Farms and Land in Farms Summary

United States
Department of
Agriculture
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service

Farms and Land in Farms
2019 Summary
February 2020

ISSN: 1995-2004

Contents
Farms and Land in Farms Highlights ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – United States: 2012-2019 ....................................................... 5
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2018-2019 ............. 5
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – States and United States: 2018-2019 ..................................... 6
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $1,000-$9,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 ............ 7
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $10,000-$99,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 ........ 8
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $100,000-$249,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 .... 9
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $250,000-$499,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 .. 10
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $500,000-$999,999 – States and United States: 2018-2019 .. 11
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size, $1,000,000 or more – States and United States: 2018-2019 .. 12
Statistical Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 13
Terms and Definitions........................................................................................................................................................... 14
Farm Definition History ........................................................................................................................................................ 15
Information Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................ 16

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Farms and Land in Farms Highlights
The number of farms in the United States for 2019 is estimated at 2,023,400, down 5,800 farms from 2018. Total land in
farms, at 897,400,000 acres, decreased 2,100,000 acres from 2018. The average farm size for 2019 is 444 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 2019 mid-year
surveys to report the value of sales based on production during the 2018 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
2017 Census of Agriculture showed that 471,593 farms or 23.1 percent of the 2,042,220 farms were Point Farms. These
Point Farms operated 59,166,158 acres or 6.6 percent of the 900,217,576 acres of farmland.
Number of farms declined by 5,800 from 2018. The number of farms in the $100,000 - $249,999 and $250,000 $499,999 sales classes increased while all other sales classes declined. In 2019, 51.1 percent of all farms had less than
$10,000 in sales and 81.5 percent of all farms had less than $100,000 in sales. In 2019, 7.4 percent of all farms had sales
of $500,000 or more.
Land in farms, at 897,400,000 acres, is down 2,100,000 acres from 2018. The biggest change for 2019 is that producers
in Sales Class $100,000 - $249,999 operated 1,170,000 fewer acres than in 2018. In 2019, 30.2 percent of all farmland
was operated by farms with less than $100,000 in sales, while 40.8 percent of all farmland was operated by farms with
sales of $500,000 or more.
The average farm size continued to increase in 2019 as the number of farms declined. The overall average size increased
by 1 acre to 444 acres per farm. Average farm size decreased in the $100,000-$249,999 and $250,000 - $499,999 sales
classes and increased or remained unchanged in all others.

4

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – United States: 2012-2019
Year

2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

Number of farms

Land in farms

Average farm size

(number)

(1,000 acres)

(acres)

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

2,109,810
2,100,350
2,082,440
2,063,890
2,055,340
2,042,000
2,029,200
2,023,400

914,600
911,720
908,920
905,790
902,680
900,370
899,500
897,400

433
434
436
439
439
441
443
444

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class –
United States: 2018-2019
Percent of total
Economic sales class

1

Number of Farms

Average farm size

Land in farms

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

(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 .............

51.0
30.5
6.7
4.4
3.6
3.9

51.1
30.4
6.7
4.4
3.5
3.9

9.4
20.8
14.8
14.3
15.4
25.3

9.4
20.8
14.7
14.3
15.4
25.4

81
302
987
1,450
1,925
2,897

81
304
976
1,448
1,940
2,910

Total 1 ..................................

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

443

444

Percent of total may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – States and United States: 2018-2019
State

Number of farms

Land in farms

Average farm size

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

(number)

(number)

(1,000 acres)

(1,000 acres)

(acres)

(acres)

