms and Land in Farms in earlier years are available in Statistical Bulletins,
No.1030 for 2008-2012, No. 1018 for 2003-2007, No. 991 for 1998-2002, No. 955 for 1993-97, No. 895 for 1988-92, No.
792 for 1979-87, SpSy3 for 1975-80, No. 594 for 1969-75, No. 507 for 1959-70, No. 316 for number of farm estimates
for 1910-59 and land in farms estimates for 1950-59.

18

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Environmental, Economics and Demographics Branch of the National
Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Email inquiries may be sent to [email protected].
Jody McDaniel, Chief, Environmental, Economics and Demographics Branch ............................................. (202) 720-6146
Tony Dorn, Head, Economics Section ............................................................................................................. (202) 690-3223
Rachel Antzak – Cash Receipts, Land Values .......................................................................................... (202) 720-5446
Daryl Brinkman – Prices Received, Prices Received Indexes, Parity Prices ............................................ (202) 720-8844
Kuan Chen – Prices, Prices Research ........................................................................................................ (202) 690-3347
Liana Cuffman – Prices Paid, Prices Paid Indexes .................................................................................... (202) 690-3229
Stephen Habets – Production Expenditures............................................................................................... (202) 720-9168
Joe Hagedorn – Cash Rents, Grazing Fees ................................................................................................ (202) 690-3231
Ben Johnson – Economics and Demographics Processing........................................................................ (202) 690-3225
Michael Mathison – Farm Expenditures ................................................................................................... (202) 720-3243

Scott Shimmin, Head, Environmental and Demographics Section .................................................................. (202) 720-0684
Stephanie Brennan – Field Crops Chemical Use ...................................................................................... (202) 690-0392
Natasha Bruton – Current Agricultural Industrial Reports ........................................................................ (202) 720-7644
Courtney Charles – Current Agricultural Industrial Reports..................................................................... (202) 690-3226
Ryan Cowen – Farms, Land in Farms, Census of Agriculture .................................................................. (202) 690-3233
Doug Farmer – Vegetable Chemical Use .................................................................................................. (202) 720-7492
Virginia Harris – Census of Agriculture.................................................................................................... (502) 582-5257
Megan Lipke – Census of Agriculture ...................................................................................................... (202) 720-5581
Dominique Sims – Census of Agriculture ................................................................................................. (202) 690-4752
Theresa Varner – Farm Labor, Chemical Use ........................................................................................... (202) 690-2284

Farms and Land in Farms 2016 Summary (February 2017)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

19

Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
 All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov
 Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free
subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on “National” or “State” in upper right corner above “search”
box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and
applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity,
religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual
orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected
genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not
all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html,
or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of
the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].