United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

National 

Agricultural 

Statistics 

Service 

 

Sp Sy 4 (09) 

 

Farms, Land in Farms, 

and Livestock Operations

2008 Summary 

February 2009 

 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 1 NASS, USDA 

Contents 

Page

National Summaries 

 

 Number of Farms and Land in Farms ..................................................................................................................... 2 

 Livestock Operations .............................................................................................................................................. 3 

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size................................................................................................... 4 

Livestock Operations by Species, U.S. 

 Cattle and Calves ................................................................................................................................................. 14 

 Beef Cows............................................................................................................................................................. 14 

 Milk Cows............................................................................................................................................................. 15 

 Milk Production .................................................................................................................................................... 15 

 Hogs and Pigs ....................................................................................................................................................... 16 

 Sheep and Goats ................................................................................................................................................... 17 

Livestock Operations by Species, State 

 Cattle and Calves ................................................................................................................................................. 18 

 Beef Cows............................................................................................................................................................. 18 

 Milk Cows............................................................................................................................................................. 18 

 Milk Production .................................................................................................................................................... 25 

 Hogs and Pigs ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 

 Sheep and Lambs .................................................................................................................................................. 26 

 Angora Goats ........................................................................................................................................................ 26 

 

 Milk Goats ............................................................................................................................................................ 26 

 Meat Goats............................................................................................................................................................ 26 

 All Goats............................................................................................................................................................... 26 

Reliability Statement............................................................................................................................................................ 28 

Terms and Definitions.......................................................................................................................................................... 29 

Farm Definition History....................................................................................................................................................... 30 

Special Note Regarding the 2007 Estimates ........................................................................................................................ 31 

Contacts .............................................................................................................................................................................. 32 

 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 2 NASS, USDA 

2008 Number of Farms and Land in Farms Highlights 

The number of farms in the United States in 2008 is estimated at 2.2 million, 0.2 percent fewer than in 2007. 

Total land in farms, at 919.9 million acres, decreased 1.56 million acres, or 0.2 percent, from 2007. The average 

farm size was 418 acres, unchanged from the previous year. The decline in the number of farms and land in farms 

reflects a continuing consolidation in farming operations and diversion of agricultural land to nonagricultural 

uses. 

Farm numbers and land in farms are broken down into five economic sales classes. Farms and ranches are 

classified into these “sales classes” by summing their sales of agricultural products and government program 

payments. Sales class breaks occur at $10,000, $100,000, $250,000, and $500,000. 

Farm numbers declined slightly in the $1,000-$9,999, $10,000-$99,999, and $100,000-$249,999 sales classes. 

Farm numbers rose slightly in the two largest sales classes. Because of strong commodity prices and rising value 

of sales many farms and ranches near the top of their sales class in 2007 may have moved into the next higher 

sales class in 2008 without expanding their operations. 

The largest percentage changes from 2007 occurred in the smallest and largest sales classes. Farm numbers 

declined 0.5 percent, to 1.22 million farms, in the $1,000-$9,999 sales class. Meanwhile, the number of farms in 

the $500,000 and over sales class increased by 4.8 percent to 126,000 farms. The number of farms with less than 

$100,000 in sales fell 0.6 percent from 2007 while the number of farms with $100,000 or more in sales rose 

1.6 percent. 

Land in farms also shifted from lower sales classes to higher sales classes. In the $1,000-$9,999 sales class, land 

in farms dropped 1.1 percent, to 106.7 million acres, while land operated by farms in the largest sales class, 

$500,000 & over in sales, increased 2.4 percent, to 293.1 million acres. 

The average farm size was unchanged in 2008. However, average farm sizes declined in some of the sales 

classes. This may have been due to smaller farms moving up to higher sales classes. 

This report also contains estimates of farm numbers and land in farms for Puerto Rico. The number of farms 

with sales of $1,000 or more in Puerto Rico was 11,200 in 2008, down 200 farms from 2007. Land in farms, at 

470,000 acres, is down 20,000 acres from the previous year. The average farm size in Puerto Rico in 2008 was 

estimated at 42 acres. 

Special Note 

Number of farms and land in farms were revised for 2007 at the U.S. and State level based on the Census of 

Agriculture. For more information regarding revisions to the 2007 estimates please see page 31. Historical 

publication statistical bulletin, NASS-SB1018 (04), with revisions for 2003-2007 will be published 

February 25, 2009. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 3 NASS, USDA 

Livestock Operations 2008 Summary

The number of operations with cattle totaled 956,500 for 2008, down 1 percent from 2007. Beef cow 

operations in 2008, at 757,000, were also down 1 percent from last year. The number of milk cow operations for 

2008 totaled 67,000, down 4 percent from 2007. 

The three operation classes: cattle, beef cows, and milk cows, are classified into size groups independently. 

Therefore, it is possible to have more beef cow operations in a particular size group than cattle operations. As an 

example, an operator with 75 cattle and 40 beef cows would be classified in the 50-99 size group for cattle and 

1-49 size group for beef cows. 

The number of operations with hogs totaled 73,150 for 2008, down 3 percent from 2007. Places with 2,000 or 

more head accounted for 85.1 percent of the inventory. 

The number of operations with sheep totaled 82,330 for 2008, down 1 percent from 2007. Of all sheep 

operations that include breeding sheep, 92.5 percent were comprised of 1-99 head, 6.2 percent had 100-499 head, 

and the remaining 1.3 percent were operations with 500 head or more. Operations with 1-99 head account for 

32.6 percent of the inventory, 100-499 head account for 22.7 percent of the inventory, and 500+ head account for 

44.7 percent of the inventory. 

The number of operations with goats totaled 149,800 for 2008, up 4 percent from a year earlier. Angora goat 

operations totaled 6,500, down 10 percent from 2007. Milk goat operations totaled 29,000, up 6 percent from 

2007. Meat goat operations totaled 128,800, up 5 percent from a year earlier. Total goat operations will be equal 

to or less than the sum of angora, milk and meat because places which own more than one goat type count as only 

one operation. 

Special Note 

The number of operations by State will no longer be published on an annual basis. State level numbers will only 

be published in conjunction with the Census of Agriculture every five years. The number of operations at the 

U.S. level will continue to be published on an annual basis. Cattle, hogs, sheep, and goat operations for 2007 

were revised at the U.S. and State level based on the Census of Agriculture. The reference date for operation 

estimates is December 31 beginning with the 2007 estimates. This is a change from the previous definition of an 

operation as any place having one or more head of a specie on hand at any time during the year. Annual end of 

year surveys are used to establish current year estimates. Historical publication statistical bulletin, NASSSB1021, with revisions for 2003-2007 livestock operation estimates will be published March 5, 2009. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 4 NASS, USDA 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 5 NASS, USDA 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 6 NASS, USDA 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 7 NASS, USDA 

Point Farms: United States, 2002 - 2008 1

Percent of Total Year 

Farms 2

 Land 2

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

19.0 

18.0 

17.0 

18.0 

19.0 

22.0 

17.0 

3.0 

3.0 

2.5 

2.5 

2.7 

3.0 

2.8 

1

 Percent of farms and land in farms for places having less than $1,000 of reported sales, but with sufficient crops and/or livestock to normally have sales of 

at least $1,000. 2

 Revised. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 8 NASS, USDA 

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size: 

United States, 1998-2008 1

Year Number 

of Farms 

Land 

in Farms 2

Average 

Farm Size 

Number 1,000 Acres Acres 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 2

2008 

2,192,330 

2,187,280 

2,166,780 

2,148,630 

2,135,360 

2,126,860 

2,112,970 

2,098,690 

2,088,790 

2,204,950 

2,200,000 

952,080 

948,460 

945,080 

942,070 

940,300 

936,750 

932,260 

927,940 

925,790 

921,460 

919,900 

434 

434 

436 

438 

440 

440 

441 

442 

443 

418 

418 

1

 A farm is any establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were sold or would normally be sold during the year. 2

 Revised. 