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

39,700
1,000
19,200
42,500
69,400
38,900
5,500
2,300
47,500
41,600

38,800
1,050
19,000
42,300
69,900
38,700
5,500
2,300
47,400
41,500

8,500
850
26,200
13,900
24,300
31,800
380
530
9,700
10,100

8,300
850
26,200
14,000
24,300
31,800
380
530
9,700
10,200

214
850
1,365
327
350
817
69
230
204
243

214
810
1,379
331
348
822
69
230
205
246

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

7,300
24,800
72,000
56,100
86,000
58,900
75,100
27,400
7,600
12,400

7,300
24,600
71,400
56,000
85,300
58,500
74,800
27,400
7,600
12,400

1,100
11,600
27,000
15,000
30,600
45,800
12,900
8,000
1,300
2,000

1,100
11,500
27,000
14,900
30,600
45,700
12,900
8,000
1,300
2,000

151
468
375
267
356
778
172
292
171
161

151
467
378
266
359
781
172
292
171
161

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

7,200
47,000
68,500
34,700
95,000
26,900
45,900
3,400
4,100
9,900

7,200
47,000
68,000
34,500
95,200
26,800
45,700
3,350
4,100
9,900

500
9,800
25,500
10,400
27,700
58,000
45,000
6,100
430
750

500
9,800
25,500
10,400
27,600
58,000
44,900
6,100
430
750

69
209
372
300
292
2,156
980
1,794
105
76

69
209
375
301
290
2,164
982
1,821
105
76

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

24,700
33,400
46,400
26,100
77,800
77,300
37,200
53,000
1,100
24,600

24,800
33,400
46,200
26,100
77,800
77,300
37,200
52,700
1,100
24,600

40,500
6,900
8,400
39,300
13,900
34,200
16,000
7,300
60
4,800

40,000
6,900
8,400
39,300
13,600
34,400
15,800
7,300
60
4,800

1,640
207
181
1,506
179
442
430
138
55
195

1,613
207
182
1,506
175
445
425
139
55
195

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

29,600
70,000
247,000
18,100
6,800
42,500
35,700
23,400
64,800
11,900

29,600
69,700
247,000
17,800
6,800
42,400
35,600
22,900
64,900
12,000

43,200
10,900
127,000
10,700
1,200
7,800
14,700
3,600
14,300
29,000

43,200
10,800
126,500
10,700
1,200
7,800
14,600
3,500
14,300
29,000

1,459
156
514
591
176
184
412
154
221
2,437

1,459
155
512
601
176
184
410
153
220
2,417

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

2,029,200

2,023,400

899,500

897,400

443

444

6

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2018-2019
Economic sales class: $1,000-$9,999
State

Number of farms

Land in farms

2018

2019

2018

(number)

(number)

(1,000 acres)

Average farm size
2019

2018

(1,000 acres)

2019

(acres)

(acres)

