The 2022 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report found that family-owned farms account for 95 percent of America's 1.9 million total.
The document was released this week by the Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, and defines “family farm” as any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the producer and individuals related to the producer.
The report classifies all farms into unique categories based on two criteria: who owns the operation and gross cash farm income. The latter includes the producer’s sales of crops and livestock, fees for delivering commodities under production contracts, government payments, and farm-related income.
NASS Administrator Joseph Parsons said that classifying America's farms is critical to evaluating and reporting on U.S. agriculture. “Typology allows us to more meaningfully explore the demographics of who is farming and ranching today, as well as their impact on the economy and communities around the country,” he added.
The data show that small family farms (those with a GCFI of less than $350,000 a year) account for 85 percent of all U.S. farms, 39 percent of total land in farms, and 14 percent of the value of all agricultural products sold. On the other hand, large-scale family farms (with GCFI of $1 million or more) make up less than 4 percent of all U.S. farms but produce 51 percent of the value of all agricultural products.
The report also found that family farms have experienced an 8 percent decrease since 2017, resulting in the loss of almost 159,000 businesses. Mid-size, large, and very large farms experienced increases of 2, 40, and 65 percent, respectively.
Specialization and the power of women in U.S. farming, and other key findings
The Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report also included other key data providing a closer look at the true face of American farming today.
For starters, the document shows that farm specialization varies according to size. While the majority (56 percent) of small farms specialized in cattle or crops like hay and forage production, over 60,000 (55 percent) of mid-sized farms specialized in grains and oilseeds. Large-scale farms, on the other hand, were more varied in production specialization.
Size also gives family farms a more direct relationship with the end consumer, emphasizing their role as a key stakeholder in its community's food system. According to the census, small family farms account for 44 percent of all direct sales to consumers, compared to 18 percent for mid-sized family farms and 19 percent for large-scale family farms.
Finally, compared to producers on mid-size and large-scale family farms, small family farm producers are more likely to be women, age 65 or older, and report living on the farm operation. They were also more likely to report having served in the military, to work off the farm, and to be a new-beginning farmer, meaning they've been doing it for 10 years or less.