Percent of Farms and Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size: By Economic Sales 

Class, United States, 2007-2008 

Percent of Total 

Farms Land in Farms 

Average Farm Size 

(Acres) 

Economic 

Sales 

Class 2007 1

 2008 2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

 

 $1,000 - $2,499 

 $2,500 - $4,999 

 $5,000 - $9,999 

 $10,000 - $24,999 

 $25,000 - $49,999 

 $50,000 - $99,999 

$100,000 - $249,999 

$250,000 - $499,999 

$500,000 - $999,999 

$1,000,000 + 

Total 

26.8 

15.4 

13.5 

12.5 

8.1 

7.0 

6.8 

4.4 

3.3 

2.2 

100.0 

27.8 

14.4 

13.3 

12.1 

8.0 

7.4 

6.8 

4.5 

3.4 

2.3 

100.0 

3.5 

3.2 

5.0 

6.9 

7.0 

10.9 

16.6 

15.8 

15.0 

16.1 

100.0 

4.0 

3.3 

4.3 

6.8 

7.4 

10.3 

16.4 

15.6 

15.4 

16.5 

100.0 

55 

87 

155 

230 

361 

650 

1,022 

1,503 

1,903 

3,064 

418 

60 

96 

135 

235 

387 

582 

1,010 

1,452 

1,897 

3,004 

418 

1

 Revised. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 9 NASS, USDA 

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size 

By State, United States, and Puerto Rico 2007-2008 

Number of Farms Land in Farms Average Farm Size State 

2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

Number Number 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres Acres Acres 

AL 

AK 

AZ 

AR 

CA 

CO 

CT 

DE 

FL 

GA 

HI 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

LA 

ME 

MD 

MA 

MI 

MN 

MS 

MO 

MT 

NE 

NV 

NH 

NJ 

NM 

NY 

NC 

ND 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

RI 

SC 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VT 

VA 

WA 

WV 

WI 

WY 

US 

PR 

48,800 

680 

15,600 

49,300 

81,000 

36,900 

4,900 

2,550 

47,500 

47,900 

7,500 

25,400 

76,900 

61,000 

92,800 

65,500 

85,300 

30,000 

8,100 

12,850 

7,700 

56,000 

81,000 

42,000 

107,800 

29,500 

47,700 

3,100 

4,150 

10,300 

21,000 

36,400 

52,900 

32,000 

75,900 

86,600 

38,600 

63,200 

1,220 

25,900 

31,200 

79,500 

247,500 

16,700 

7,000 

47,400 

39,300 

23,400 

78,500 

11,000 

2,204,950 

11,400 

48,500 

680 

15,600 

49,300 

81,500 

36,500 

4,900 

2,500 

47,500 

47,800 

7,500 

25,200 

75,900 

61,000 

92,600 

65,500 

85,300 

30,000 

8,000 

12,850 

7,700 

55,000 

81,000 

42,000 

108,000 

29,500 

47,400 

3,100 

4,150 

10,300 

20,600 

36,600 

52,500 

32,000 

75,000 

86,600 

38,600 

63,200 

1,220 

26,900 

31,300 

79,000 

247,500 

16,500 

7,000 

47,000 

39,500 

23,200 

78,000 

11,000 

2,200,000 

11,200 

9,000 

890 

26,100 

13,900 

25,400 

31,400 

410 

510 

9,300 

10,300 

1,120 

11,500 

26,800 

14,800 

30,800 

46,300 

14,000 

8,100 

1,350 

2,060 

520 

10,000 

26,900 

11,000 

29,000 

60,900 

45,600 

5,900 

470 

730 

43,200 

7,200 

8,600 

39,600 

14,000 

35,100 

16,400 

7,800 

70 

4,900 

43,700 

11,000 

130,400 

11,100 

1,230 

8,100 

14,900 

3,700 

15,200 

30,200 

921,460 

490 

8,950 

890 

26,100 

13,700 

25,400 

31,300 

400 

500 

9,250 

10,400 

1,110 

11,400 

26,700 

14,800 

30,800 

46,200 

14,000 

8,050 

1,350 

2,050 

510 

10,000 

26,900 

11,000 

29,100 

60,800 

45,600 

5,900 

470 

730 

43,000 

7,100 

8,600 

39,600 

13,900 

35,100 

16,400 

7,750 

70 

4,900 

43,700 

10,900 

130,400 

11,100 

1,220 

8,000 

14,800 

3,700 

15,200 

30,100 

919,900 

470 

184 

1,309 

1,673 

282 

314 

851 

84 

200 

196 

215 

149 

453 

349 

243 

332 

707 

164 

270 

167 

160 

68 

179 

332 

262 

269 

2,064 

956 

1,903 

113 

71 

2,057 

198 

163 

1,238 

184 

405 

425 

123 

57 

189 

1,401 

138 

527 

665 

176 

171 

379 

158 

194 

2,745 

418 

43 

185 

1,309 

1,673 

278 

312 

858 

82 

200 

195 

218 

148 

452 

352 

243 

333 

705 

164 

268 

169 

160 

66 

182 

332 

262 

269 

2,061 

962 

1,903 

113 

71 

2,087 

194 

164 

1,238 

185 

405 

425 

123 

57 

182 

1,396 

138 

527 

673 

174 

170 

375 

159 

195 

2,736 

418 

42 

1

 Revised. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 10 NASS, USDA 

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, 

Region, United States, and Puerto Rico 2007-2008 

Economic Sales Class 

$1,000-$9,999 $10,000-$99,999 $100,000-$249,999 

State 

and 

Region 2007 1

 2008 2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

Number Number Number Number Number Number 

Northeast 

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY 

 PA 

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 3

 Total 

North Central 

 IL 

 IN 

 IA 

 KS 

 MI 

 MN 

 MO 

 NE 

 ND 

 OH 

 SD 

 WI 

 Total 

South 

 AL 

 AR 

 DE 2

 FL 

 GA 

 KY 

 LA 

 MD 2

 MS 

 NC 

 OK 

 SC 

 TN 

 TX 

 VA 

 WV 2

 Oth Sts 4

 Total 

West 

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA 

 CO 

 HI 2

 ID 

 MT 

 NV 2

 NM 

 OR 

 UT 

 WA 

 WY 2

 Oth Sts 5

 Total 

US 

PR 

3,100 

5,300 

4,800 

2,900 

6,700 

18,800 

37,000 

750 

4,000 

83,350 

33,700 

32,000 

30,300 

28,300 

33,100 

36,500 

58,000 

13,000 

10,600 

40,700 

9,200 

40,900 

366,300 

32,100 

27,700 

1,000 

29,500 

30,400 

54,000 

18,700 

7,100 

27,400 

32,900 

51,000 

18,500 

55,800 

163,800 

30,200 

18,400 

598,500 

360 

12,000 

35,300 

21,000 

4,600 

14,100 

13,100 

1,650 

14,100 

24,600 

10,300 

24,100 

5,200 

180,410 

1,228,560 

7,300 

3,050 

5,200 

4,800 

2,900 

6,700 

18,700 

37,000 

740 

4,000 

83,090 

33,500 

31,700 

30,200 

28,300 

32,300 

36,500 

57,700 

12,300 

10,600 

40,300 

9,400 

39,000 

361,800 

31,000 

27,900 

1,000 

29,500 

30,200 

54,000 

18,700 

7,100 

27,400 

32,700 

51,000 

19,500 

55,900 

163,800 

30,000 

18,400 

598,100 

360 

12,000 

35,500 

20,600 

4,600 

13,300 

13,100 

1,650 

13,800 

24,400 

10,100 

24,400 

5,200 

179,010 

1,222,000 

7,200 

10,700 

15,500 

11,010 

37,210 

19,400 

16,000 

28,500 

22,500 

14,800 

21,900 

37,400 

14,700 

9,400 

22,800 

9,700 

20,700 

237,800 

11,800 

13,400 

12,700 

10,500 

25,200 

7,900 

9,900 

11,500 

28,000 

5,500 

19,800 

65,100 

13,400 

8,250 

242,950 

26,300 

10,600 

6,800 

9,600 

5,100 

9,200 

4,700 

9,000 

9,410 

90,710 

608,670 

3,100 

10,800 

15,500 

11,060 

37,360 

17,400 

16,000 

28,500 

22,500 

14,500 

21,900 

38,000 

14,200 

9,400 

22,700 

9,600 

20,500 

235,200 

12,500 

13,200 

12,700 

10,000 

25,200 

7,900 

9,900 

11,300 

28,000 

5,400 

19,100 

65,100 

13,300 

8,030 

241,630 

26,600 

10,400 

7,000 

9,400 

5,000 

8,900 

4,700 

8,900 

9,410 

90,310 

604,500 

3,000 

3,300 

5,600 

2,220 

11,120 

9,100 

5,200 

14,300 

6,600 

3,500 

9,500 

6,000 

8,000 

4,400 

5,800 

5,500 

8,600 

86,500 

1,100 

1,600 

2,100 

2,100 

3,000 

1,100 

1,050 

2,000 

3,900 

550 

1,650 

7,600 

1,450 

1,210 

30,410 

6,700 

2,500 

1,700 

3,600 

800 

2,000 

840 

2,000 

2,130 

22,270 

150,300 

500 

3,100 

5,600 

2,220 

10,920 

8,100 

5,150 

14,100 

6,600 

3,600 

9,400 

5,700 

7,600 

4,300 

5,500 

5,200 

9,300 

84,550 

1,300 

1,600 

2,100 

2,500 

2,900 

1,100 

1,050 

2,000 

3,800 

600 

1,650 

7,500 

1,450 

1,210 

30,760 

6,500 

2,600 

1,900 

3,700 

800 

2,300 

840 

2,000 

2,130 

22,770 

149,000 

500 

 --continued
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 11 NASS, USDA 

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, 

Region, United States, and Puerto Rico 2007-2008 (continued) 