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

22,600
540
14,300
20,700
26,400
21,900
3,650
820
29,000
23,300

21,800
590
14,200
20,500
27,200
22,000
3,650
820
28,900
23,200

2,100
80
4,800
1,800
1,400
2,100
130
20
1,300
2,300

1,900
80
4,800
1,750
1,300
2,200
130
20
1,300
2,300

93
148
336
87
53
96
36
24
45
99

87
136
338
85
48
100
36
24
45
99

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

4,250
13,500
27,900
25,800
25,400
21,800
44,300
15,300
4,800
6,700

4,250
13,300
27,700
26,100
25,000
21,300
44,000
15,400
4,800
6,700

70
700
1,200
900
900
2,000
3,100
1,100
390
260

70
650
1,200
1,000
900
1,900
3,000
1,100
390
260

16
52
43
35
35
92
70
72
81
39

16
49
43
38
36
89
68
71
81
39

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

4,500
24,000
25,400
19,700
44,400
11,600
11,500
1,700
2,750
6,400

4,500
24,500
24,900
19,600
44,500
11,400
11,300
1,700
2,750
6,400

190
1,200
1,600
2,300
3,300
1,900
800
500
170
160

190
1,250
1,600
2,200
3,200
2,000
800
520
170
160

42
50
63
117
74
164
70
294
62
25

42
51
64
112
72
175
71
306
62
25

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

16,800
15,400
26,100
7,200
40,400
39,800
23,400
25,000
630
16,500

17,000
15,500
25,900
7,400
41,400
40,300
23,500
24,900
630
16,400

5,100
1,100
1,500
1,100
1,600
4,100
1,000
1,300
20
1,600

5,000
1,100
1,400
1,200
1,900
4,200
1,100
1,300
20
1,500

304
71
57
153
40
103
43
52
32
97

294
71
54
162
46
104
47
52
32
91

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

7,200
43,800
156,500
11,000
3,750
24,100
21,800
17,000
28,800
5,600

7,000
43,600
156,500
10,800
3,750
24,100
21,700
16,600
29,000
5,600

900
2,700
15,600
600
280
1,700
800
1,600
1,800
1,200

1,000
2,700
15,200
600
280
1,700
800
1,500
1,900
1,200

125
62
100
55
75
71
37
94
63
214

143
62
97
56
75
71
37
90
66
214

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

1,035,690

1,034,540

84,370

83,940

81

81

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2018-2019
Economic sales class: $10,000-$99,999
State

Number of farms

Land in farms

2018

2019

2018

(number)

(number)

(1,000 acres)

Average farm size
2019

2018

(1,000 acres)

2019

(acres)

(acres)

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

12,500
360
3,550
14,700
22,500
11,200
1,400
510
13,500
11,500

12,500
360
3,450
14,500
22,600
10,800
1,400
510
13,500
11,500

3,200
450
5,300
3,700
4,000
7,100
100
50
2,100
2,700

3,200
450
5,200
3,700
4,300
7,000
100
50
2,100
2,700

256
1,250
1,493
252
178
634
71
98
156
235

256
1,250
1,507
255
190
648
71
98
156
235

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

2,500
6,500
20,200
16,600
26,200
21,300
24,200
8,800
2,050
3,300

2,500
6,500
20,000
16,100
25,800
21,500
24,200
8,700
2,050
3,300

200
1,800
2,600
1,800
3,700
7,100
4,400
1,900
350
390

200
1,800
2,500
1,700
3,600
7,200
4,500
1,900
350
390

80
277
129
108
141
333
182
216
171
118

80
277
125
106
140
335
186
218
171
118

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

1,950
14,400
20,400
10,700
37,200
8,000
14,500
970
1,100
2,350

1,950
14,000
20,500
10,600
37,300
8,100
14,300
980
1,100
2,350

160
1,700
3,600
3,000
8,600
10,400
5,000
500
170
170

160
1,600
3,600
3,000
8,600
10,300
4,900
530
170
170

82
118
176
280
231
1,300
345
515
155
72

82
114
176
283
231
1,272
343
541
155
72

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

6,100
11,400
12,700
7,400
23,000
29,000
9,000
16,700
340
5,900

6,000
11,500
12,700
7,300
22,000
28,500
8,900
16,700
340
6,000

10,400
1,800
1,800
4,000
2,700
11,400
3,000
2,200
20
1,300

10,200
1,800
1,800
4,100
2,900
11,400
2,900
2,200
20
1,400

1,705
158
142
541
117
393
333
132
59
220

1,700
157
142
562
132
400
326
132
59
233

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

9,300
21,700
72,800
5,100
1,950
14,000
8,300
5,600
20,100
3,700

9,400
21,600
72,800
5,000
1,950
13,900
8,300
5,500
20,200
3,800

4,600
3,900
38,300
1,900
310
2,800
1,800
1,400
2,900
4,000

4,500
3,800
39,000
1,900
310
2,800
1,700
1,400
2,900
4,100

495
180
526
373
159
200
217
250
144
1,081

479
176
536
380
159
201
205
255
144
1,079

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

619,030

615,340

186,770

187,100

302

304

8

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2018-2019
Economic sales class: $100,000-$249,999
State

Number of farms
2018

Land in farms

2019

(number)

(number)

Average farm size

2018

2019

2018

2019

(1,000 acres)

(1,000 acres)

(acres)

(acres)

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

1,050
40
530
1,350
6,450
2,550
190
130
1,900
1,450

1,150
40
510
1,400
6,500
2,600
190
130
1,900
1,400

750
210
10,300
950
3,200
5,900
30
40
1,200
690

810
210
10,400
950
3,200
5,800
30
40
1,100
710

714
5,250
19,434
704
496
2,314
158
308
632
476

704
5,250
20,392
679
492
2,231
158
308
579
507

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

270
1,700
8,000
5,000
11,100
6,300
2,900
950
320
720

270
1,700
8,000
5,200
11,000
6,100
3,000
950
320
720

130
1,700
2,700
1,700
3,600
6,600
1,200
790
100
210

130
1,700
2,700
1,600
3,600
6,500
1,200
790
100
210

481
1,000
338
340
324
1,048
414
832
313
292

481
1,000
338
308
327
1,066
400
832
313
292

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

340
3,150
7,700
920
5,800
3,100
6,400
220
(D)
450

340
3,200
7,700
940
5,800
3,150
6,500
220
(D)
450

40
1,200
2,900
610
3,500
10,200
5,700
900
(D)
110

40
1,300
2,900
620
3,500
10,300
5,900
960
(D)
110

118
381
377
663
603
3,290
891
4,091
(D)
244

118
406
377
660
603
3,270
908
4,364
(D)
244

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

820
3,000
1,650
3,100
6,400
4,250
1,850
5,100
(D)
630

810
2,850
1,700
3,200
6,500
4,250
1,800
5,000
(D)
630

6,300
880
600
4,700
2,200
6,300
2,600
1,100
(D)
320

6,200
880
700
4,600
2,000
6,400
2,500
1,100
(D)
300

7,683
293
364
1,516
344
1,482
1,405
216
(D)
508

7,654
309
412
1,438
308
1,506
1,389
220
(D)
476

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

4,450
1,800
7,500
900
470
1,750
1,800
370
6,900
1,200

4,500
1,800
7,400
890
470
1,700
1,800
370
7,000
1,200

6,800
850
20,200
1,300
140
950
3,100
270
2,100
5,400

6,900
850
19,200
1,300
140
950
3,000
270
2,100
5,300

1,528
472
2,693
1,444
298
543
1,722
730
304
4,500

1,533
472
2,595
1,461
298
559
1,667
730
300
4,417

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

190

190

40

40

(X)

(X)

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

135,110

135,440

133,310

132,140

987

976

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

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2018-2019
Economic sales class: $250,000-$499,999
State

Number of farms
2018

Land in farms

2019

(number)

2018

(number)

Average farm size
2019

(1,000 acres)

2018

(1,000 acres)

2019

(acres)

(acres)