Economic Sales Class 

$250,000-$499,999 $500,000 & Over Total 

State 

and 

Region 2007 1

 2008 2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

Number Number Number Number Number Number 

Northeast 

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY 

 PA 

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 3

 Total 

North Central 

 IL 

 IN 

 IA 

 KS 

 MI 

 MN 

 MO 

 NE 

 ND 

 OH 

 SD 

 WI 

 Total 

South 

 AL 

 AR 

 DE 2

 FL 

 GA 

 KY 

 LA 

 MD 2

 MS 

 NC 

 OK 

 SC 

 TN 

 TX 

 VA 

 WV 2

 Oth Sts 4

 Total 

West 

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA 

 CO 

 HI 2

 ID 

 MT 

 NV 2

 NM 

 OR 

 UT 

 WA 

 WY 2

 Oth Sts 5

 Total 

US 

PR 

1,800 

2,800 

1,230 

5,830 

7,200 

3,500 

9,800 

3,900 

2,100 

6,400 

3,000 

5,800 

3,700 

3,400 

3,800 

4,800 

57,400 

1,400 

1,900 

1,100 

1,400 

1,450 

800 

900 

2,500 

1,800 

350 

950 

4,500 

950 

870 

20,870 

4,000 

1,300 

1,100 

2,000 

400 

1,100 

410 

1,700 

1,120 

13,130 

97,230 

250 

1,700 

2,800 

1,220 

5,720 

7,900 

3,600 

9,800 

3,900 

2,100 

6,400 

2,900 

6,000 

3,700 

3,300 

3,900 

5,200 

58,700 

1,400 

1,700 

1,100 

1,600 

1,400 

800 

900 

2,500 

1,800 

300 

950 

4,500 

950 

850 

20,750 

4,000 

1,200 

1,200 

2,100 

400 

1,200 

410 

1,700 

1,120 

13,330 

98,500 

250 

1,800 

2,300 

1,360 

5,460 

7,500 

4,300 

9,900 

4,200 

2,500 

6,700 

3,400 

6,200 

3,900 

3,200 

3,000 

3,500 

58,300 

2,400 

4,700 

2,100 

3,500 

1,650 

1,500 

2,750 

4,000 

1,900 

1,000 

1,300 

6,500 

1,400 

1,970 

36,670 

8,700 

1,500 

1,700 

1,200 

600 

1,700 

450 

2,500 

1,410 

19,760 

120,190 

250 

2,300 

2,300 

1,380 

5,980 

9,000 

4,550 

10,000 

4,200 

2,500 

6,800 

3,700 

7,300 

4,000 

3,200 

3,200 

4,000 

62,450 

2,300 

4,900 

2,100 

3,500 

1,800 

1,500 

2,750 

4,000 

2,000 

1,100 

1,400 

6,600 

1,300 

1,960 

37,210 

8,900 

1,700 

1,800 

1,200 

600 

1,800 

450 

2,500 

1,410 

20,360 

126,000 

250 

4,900 

8,100 

7,700 

4,150 

10,300 

36,400 

63,200 

1,220 

7,000 

142,970 

76,900 

61,000 

92,800 

65,500 

56,000 

81,000 

107,800 

47,700 

32,000 

75,900 

31,200 

78,500 

806,300 

48,800 

49,300 

2,550 

47,500 

47,900 

85,300 

30,000 

12,850 

42,000 

52,900 

86,600 

25,900 

79,500 

247,500 

47,400 

23,400 

929,400 

680 

15,600 

81,000 

36,900 

7,500 

25,400 

29,500 

3,100 

21,000 

38,600 

16,700 

39,300 

11,000 

326,280 

2,204,950 

11,400 

4,900 

8,000 

7,700 

4,150 

10,300 

36,600 

63,200 

1,220 

7,000 

143,070 

75,900 

61,000 

92,600 

65,500 

55,000 

81,000 

108,000 

47,400 

32,000 

75,000 

31,300 

78,000 

802,700 

48,500 

49,300 

2,500 

47,500 

47,800 

85,300 

30,000 

12,850 

42,000 

52,500 

86,600 

26,900 

79,000 

247,500 

47,000 

23,200 

928,450 

680 

15,600 

81,500 

36,500 

7,500 

25,200 

29,500 

3,100 

20,600 

38,600 

16,500 

39,500 

11,000 

325,780 

2,200,000 

11,200 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 

3

 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 

4

 DE, MD, and WV. 

5

 AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 12 NASS, USDA 

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, 

Region, United States, and Puerto Rico 2007-2008 

Economic Sales Class 

$1,000-$9,999 $10,000-$99,999 $100,000-$249,999 

State 

and 

Region 2007 1

 2008 2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 

Northeast 

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY 

 PA 

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 3

 Total 

North Central 

 IL 

 IN 

 IA 

 KS 

 MI 

 MN 

 MO 

 NE 

 ND 

 OH 

 SD 

 WI 

 Total 

South 

 AL 

 AR 

 DE 2

 FL 

 GA 

 KY 

 LA 

 MD 2

 MS 

 NC 

 OK 

 SC 

 TN 

 TX 

 VA 

 WV 2

 Oth Sts 4

 Total 

West 

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA 

 CO 

 HI 2

 ID 

 MT 

 NV 2

 NM 

 OR 

 UT 

 WA 

 WY 2

 Oth Sts 5

 Total 

US 

PR 

140 

480 

210 

230 

180 

1,600 

2,400 

30 

350 

5,620 

1,500 

1,300 

1,700 

3,300 

1,850 

3,200 

5,100 

1,400 

2,000 

2,100 

1,600 

3,100 

28,150 

3,100 

2,300 

30 

1,400 

3,000 

4,390 

1,400 

400 

3,500 

2,000 

6,100 

1,800 

3,650 

18,800 

2,350 

1,960 

56,180 

290 

750 

1,800 

2,900 

80 

950 

2,500 

200 

3,100 

1,700 

850 

1,300 

1,500 

17,920 

107,870 

130 

130 

480 

210 

230 

180 

1,400 

2,400 

30 

340 

5,400 

1,500 

1,300 

1,700 

3,200 

1,800 

3,200 

5,000 

1,400 

2,000 

2,000 

1,600 

2,700 

27,400 

3,000 

2,300 

30 

1,400 

3,200 

4,400 

1,400 

400 

3,500 

2,000 

6,000 

1,900 

3,750 

18,800 

2,300 

1,920 

56,300 

270 

750 

1,800 

2,700 

80 

950 

2,500 

200 

3,000 

1,700 

850 

1,300 

1,500 

17,600 

106,700 

120 

1,800 

2,050 

1,260 

5,110 

2,900 

2,100 

4,700 

9,900 

2,100 

4,800 

10,200 

6,400 

6,300 

3,200 

7,500 

3,300 

63,400 

3,100 

3,300 

2,000 

2,500 

5,040 

2,000 

2,600 

1,700 

12,600 

1,450 

3,900 

43,500 

3,000 

1,810 

88,500 

5,000 

8,600 

2,500 

12,400 

11,300 

3,400 

2,250 

3,200 

22,560 

71,210 

228,220 

170 

1,700 

2,050 

1,250 

5,000 

2,300 

2,100 

4,700 

9,900 

2,000 

4,800 

10,400 

6,200 

6,200 

3,200 

7,300 

3,300 

62,400 

3,100 

3,150 

1,950 

2,350 

5,010 

1,950 

2,600 

1,650 

12,600 

1,200 

3,700 

43,500 

2,900 

1,840 

87,500 

5,000 

8,400 

2,400 

12,000 

11,300 

3,400 

2,250 

3,100 

22,550 

70,400 

225,300 

160 

1,000 

1,200 

487 

2,687 

3,800 

1,900 

5,400 

8,300 

1,350 

4,200 

4,200 

8,600 

7,000 

2,200 

10,100 

2,600 

59,650 

800 

1,000 

900 

1,100 

1,330 

900 

1,000 

750 

6,100 

400 

900 

20,900 

850 

510 

37,440 

3,700 

6,000 

1,950 

15,400 

8,300 

3,100 

1,500 

1,800 

11,880 

53,630 

153,407 

70 

960 

1,150 

490 

2,600 

3,300 

1,900 

5,400 

8,300 

1,400 

4,200 

3,900 

8,300 

6,900 

2,200 

9,400 

2,700 

57,900 

800 

950 

900 

1,000 

1,320 

900 

1,000 

800 

6,100 

400 

900 

20,800 

900 

530 

37,300 

3,600 

5,900 

1,950 

15,400 

8,400 

3,100 

1,500 

1,800 

11,850 

53,500 

151,300 

70 

 --continued
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 13 NASS, USDA 

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State, 

Region, United States, and Puerto Rico 2007-2008 (continued) 