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

650
(D)
210
1,050
3,900
1,450
110
110
1,000
1,050

650
(D)
200
1,100
4,000
1,500
110
110
1,000
1,100

560
(D)
1,700
750
2,300
5,700
20
50
850
610

580
(D)
1,600
800
2,200
5,800
20
50
850
690

862
(D)
8,095
714
590
3,931
182
455
850
581

892
(D)
8,000
727
550
3,867
182
455
850
627

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

120
1,200
6,200
3,350
8,900
4,050
1,450
540
180
490

120
1,200
6,100
3,250
9,200
4,150
1,400
570
180
490

170
1,500
4,000
2,000
5,500
7,600
900
610
100
230

170
1,500
4,000
2,000
5,500
7,500
900
610
100
230

1,417
1,250
645
597
618
1,877
621
1,130
556
469

1,417
1,250
656
615
598
1,807
643
1,070
556
469

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

(D)
2,200
5,800
600
2,950
2,300
5,000
240
70
280

(D)
2,150
5,800
580
2,950
2,250
5,100
200
70
280

(D)
1,200
3,900
590
2,900
13,400
7,800
1,000
30
80

(D)
1,300
4,000
580
2,900
13,300
7,900
900
30
80

(D)
545
672
983
983
5,826
1,560
4,167
429
286

(D)
605
690
1,000
983
5,911
1,549
4,500
429
286

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

390
1,750
1,250
3,000
3,300
2,050
1,150
3,150
(D)
280

390
1,700
1,250
3,000
3,000
2,100
1,150
3,100
(D)
280

6,400
780
700
6,500
1,900
4,600
2,900
980
(D)
270

6,300
780
700
6,600
1,600
4,600
2,800
980
(D)
230

16,410
446
560
2,167
576
2,244
2,522
311
(D)
964

16,154
459
560
2,200
533
2,190
2,435
316
(D)
821

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

3,700
1,000
3,650
520
320
910
1,250
130
4,300
810

3,800
1,000
3,600
510
320
960
1,250
130
4,250
810

8,700
660
14,700
2,000
130
680
2,100
120
2,000
6,200

8,800
660
14,800
2,000
130
680
2,200
110
2,100
6,100

2,351
660
4,027
3,846
406
747
1,680
923
465
7,654

2,316
660
4,111
3,922
406
708
1,760
846
494
7,531

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

250

250

130

130

(X)

(X)

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

88,610

88,660

128,500

128,390

1,450

1,448

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

10

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2018-2019
Economic sales class: $500,000-$999,999
State

Number of farms
2018

Land in farms

2019

(number)

2018

(number)

Average farm size
2019

(1,000 acres)

2018

(1,000 acres)

2019

(acres)

(acres)

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

1,200
30
200
1,350
3,550
900
70
260
900
1,800

1,100
30
220
1,400
3,200
920
70
260
900
1,850

690
20
1,000
1,200
2,200
4,500
20
110
650
1,400

660
20
1,000
1,200
2,300
4,700
20
110
650
1,400

575
667
5,000
889
620
5,000
286
423
722
778

600
667
4,545
857
719
5,109
286
423
722
757

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

70
800
5,300
2,450
8,000
3,000
1,000
710
110
520

70
800
5,200
2,500
7,900
2,900
1,000
730
110
520

210
1,800
6,100
2,800
7,800
9,200
900
1,050
70
330

210
1,750
6,000
2,700
7,800
9,200
900
1,050
70
330

3,000
2,250
1,151
1,143
975
3,067
900
1,479
636
635

3,000
2,188
1,154
1,080
987
3,172
900
1,438
636
635

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

140
1,550
4,800
880
2,400
1,300
4,400
140
30
200

140
1,500
4,800
880
2,400
1,250
4,300
110
30
200

30
1,500
5,100
900
3,700
12,200
9,400
700
10
90

30
1,400
5,100
900
3,700
12,100
9,200
640
10
90

214
968
1,063
1,023
1,542
9,385
2,136
5,000
333
450

214
933
1,063
1,023
1,542
9,680
2,140
5,818
333
450

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

260
930
1,450
2,800
2,550
1,150
850
1,700
20
410

260
930
1,450
2,700
2,650
1,100
870
1,650
20
380

6,300
640
900
9,100
2,300
3,600
2,800
750
10
400

6,200
640
900
8,800
2,200
3,600
2,800
750
10
400

24,231
688
621
3,250
902
3,130
3,294
441
500
976

23,846
688
621
3,259
830
3,273
3,218
455
500
1,053

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

2,700
830
3,000
310
140
830
1,100
150
2,550
390

2,600
830
3,100
320
140
850
1,100
150
2,400
380

8,900
890
14,500
1,000
80
670
2,300
100
1,900
6,100

8,800
890
14,800
1,000
80
670
2,300
110
1,800
6,100

3,296
1,072
4,833
3,226
571
807
2,091
667
745
15,641

3,385
1,072
4,774
3,125
571
788
2,091
733
750
16,053

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

72,180

71,170

138,920

138,090

1,925

1,940

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – States and
United States: 2018-2019
Economic sales class: $1,000,000 or more
State

Number of farms
2018

Land in farms

2019

(number)

(number)

Average farm size

2018

2019

2018

2019

(1,000 acres)

(1,000 acres)

(acres)

(acres)

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

1,700
(D)
410
3,350
6,600
900
80
470
1,200
2,500

1,600
(D)
420
3,400
6,400
880
80
470
1,200
2,450

1,200
(D)
3,100
5,500
11,200
6,500
80
260
3,600
2,400

1,150
(D)
3,200
5,600
11,000
6,300
80
260
3,700
2,400

706
(D)
7,561
1,642
1,697
7,222
1,000
553
3,000
960

719
(D)
7,619
1,647
1,719
7,159
1,000
553
3,083
980

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

90
1,100
4,400
2,900
6,400
2,450
1,250
1,100
140
670

90
1,100
4,400
2,850
6,400
2,550
1,200
1,050
140
670

320
4,100
10,400
5,800
9,100
13,300
2,400
2,550
290
580

320
4,100
10,600
5,900
9,200
13,400
2,400
2,550
290
580

3,556
3,727
2,364
2,000
1,422
5,429
1,920
2,318
2,071
866

3,556
3,727
2,409
2,070
1,438
5,255
2,000
2,429
2,071
866

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

(D)
1,700
4,400
1,900
2,250
600
4,100
130
(D)
220

(D)
1,650
4,300
1,900
2,250
650
4,200
140
(D)
220

(D)
3,000
8,400
3,000
5,700
9,900
16,300
2,500
(D)
140

(D)
2,950
8,300
3,100
5,700
10,000
16,200
2,550
(D)
140

(D)
1,765
1,909
1,579
2,533
16,500
3,976
19,231
(D)
636

(D)
1,788
1,930
1,632
2,533
15,385
3,857
18,214
(D)
636

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

330
920
3,250
2,600
2,150
1,050
950
1,350
(D)
880

340
920
3,200
2,500
2,250
1,050
980
1,350
(D)
910

6,000
1,700
2,900
13,900
3,200
4,200
3,700
970
(D)
910

6,100
1,700
2,900
14,000
3,000
4,200
3,700
970
(D)
970

18,182
1,848
892
5,346
1,488
4,000
3,895
719
(D)
1,034

17,941
1,848
906
5,600
1,333
4,000
3,776
719
(D)
1,066

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

2,250
870
3,550
270
170
910
1,450
150
2,150
200

2,300
870
3,600
280
170
890
1,450
150
2,050
210

13,300
1,900
23,700
3,900
260
1,000
4,600
110
3,600
6,100

13,200
1,900
23,500
3,900
260
1,000
4,600
110
3,500
6,200

5,911
2,184
6,676
14,444
1,529
1,099
3,172
733
1,674
30,500

5,739
2,184
6,528
13,929
1,529
1,124
3,172
733
1,707
29,524

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

120

120

60

60

(X)

(X)

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

78,580

78,250

227,630

227,740

2,897

2,910

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

12

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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 2019, the relative sampling error for the United States number of farms was 1.9
percent and land in farms was 2.0 percent. Relative sampling errors by economic sales class ranged from 1.8 to
6.1 percent for number of farms and 2.2 to 9.0 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.

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

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.

14

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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.
1049 for 2013-2017, 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.

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

15

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. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected].
Jody McDaniel, Chief, Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch............................................. (202) 720-6146
Bruce Boess, Head, Economics Section........................................................................................................... (202) 720-4447
Eric Barnes – Cash Receipts, Farm Computer Use, Land Values ............................................................. (202) 690-3225
Stephanie Brennan – Farm Production Expenditures ................................................................................ (202) 690-0392
Kuan Chen – Prices, Prices Indexes, Parity Prices .................................................................................... (202) 690-3347
Ryan Cowen – Farm Production Expenditures.......................................................................................... (202) 720-2250
Doug Farmer – Chemical Use ................................................................................................................... (202) 690-3229
Stephen Habets – Prices, Prices Indexes, Parity Prices ............................................................................. (202) 720-9168
Michael Mathison – Cash Rents, Farms, Land in Farms, Grazing Fees .................................................... (202) 720-3243
John Stephens – Prices, Prices Indexes, Parity Prices ............................................................................... (202) 720-8844
Theresa Varner – Farm Labor.................................................................................................................... (202) 690-3231

16

Farms and Land in Farms 2019 Summary (February 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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