Economic Sales Class 

$250,000-$499,999 $500,000 & Over Total 

State 

and 

Region 2007 1

 2008 2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 

Northeast 

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY 

 PA 

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 3

 Total 

North Central 

 IL 

 IN 

 IA 

 KS 

 MI 

 MN 

 MO 

 NE 

 ND 

 OH 

 SD 

 WI 

 Total 

South 

 AL 

 AR 

 DE 2

 FL 

 GA 

 KY 

 LA 

 MD 2

 MS 

 NC 

 OK 

 SC 

 TN 

 TX 

 VA 

 WV 2

 Oth Sts 4

 Total 

West 

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA 

 CO 

 HI 2

 ID 

 MT 

 NV 2

 NM 

 OR 

 UT 

 WA 

 WY 2

 Oth Sts 5

 Total 

US 

PR 

900 

950 

445 

2,295 

5,600 

2,500 

6,900 

8,400 

1,400 

4,800 

3,500 

10,200 

8,200 

2,400 

10,100 

2,300 

66,300 

700 

1,500 

900 

900 

1,040 

900 

950 

1,150 

4,300 

300 

800 

15,300 

650 

440 

29,830 

2,900 

6,100 

1,400 

14,100 

7,800 

2,600 

1,200 

2,800 

8,400 

47,300 

145,725 

40 

850 

900 

450 

2,200 

4,800 

2,500 

6,900 

8,400 

1,400 

4,800 

3,200 

9,100 

8,200 

2,400 

10,400 

2,600 

64,700 

700 

1,400 

900 

950 

1,020 

900 

900 

1,150 

4,300 

300 

800 

15,300 

650 

430 

29,700 

2,900 

5,600 

1,300 

14,400 

7,700 

2,600 

1,200 

2,800 

8,400 

46,900 

143,500 

40 

1,900 

1,200 

968 

4,068 

13,000 

7,000 

12,100 

16,400 

3,300 

9,900 

6,000 

19,000 

16,100 

4,100 

14,400 

3,900 

125,200 

1,300 

5,800 

4,100 

2,800 

2,200 

2,900 

2,950 

3,000 

6,000 

950 

1,750 

31,900 

1,250 

1,120 

68,020 

12,000 

7,800 

4,700 

16,500 

12,700 

5,600 

5,300 

5,800 

18,550 

88,950 

286,238 

80 

2,190 

1,250 

960 

4,400 

14,800 

7,000 

12,100 

16,400 

3,400 

9,900 

6,600 

20,600 

16,300 

4,100 

15,000 

3,900 

130,100 

1,350 

5,900 

4,100 

2,900 

2,250 

2,900 

3,000 

3,000 

6,100 

1,100 

1,750 

32,000 

1,250 

1,100 

68,700 

12,100 

8,700 

4,800 

16,500 

12,600 

5,600 

5,300 

5,800 

18,500 

89,900 

293,100 

80 

410 

1,350 

520 

470 

730 

7,200 

7,800 

70 

1,230 

19,780 

26,800 

14,800 

30,800 

46,300 

10,000 

26,900 

29,000 

45,600 

39,600 

14,000 

43,700 

15,200 

342,700 

9,000 

13,900 

510 

9,300 

10,300 

14,000 

8,100 

2,060 

11,000 

8,600 

35,100 

4,900 

11,000 

130,400 

8,100 

3,700 

279,970 

890 

26,100 

25,400 

31,400 

1,120 

11,500 

60,900 

5,900 

43,200 

16,400 

11,100 

14,900 

30,200 

279,010 

921,460 

490 

400 

1,350 

510 

470 

730 

7,100 

7,750 

70 

1,220 

19,600 

26,700 

14,800 

30,800 

46,200 

10,000 

26,900 

29,100 

45,600 

39,600 

13,900 

43,700 

15,200 

342,500 

8,950 

13,700 

500 

9,250 

10,400 

14,000 

8,050 

2,050 

11,000 

8,600 

35,100 

4,900 

10,900 

130,400 

8,000 

3,700 

279,500 

890 

26,100 

25,400 

31,300 

1,110 

11,400 

60,800 

5,900 

43,000 

16,400 

11,100 

14,800 

30,100 

278,300 

919,900 

470 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 

3

 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 

4

 DE, MD, and WV. 

5

 AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 14 NASS, USDA 

Cattle and Calves: Number of Operations and Percent of Inventory 

by Size Group, United States, 2007-2008 

Operations Percent of Inventory Head 

2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

Number Number Percent Percent 

Cattle and Calves 

 1-49 

 50-99 

 100-499 

 500-999 

 1,000-1,999 

 2,000-4,999 

 5,000-9,999 

 10,000-19,999 

 20,000+ 

 Total 

Beef Cows2

 1-49 

 50-99 

 100-499 

 500-999 

 1,000-1,999 

 2,000-4,999 

 5,000+ 

 Total 

646,100 

137,560 

151,850 

19,190 

6,700 

3,000 

650 

250 

210 

965,510 

606,200 

85,850 

68,450 

4,420 

1,100 

280 

50 

766,350 

646,000 

133,000 

147,600 

19,100 

6,600 

3,030 

700 

260 

210 

956,500 

601,000 

83,000 

67,200 

4,340 

1,125 

280 

55 

757,000 

11.5 

9.8 

31.4 

13.4 

9.1 

8.8 

4.4 

3.4 

8.2 

100.0 

28.7 

17.2 

38.0 

8.7 

4.3 

2.1 

1.0 

100.0 

11.5 

9.7 

31.2 

13.4 

9.0 

8.8 

4.7 

3.5 

8.2 

100.0 

28.5 

17.1 

38.0 

8.7 

4.5 

2.1 

1.1 

100.0 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Included in operations with cattle. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 15 NASS, USDA 

Milk Cows: Number of Operations, Percent of Inventory and Percent 

of Milk Production by Size Group, United States, 2007-2008 

Operations 1 Percent of 

Inventory 

Percent of 

Production 2 Head 

2007 3

 2008 2007 3 2008 2007 3 2008 

Number Number Percent Percent Percent Percent 

1-29 

30-49 

50-99 

100-199 

200-499 

500-999 

1,000-1,999 

2,000+ 

Total 

21,705 

12,270 

19,330 

9,011 

4,359 

1,720 

920 

680 

69,995 

21,300 

11,900 

17,800 

8,700 

3,950 

1,720 

900 

730 

67,000 

2.0 

5.2 

14.0 

13.0 

13.9 

12.5 

13.3 

26.1 

100.0 

1.8 

5.1 

13.1 

12.5 

12.6 

12.5 

13.1 

29.3 

100.0 

1.3 

4.0 

12.0 

12.0 

13.7 

12.3 

16.1 

28.6 

100.0 

1.2 

3.9 

11.5 

11.8 

13.1 

12.5 

15.5 

30.5 

100.0 

1

 Included in operations with cattle. 

2

 Estimates reflect the average distributions of various probability surveys conducted during the year. 

3

 Revised. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 16 NASS, USDA 

Hogs and Pigs: Number of Operations and Percent of Inventory 

by Size Group, United States, 2007-2008 

Operations Percent of Inventory Head 

2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

Number Number Percent Percent 

1-99 

100-499 

500-999 

1,000-1,999 

2,000-4,999 

5,000+ 

Total 

52,445 

7,079 

3,620 

4,048 

5,397 

2,861 

75,450 

50,680 

6,740 

3,490 

3,950 

5,370 

2,920 

73,150 

0.9 

2.7 

3.7 

8.2 

24.4 

60.1 

100.0 

0.9 

2.5 

3.5 

8.0 

24.0 

61.1 

100.0 

1

 Revised. 

Hogs and Pigs: Number of Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group, 

Based on Ownership, United States, 2007-2008 

Operations Percent of Inventory Head 

2007 1 2008 2007 1 2008 

Number Number Percent Percent 

1-99 

100-499 

500-999 

1,000-1,999 

2,000-4,999 

5,000-9,999 

10,000-19,999 

20,000-49,999 

50,000+ 

Total 

52,370 

6,140 

2,470 

2,210 

2,380 

735 

370 

185 

130 

66,990 

50,610 

5,870 

2,380 

2,160 

2,350 

705 

365 

185 

135 

64,760 

1.0 

2.6 

2.6 

4.6 

10.8 

7.7 

7.5 

8.5 

54.7 

100.0 

1.0 

2.4 

2.4 

4.5 

10.7 

7.4 

7.4 

8.5 

55.7 

100.0 

1

 Revised. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 17 NASS, USDA 

Sheep and Goat Operations: Number of Operations with Sheep or Goats, 

United States, 2007-2008 

Commodity 2007 1

 2008 

Number Number 

Sheep 

Angora Goats 

Milk Goats 

Meat and Other Goats 

All Goats 

83,130 

7,190 

27,400 

123,200 

144,510 

82,330 

6,500 

29,000 

128,800 

149,800 

1

 Revised. 

Breeding Sheep: Survey Percent by Size Group, United States, 2007-2008 1

1-99 Head 100-499 Head 500-4,999 Head 5,000+ Head Item 

2007 2

 2008 2007 2 2008 2007 2 2008 2007 2 2008 

Operations 

Inventory 

92.5 

32.9 

92.5 

32.6 

6.1 

21.4 

6.2 

22.7 

1.3 

31.9 

1.2 

30.2 

0.1 

13.8 

0.1 

14.5 

1

 Percents reflect distributions from annual survey. 

2

 Revised. 

Sheep and Goat Operations

United States, 2007-2008

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Sheep Angora Milk Meat & Other All Goats

Operations

 (000)

2007 2008
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 18 NASS, USDA 

Number of Operations by State, 

United States, and Puerto Rico, 2007 1

State Cattle and Calves Beef Cows 2 Milk Cows 2

Number Number Number 

AL 

AK 

AZ 

AR 

CA 

CO 

CT 

DE 

FL 

GA 

HI 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

LA 

ME 

MD 

MA 

MI 

MN 

MS 

MO 

MT 

NE 

NV 

NH 

NJ 

NM 

NY 

NC 

ND 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

RI 

SC 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VT 

VA 

WA 

WV 

WI 

WY 

US 

PR 

24,000 

130 

7,700 

28,000 

16,600 

14,700 

1,200 

400 

21,000 

21,000 

1,100 

10,600 

18,500 

18,500 

30,000 

30,000 

44,000 

14,100 

2,100 

3,700 

1,800 

14,500 

25,000 

17,800 

59,000 

12,300 

22,000 

1,500 

1,000 

1,400 

9,500 

13,600 

19,200 

10,500 

26,000 

55,000 

16,100 

26,000 

280 

8,800 

15,700 

47,000 

152,000 

7,600 

2,500 

26,000 

12,700 

12,800 

35,000 

5,600 

965,510 

4,500 

22,000 

100 

5,300 

25,000 

11,800 

11,600 

750 

250 

16,700 

17,700 

850 

7,400 

14,800 

12,700 

21,000 

26,000 

38,000 

12,400 

1,300 

2,500 

1,200 

7,800 

14,400 

16,000 

52,000 

11,100 

18,300 

1,300 

640 

930 

8,200 

6,800 

15,000 

9,700 

17,400 

47,000 

12,900 

12,300 

230 

8,200 

13,800 

42,000 

132,000 

5,600 

1,000 

22,000 

10,100 

10,700 

14,800 

4,800 

766,350 

2,400 

160 

30 

180 

340 

2,200 

450 

270 

80 

420 

640 

15 

810 

1,200 

2,000 

2,400 

780 

2,300 

300 

480 

660 

310 

2,700 

5,100 

180 

2,600 

390 

490 

60 

220 

150 

270 

5,700 

460 

400 

3,700 

980 

600 

8,300 

40 

110 

660 

1,200 

1,300 

450 

1,200 

1,200 

820 

370 

14,200 

120 

69,995 

2,000 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Included in operations with cattle. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 19 NASS, USDA 

Cattle and Calves: Number of Operations by Size Group, 

Selected States and United States, 2007 1

State 1-49 

Head 

50-99 

Head 

100-499 

Head 

500-999 

Head 

1000+ 

Head 

Number Number Number Number Number 

AL 

AZ 

AR 

CA 

CO 

FL 

GA 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

LA 

MD 

MI 

MN 

MS 

MO 

MT 

NE 

NM 

NY 

NC 

ND 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VT 

VA 

WA 

WI 

WY 

Oth Sts2

US 

18,200 

6,700 

19,200 

11,400 

9,700 

16,600 

15,600 

7,200 

12,500 

14,500 

15,200 

15,600 

31,000 

9,900 

2,700 

11,000 

14,100 

12,900 

36,000 

5,300 

8,500 

6,900 

7,900 

15,300 

3,400 

20,000 

35,000 

12,800 

16,700 

4,400 

35,000 

113,000 

4,800 

1,400 

18,400 

10,500 

18,300 

2,600 

25,900 

646,100 

3,100 

350 

4,700 

1,200 

1,700 

1,900 

2,800 

1,000 

2,900 

2,100 

5,800 

5,400 

7,300 

2,100 

450 

1,400 

4,300 

2,700 

11,500 

1,800 

4,100 

880 

2,300 

2,230 

2,000 

3,000 

8,400 

1,200 

4,600 

2,600 

6,900 

17,900 

1,000 

400 

3,700 

800 

6,700 

730 

3,620 

137,560 

2,400 

440 

3,700 

2,000 

2,400 

1,900 

2,300 

1,600 

2,800 

1,730 

7,300 

7,200 

5,300 

1,900 

520 

1,750 

5,900 

2,000 

10,600 

3,900 

6,800 

1,200 

2,900 

1,500 

4,400 

2,660 

9,700 

1,500 

4,400 

6,800 

4,900 

17,700 

1,400 

600 

3,500 

1,000 

9,100 

1,600 

2,550 

151,850 

230 

90 

270 

800 

560 

320 

220 

380 

250 

110 

1,200 

1,000 

340 

160 

20 

230 

520 

150 

670 

900 

1,500 

235 

320 

130 

540 

280 

1,400 

340 

240 

1,400 

150 

2,000 

290 

65 

320 

220 

650 

430 

260 

19,190 

70 

120 

130 

1,200 

340 

280 

80 

420 

50 

60 

500 

800 

60 

40 

10 

120 

180 

50 

230 

400 

1,100 

285 

180 

40 

160 

60 

500 

260 

60 

500 

50 

1,400 

110 

35 

80 

180 

250 

240 

180 

10,810 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Individual State estimates not available for the 12 Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 20 NASS, USDA 

Cattle and Calves: Percent of Inventory by Size Group, 

Selected States and United States, 2007 1

State 1-49 

Head 

50-99 

Head 

100-499 

Head 

500-999 

Head 

1,000+ 

Head 

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent 

AL 

AZ 

AR 

CA 

CO 

FL 

GA 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

LA 

MD 

MI 

MN 

MS 

MO 

MT 

NE 

NM 

NY 

NC 

ND 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VT 

VA 

WA 

WI 

WY 

Oth Sts2

US 

26.0 

6.4 

20.0 

2.6 

5.0 

14.0 

23.0 

4.0 

19.0 

25.0 

8.0 

4.8 

24.0 

21.0 

21.0 

14.0 

11.0 

25.0 

17.0 

3.7 

2.7 

6.0 

9.0 

31.0 

4.0 

24.0 

12.0 

11.0 

15.0 

2.5 

32.0 

13.5 

8.0 

7.0 

21.0 

11.0 

9.5 

3.0 

22.0 

11.5 

18.0 

2.3 

18.0 

1.5 

4.0 

7.4 

16.0 

3.0 

16.0 

16.0 

10.0 

5.7 

20.0 

16.0 

16.0 

9.0 

12.0 

19.0 

18.0 

5.3 

4.3 

4.0 

11.0 

18.0 

8.0 

15.0 

11.0 

6.0 

21.0 

5.0 

21.0 

9.0 

8.0 

11.0 

16.0 

5.0 

14.0 

4.0 

14.0 

9.8 

37.0 

8.3 

38.0 

8.5 

19.0 

22.0 

37.0 

15.0 

43.0 

36.0 

36.0 

22.0 

41.0 

42.0 

49.0 

36.0 

47.0 

38.0 

46.0 

36.0 

23.0 

17.0 

39.0 

34.0 

53.0 

38.0 

37.0 

23.0 

49.0 

43.0 

39.0 

26.0 

35.0 

41.0 

43.0 

21.0 

50.0 

29.0 

27.0 

31.4 

10.0 

6.0 

10.0 

9.4 

13.0 

13.6 

12.0 

12.0 

14.0 

8.0 

22.0 

10.5 

10.0 

13.0 

7.0 

15.0 

17.0 

7.0 

10.0 

23.0 

16.0 

11.0 

16.0 

10.0 

20.0 

15.0 

17.0 

16.0 

8.8 

25.5 

4.8 

9.5 

22.0 

17.0 

13.0 

14.0 

13.0 

23.0 

10.0 

13.4 

9.0 

77.0 

14.0 

78.0 

59.0 

43.0 

12.0 

66.0 

8.0 

15.0 

24.0 

57.0 

5.0 

8.0 

7.0 

26.0 

13.0 

11.0 

9.0 

32.0 

54.0 

62.0 

25.0 

7.0 

15.0 

8.0 

23.0 

44.0 

6.2 

24.0 

3.2 

42.0 

27.0 

24.0 

7.0 

49.0 

13.5 

41.0 

27.0 

33.9 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Individual State estimates not available for the 12 Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 21 NASS, USDA 

Beef Cows: Number of Operations by Size Group, Selected 

States and United States, 2007 1 2

State 1-49 

Head 

50-99 

Head 

100-499 

Head 

500+ 

Head 

Number Number Number Number 

AL 

AZ 

AR 

CA 

CO 

FL 

GA 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

LA 

MN 

MS 

MO 

MT 

NE 

NM 

NC 

ND 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VA 

WA 

WY 

Oth Sts3

US 

18,200 

4,600 

19,600 

9,400 

8,400 

13,900 

14,900 

5,500 

12,400 

11,700 

15,300 

17,200 

31,800 

9,800 

12,300 

13,200 

39,000 

5,100 

9,300 

6,300 

13,200 

4,000 

16,400 

36,000 

10,800 

11,800 

5,300 

36,000 

107,000 

3,800 

18,300 

9,000 

2,300 

54,400 

606,200 

2,300 

280 

3,400 

940 

1,300 

1,300 

1,750 

770 

1,640 

740 

3,550 

4,600 

4,200 

1,500 

1,400 

1,850 

8,100 

1,750 

3,500 

800 

1,250 

2,360 

700 

6,100 

890 

400 

3,000 

4,300 

13,600 

830 

2,300 

500 

670 

3,280 

85,850 

1,450 

350 

1,920 

1,200 

1,700 

1,200 

1,000 

960 

750 

260 

2,100 

3,950 

1,950 

1,050 

680 

900 

4,750 

3,700 

5,000 

900 

530 

3,200 

290 

4,600 

980 

100 

5,100 

1,670 

10,500 

870 

1,350 

530 

1,500 

1,460 

68,450 

50 

70 

80 

260 

200 

300 

50 

170 

10 

50 

250 

50 

50 

20 

50 

150 

550 

500 

200 

20 

140 

10 

300 

230 

400 

30 

900 

100 

50 

70 

330 

210 

5,850 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Included in operations with cattle. Missing data combined with other size groups to avoid disclosing individual operations. 

3

 Individual State estimates not available for the 17 Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 22 NASS, USDA 

Beef Cows: Percent of Inventory by Size Group, Selected 

States and United States, 2007 1 2

State 1-49 

Head 

50-99 

Head 

100-499 

Head 

500+ 

Head 

Percent Percent Percent Percent 

AL 

AZ 

AR 

CA 

CO 

FL 

GA 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

LA 

MN 

MS 

MO 

MT 

NE 

NM 

NC 

ND 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VA 

WA 

WY 

Oth Sts3

US 

40.0 

21.0 

37.0 

16.0 

17.0 

18.0 

40.0 

14.0 

48.0 

64.0 

34.0 

22.0 

47.0 

32.0 

49.0 

44.0 

35.0 

6.0 

11.0 

16.0 

52.0 

10.0 

67.0 

30.0 

18.0 

75.0 

7.0 

52.0 

31.0 

14.0 

41.0 

32.0 

5.0 

47.0 

28.7 

21.0 

9.0 

24.0 

9.0 

12.0 

9.0 

21.0 

11.0 

25.0 

19.0 

25.5 

20.0 

24.0 

19.0 

22.0 

23.0 

25.0 

8.0 

13.0 

10.0 

21.0 

18.0 

15.0 

20.0 

10.0 

15.0 

12.5 

24.0 

17.0 

15.0 

22.0 

12.0 

6.0 

14.0 

17.2 

34.0 

31.0 

33.0 

38.0 

47.0 

27.0 

32.0 

42.0 

25.5 

17.0 

36.0 

45.0 

26.0 

39.0 

25.5 

28.0 

35.0 

53.0 

53.0 

35.0 

23.0 

62.0 

15.5 

38.0 

35.0 

10.0 

62.0 

22.0 

36.0 

47.0 

32.0 

37.0 

47.0 

22.0 

38.0 

5.0 

39.0 

6.0 

37.0 

24.0 

46.0 

7.0 

33.0 

1.5 

4.5 

13.0 

3.0 

10.0 

3.5 

5.0 

5.0 

33.0 

23.0 

39.0 

4.0 

10.0 

2.5 

12.0 

37.0 

18.5 

2.0 

16.0 

24.0 

5.0 

19.0 

42.0 

17.0 

16.1 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Missing data combined with other size groups to avoid disclosing individual operations. 

3

 Individual State estimates not available for the 17 Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 23 NASS, USDA 

Milk Cows: Number of Operations by Size Group, Selected 

States and United States, 2007 1 2

State 1-29 

Head 

30-49 

Head 

50-99 

Head 

100-199 

Head 

200-499 

Head 

500+ 

Head 

Number Number Number Number Number Number 

AZ 

CA 

CO 

FL 

GA 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

MD 

MI 

MN 

MO 

NM 

NY 

NC 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VT 

VA 

WA 

WI 

Oth Sts3

US 

100 

490 

300 

290 

370 

230 

370 

970 

720 

380 

1,300 

150 

970 

900 

1,550 

120 

1,250 

205 

1,200 

650 

330 

1,700 

220 

700 

720 

190 

230 

440 

360 

2,100 

2,200 

21,705 

20 

20 

50 

160 

330 

450 

100 

360 

110 

370 

1,100 

300 

1,100 

20 

880 

50 

20 

2,300 

110 

90 

20 

20 

200 

100 

20 

3,500 

470 

12,270 

50 

15 

10 

35 

100 

360 

390 

710 

160 

370 

210 

500 

1,950 

460 

1,900 

80 

990 

130 

40 

3,000 

160 

190 

70 

50 

400 

250 

70 

5,800 

880 

19,330 

5 

110 

20 

10 

120 

90 

215 

200 

350 

85 

220 

130 

480 

780 

240 

4 

870 

92 

430 

110 

80 

980 

90 

160 

150 

90 

200 

300 

100 

1,700 

600 

9,011 

5 

450 

35 

35 

65 

110 

80 

75 

120 

30 

43 

50 

265 

280 

40 

6 

370 

50 

150 

30 

80 

250 

45 

50 

140 

60 

120 

95 

130 

820 

280 

4,359 

70 

1,100 

60 

75 

30 

230 

15 

35 

50 

25 

7 

10 

115 

90 

10 

140 

210 

13 

50 

10 

50 

70 

35 

10 

200 

40 

50 

15 

140 

280 

85 

3,320 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Included in operations with cattle. Missing data combined with other size groups to avoid disclosing individual operations. 

3

 Individual State estimates not available for the 20 Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 24 NASS, USDA 

Milk Cows: Percent of Inventory by Size Group, Selected 

States and United States, 2007 1 2

State 1-29 

Head 

30-49 

Head 

50-99 

Head 

100-199 

Head 

200-499 

Head 

500+ 

Head 

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent 

AZ 

CA 

CO 

FL 

GA 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

MD 

MI 

MN 

MO 

NM 

NY 

NC 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VT 

VA 

WA 

WI 

Oth Sts3

US 

0.1 

0.1 

1.0 

0.6 

2.5 

0.2 

3.5 

5.3 

4.0 

2.1 

9.0 

2.3 

2.5 

3.0 

10.0 

0.1 

2.0 

2.0 

5.0 

5.0 

0.8 

3.0 

2.2 

5.3 

0.5 

0.8 

2.0 

2.5 

0.6 

3.0 

3.0 

2.0 

0.6 

1.2 

0.3 

6.5 

7.7 

8.0 

3.3 

15.0 

7.7 

4.0 

9.0 

10.0 

7.0 

2.0 

12.0 

3.0 

0.7 

16.0 

4.8 

5.7 

0.2 

0.7 

6.0 

3.5 

0.3 

11.0 

5.0 

5.2 

0.2 

0.8 

0.7 

3.3 

1.3 

25.0 

16.0 

22.0 

9.9 

27.0 

25.0 

9.5 

29.0 

29.0 

20.0 

13.0 

27.0 

13.0 

2.5 

35.0 

13.0 

22.0 

1.1 

4.5 

19.0 

18.0 

2.1 

29.0 

18.0 

14.0 

0.3 

0.8 

2.3 

1.1 

22.0 

2.3 

28.0 

16.0 

21.0 

9.6 

31.0 

31.0 

19.0 

22.0 

27.0 

0.2 

19.0 

26.0 

20.0 

22.0 

11.0 

23.0 

12.0 

36.0 

5.2 

15.0 

19.0 

39.0 

6.0 

18.0 

23.0 

13.0 

1.3 

7.9 

9.8 

9.6 

25.0 

6.4 

24.0 

12.0 

15.0 

7.1 

12.0 

21.0 

22.0 

17.0 

10.0 

0.7 

18.0 

28.0 

16.0 

13.0 

22.0 

13.0 

16.0 

22.0 

11.0 

21.0 

22.0 

26.0 

16.0 

19.0 

24.0 

13.9 

98.3 

91.0 

85.5 

88.0 

46.0 

89.5 

13.0 

43.0 

30.0 

68.0 

6.0 

13.0 

43.0 

20.0 

14.0 

99.0 

34.0 

29.0 

20.0 

44.0 

63.0 

10.0 

52.0 

9.0 

82.0 

58.0 

32.0 

11.0 

75.0 

20.0 

27.0 

51.9 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Missing data combined with other size groups to avoid disclosing individual operations. 

3

 Individual State estimates not available for the 20 Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 25 NASS, USDA 

Milk Production: Percent of Production by Size Group, Selected 

States, and United States, 2007 1 2

State 1-29 

Head 

30-49 

Head 

50-99 

Head 

100-199 

Head 

200-499 

Head 

500+ 

Head 

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent 

AZ 

CA 

CO 

FL 

GA 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

MD 

MI 

MN 

MO 

NM 

NY 

NC 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VT 

VA 

WA 

WI 

Oth Sts3

US 

0.1 

0.6 

0.4 

1.7 

0.1 

2.6 

3.7 

3.1 

1.3 

7.0 

1.5 

1.5 

2.3 

7.0 

0.1 

1.5 

1.0 

3.0 

3.0 

0.5 

2.0 

1.5 

3.5 

0.2 

0.4 

1.4 

2.0 

0.4 

2.0 

1.4 

1.3 

0.5 

1.1 

0.2 

5.9 

6.3 

6.4 

2.5 

13.0 

6.5 

3.0 

7.7 

9.0 

5.5 

1.0 

9.0 

2.0 

0.5 

14.0 

3.5 

4.5 

0.1 

0.4 

4.6 

3.0 

0.2 

9.0 

3.6 

4.0 

0.2 

0.6 

0.6 

3.2 

0.9 

23.0 

14.0 

19.0 

8.2 

25.0 

23.0 

8.0 

28.0 

27.0 

16.0 

11.0 

25.0 

10.0 

2.0 

35.0 

11.0 

22.0 

0.7 

3.2 

16.0 

16.0 

1.6 

27.0 

16.0 

12.0 

0.2 

0.5 

1.9 

0.8 

20.0 

1.7 

28.0 

15.0 

20.5 

9.0 

32.0 

31.0 

17.5 

23.0 

28.0 

0.2 

18.0 

23.0 

20.0 

19.0 

10.0 

23.0 

11.0 

37.0 

4.5 

13.0 

18.0 

39.0 

4.8 

18.0 

22.0 

12.0 

1.3 

7.2 

9.4 

8.2 

24.0 

5.6 

24.5 

12.0 

16.0 

7.0 

13.0 

22.0 

22.0 

18.0 

12.0 

0.7 

19.0 

27.0 

18.0 

12.0 

22.0 

14.0 

16.0 

23.0 

10.5 

21.0 

23.0 

27.0 

16.0 

20.0 

25.0 

13.7 

98.5 

92.0 

87.0 

90.0 

50.0 

91.5 

16.0 

49.0 

35.0 

72.0 

10.0 

16.0 

48.0 

21.0 

17.0 

99.0 

40.0 

37.0 

25.0 

54.0 

65.0 

12.0 

57.0 

10.0 

84.0 

62.0 

37.0 

13.0 

77.0 

24.0 

32.0 

57.0 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Missing data combined with other size groups to avoid disclosing individual operations. 

3

 Individual State estimates not available for the 20 Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 26 NASS, USDA 

Livestock Operations: Number of Operations with Hogs, Sheep, Goats 

by State, United States, and Puerto Rico, 2007 1

State Hogs Sheep Angora 

Goats 

Milk 

Goats 

Meat & Other 

Goats 

All 

Goats 

Number Number Number Number Number Number 

AL 

AK 

AZ 

AR 

CA 

CO 

CT 

DE 

FL 

GA 

HI 

ID 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

KY 

LA 

ME 

MD 

MA 

MI 

MN 

MS 

MO 

MT 

NE 

NV 

N. ENG2

NH 

NJ 

NM 

NY 

NC 

ND 

OH 

OK 

OR 

PA 

RI 

SC 

SD 

TN 

TX 

UT 

VT 

VA 

WA 

WV 

WI 

WY 

Oth Sts3

US 

PR 

750 

40 

380 

1,100 

1,400 

1,200 

240 

80 

1,900 

1,100 

230 

660 

2,900 

3,400 

8,300 

1,500 

1,500 

720 

440 

410 

450 

2,700 

4,400 

680 

3,000 

490 

2,200 

90 

270 

270 

400 

1,900 

2,800 

350 

3,700 

2,700 

1,300 

3,600 

100 

810 

960 

1,500 

4,500 

610 

250 

1,200 

1,500 

1,000 

3,200 

270 

75,450 

1,500 

5,000 

4,100 

1,600 

1,200 

1,900 

2,000 

3,500 

1,200 

1,400 

800 

2,300 

2,500 

2,200 

1,500 

1,300 

250 

3,000 

2,900 

1,800 

1,300 

680 

3,400 

1,900 

3,200 

3,800 

1,700 

1,300 

8,700 

1,600 

2,100 

2,400 

1,300 

2,800 

900 

5,600 

83,130 

600 

60 

1,500 

260 

180 

50 

110 

60 

50 

60 

80 

50 

130 

60 

150 

100 

40 

100 

90 

50 

270 

80 

740 

150 

180 

160 

100 

250 

230 

80 

20 

60 

780 

130 

160 

200 

180 

40 

200 

7,190 

450 

270 

480 

1,400 

780 

780 

450 

380 

620 

1,000 

650 

480 

750 

170 

280 

1,100 

620 

250 

950 

240 

260 

1,200 

230 

250 

1,100 

790 

1,200 

850 

900 

1,300 

320 

180 

590 

2,100 

230 

620 

1,100 

440 

1,100 

240 

300 

27,400 

3,800 

1,700 

2,600 

4,000 

2,200 

3,600 

4,000 

280 

1,100 

2,000 

2,700 

1,800 

1,700 

4,800 

1,500 

980 

2,400 

1,600 

1,600 

3,800 

510 

930 

270 

1,900 

870 

1,500 

2,000 

5,100 

210 

4,100 

5,200 

2,500 

3,800 

2,800 

450 

6,500 

24,800 

840 

3,400 

2,500 

1,900 

2,300 

490 

170 

123,200 

4,100 

3,400 

2,800 

5,000 

2,700 

4,100 

4,300 

330 

1,300 

2,500 

3,400 

2,300 

2,000 

5,300 

1,600 

1,200 

3,000 

2,000 

1,800 

4,500 

730 

1,100 

320 

2,900 

1,100 

2,300 

2,700 

5,600 

280 

4,900 

5,700 

3,200 

4,800 

3,000 

590 

6,800 

26,400 

1,100 

4,000 

3,200 

2,100 

3,200 

640 

220 

144,510 

1

 Revised. 

2

 N ENG includes CT, ME, MA, NH, RI and VT. 

3

 Individual State estimates not available for States not shown, but are included in Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 27 NASS, USDA 

Hogs and Pigs: Number of Operations by Size Group, Selected 

States and United States, 2007 1

State 1-99 

Head 

100-499 

Head 

500-999 

Head 

1,000-1,999 

Head 

2,000-4,999 

Head 

5,000+ 

Head 

Number Number Number Number Number Number 

AR 

CO 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

MI 

MN 

MO 

NE 

NC 

OH 

OK 

PA 

SD 

TX 

WI 

Oth Sts2

US 

960 

1,130 

1,200 

1,800 

1,300 

1,000 

2,150 

1,500 

2,000 

690 

1,100 

2,700 

2,550 

2,900 

380 

4,390 

2,700 

21,995 

52,445 

14 

35 

540 

530 

1,800 

230 

240 

680 

450 

630 

80 

340 

40 

230 

220 

80 

290 

650 

7,079 

40 

5 

280 

320 

1,200 

80 

100 

460 

150 

320 

40 

140 

15 

110 

100 

10 

90 

160 

3,620 

45 

3 

300 

260 

1,300 

60 

70 

530 

130 

260 

440 

180 

30 

160 

70 

5 

70 

135 

4,048 

35 

12 

370 

320 

1,900 

70 

100 

880 

180 

200 

530 

270 

25 

160 

100 

5 

40 

200 

5,397 

6 

15 

210 

170 

800 

60 

40 

350 

90 

100 

610 

70 

40 

40 

90 

10 

10 

150 

2,861 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Individual State estimates not available for the 33 Other States. 

Hogs and Pigs: Percent of Inventory by Size Group, Selected 

States and United States, 2007 1

State 1-99 

Head 

100-499 

Head 

500-999 

Head 

1,000-1,999 

Head 

2,000-4,999 

Head 

5,000+ 

Head 

Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent 

AR 

CO 

IL 

IN 

IA 

KS 

MI 

MN 

MO 

NE 

NC 

OH 

OK 

PA 

SD 

TX 

WI 

Oth Sts2

US 

3.1 

1.3 

0.6 

0.9 

0.2 

1.0 

2.7 

0.4 

1.1 

0.5 

0.1 

1.9 

0.9 

2.7 

0.6 

2.6 

9.0 

5.2 

0.9 

1.3 

0.7 

3.3 

3.9 

2.7 

2.7 

5.5 

2.4 

3.4 

5.2 

0.2 

4.7 

0.4 

5.0 

3.6 

1.5 

15.0 

3.6 

2.7 

11.0 

0.5 

4.4 

5.7 

4.2 

2.7 

7.2 

4.2 

3.4 

6.8 

0.3 

5.4 

0.5 

6.8 

4.8 

0.6 

14.0 

2.9 

3.7 

21.6 

0.4 

9.7 

9.5 

8.9 

3.9 

8.6 

9.5 

5.6 

11.0 

6.9 

14.0 

1.7 

19.0 

6.0 

0.6 

20.0 

4.5 

8.2 

35.9 

4.1 

27.0 

28.0 

30.0 

9.7 

30.0 

34.0 

17.0 

19.0 

17.5 

41.0 

3.5 

42.0 

20.0 

1.2 

26.0 

17.0 

24.4 

27.1 

93.0 

55.0 

52.0 

54.0 

80.0 

46.0 

49.5 

69.5 

57.5 

75.0 

33.0 

93.0 

24.5 

65.0 

93.5 

16.0 

66.8 

60.1 

1

 Revised. 

2

 Individual State estimates not available for the 33 Other States. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 28 NASS, USDA 

Reliability of Farm Numbers and Land in Farms Data in this Report 

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. A sample of segments is selected in each State 

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 summary indications 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 regional and 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 regional and national estimates and ensures that state estimates are in balance with the 

Regional and 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 affects the 

level of the estimate. Historical publication statistical bulletin, NASS-SB1018 (04), with revisions for 2003-2007 

will be published February 27, 2009. 

Reliability: Two types of errors, sampling and nonsampling, 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. The relative sampling error for the U.S. number 

of farms and land in farms is 1.3 and 1.8 percent respectively. The sampling error for total number of farms and 

total land in farms is less than the sampling error for each component of the total, such as number of farms by 

economic sales class. Relative sampling errors by economic sales class generally ranged from 1.9 to 2.4 percent 

for number of farms and 2.9 to 7.4 percent for land in farms at the U.S. level. 

Nonsampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as sample surveys. They are caused by the inability 

to obtain correct information from each person 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 

nonsampling errors. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 29 NASS, USDA 

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), or other 

government 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 the Conservation Reserve, Wetlands Reserve Programs, or other 

government 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 non-Native 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. 

A cattle operation is any place having one or more head of cattle on hand on December 31. 

A beef cow operation is any place having one or more head of beef cows on hand on December 31. 

A milk cow operation is any place having one or more head of milk cows on hand on December 31. 

A hogs and pigs operation is any place having one or more hog or pig on hand on December 31. 

A sheep and lamb operation is any place having one or more head of sheep or lambs on hand on December 31. 

A goat and kid operation is any place having one or more head of goats or kids on hand on December 31. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 30 NASS, USDA 

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 

Agricultural 

Products 

(Produced)

Value of Sales of 

Agricultural Products

Required some 

Agricultural 

Operations

Apiaries and Fur 

Farms 

Enumerated

1974 - Present - - - - $1,000 or more - - - - 

1959 Less than 10 

10 or more 

- - 

- - 

$250 or more 

$50 or more 

- - 

- - 

- - 

- - 

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. 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. 

Agricultural Census Publications: The U. S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics 

Service (NASS) released several products from the 2007 Census of Agriculture on February 4, 2009. The Census 

is the leading source of statistics about the Nation’s agricultural production and the only source of consistent, 

comparable data at the county, State, and national levels. The Census includes all places from which $1,000 or 

more of agricultural products, including government payments, were produced and sold, or normally would have 

been sold, during the census year. Census publications also include demographic items such as sex of operator, 

residence on or off the farm, days worked off farm, years present on farm, age group categories, race, and number 

of persons living in each household. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 31 NASS, USDA 

Special Note Regarding the 2007 Estimates 

Census: The Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations publication is produced annually. The purpose of this 

publication is to provide annual estimates of Farms, Land in Farms, and Operations with Livestock. It also provides revisions,

as necessary, to previous year estimates. The Census of Agriculture, conducted every five years provides a base from which 

the annual surveys measure the change from that base. At the end of the next five year cycle, the annual estimates are revised

based on inter-census trends. 

The 2007 Census of Agriculture showed a significant increase in the number of farms, and reversed the downward trend that 

was shown in the annual estimates of Farm Numbers since the 2002 Census of Agriculture. NASS believes that some of the 

increase is due to methodological changes that allowed NASS to more accurately count small farms in the 2007 Census. This 

is discussed in more detail below. 

Methodological Discussion: Each year NASS conducts the June Area Frame Survey (AFS) to provide an estimate of the 

number of farms and the land in farms. The exception is Alaska, which does not have an area frame and uses a list survey 

instead. The area frame is stratified by land use. A sample of approximately 11,000 segments of land (each approximately 

one square mile in size) is selected, and field enumerators visit each sampled segment to identify agricultural activity within

the segment. The AFS is assumed to provide complete coverage of the universe of farm and ranch operations because the 

area-based frame covers all land in the U.S. 

In preparation for the census of agriculture, NASS builds the Census Mail List (CML) consisting of all known farms and 

potential farms. In addition, NASS uses the area frame sample to measure and account for the incompleteness of the CML in 

a dual-frame estimation procedure. This dual-frame estimation procedure assumes complete coverage of the universe of farm 

and ranch operations because the undercoverage of the CML is accounted for through the area frame sample. 

Results from the 2002 Census of Agriculture indicated undercoverage of farms in the lowest value of sales categories. This 

category includes a high concentration of disadvantaged and minority farm operators. In preparation for the 2007 Census, 

NASS exerted more extensive efforts than in previous censuses to build a comprehensive list. Additionally, NASS worked 

with several community based organizations and producer groups to enhance awareness, to increase response, and to improve 

coverage of these types of farms. This resulted in a 2007 CML with 3,194,373 records as compared with 2,841,788 in 2002. 

Additionally, NASS augmented the area frame sample with segments that were located in areas where small and minority 

operated farms were likely to be located. 

The 2007 Census of Agriculture produced a greater number of farms in the lowest value of sales categories. The extensive 

list building efforts and the augmentation of the area frame sample allowed NASS to capture more of the small farms with 

less than $10,000 in value of agricultural sales. Additionally, 2007 was a year of relatively high commodity prices. As the 

value of farm commodities increased, more very small operations are able to meet the $1,000 value of sales threshold to 

qualify as a farm in the census. 

After the 2007 Census of Agriculture NASS conducted a classification error research study for the census in five states. The 

study used data from the 2007 AFS and the 2007 census to examine whether there were farms incorrectly classified as 

nonfarms, and whether there were any nonfarms incorrectly classified as farms. Records in the 2007 AFS were matched to 

the 2007 census using probabilistic record linkage. Records whose farm status differed in the two data collections were 

interviewed to determine which data source was correct. 

Results of the study showed that where there were discrepancies in farm status between the two reports, the census data was 

more often correct than the AFS data. Some AFS farms had not been correctly classified by the enumeration and processing 

procedures. These results challenged the NASS assumption made for its annual estimates that all farms are captured using 

the AFS estimation procedures. This assumption had been made on the basis of the completeness of the frame, the high 

quality of the personal enumeration mode utilized for the data collection, and the extensive training of field enumerators 

collecting the data. However, the more extensive census procedures using dual-frame estimation produced a larger farm 

count than the AFS estimation. This result and the results of the research study provided evidence that the AFS procedure is 

underestimating the number of farms. Because the AFS estimate is the major indicator for producing annual farm number 

estimates, it is likely these farms were also underestimated in the non census years. 

The 2008 and the revised 2007 farm number estimates reflect adjustments in the number of farms based on estimates 

produced by the 2007 Census of Agriculture. NASS has launched a research initiative to address the methodological issues 

discussed above. 
 

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2008 Summary Agricultural Statistics Board 

February 2009 32 NASS, USDA 

Information Contacts 

Questions about the data in this report should be directed to the commodity specialists listed below. 

Farm Numbers and Land in Farms 

Kevin Barnes, Chief, Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch............................. (202) 720-6146 

Kevin Hintzman, Head, Economics Section.................................................................................. (202) 720-6146 

 Scott Shimmin- Farm Numbers and Land in Farms ........................................................ (202) 690-3231 

Livestock Operations 

Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch......................................................................................... (202) 720-3570 

 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ............................................................................. (202) 720-3570 

 Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs ............................................................................................. (202) 720-3106 

 Jim Collom - Dairy Products ........................................................................................... (202) 690-3236 

 Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices ................................................................................. (202) 690-2168 

 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows............................................................... (202) 720-3278 

 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ........................................................................ (515) 284-4340 

 Everett Olbert - Sheep & Lambs, Goats & Kids.............................................................. (202) 720-4751 

 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed......................................................................... (202) 720-3040 

 
 

 

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20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 
 

 

 

 

Global Agriculture & Rural America 

in Transition 

Food & Energy: Expectations & Realities 

February 26-27, 2009 

Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel 

Arlington, Virginia 

www.usda.gov/oce/forum 

Early Bird Registration $350 until January 23, 2009 * $375 after January 23 

Topical Sessions Will Address: 

*Commodity Markets *Rural America 

*Trade & Farm Policy *Food Safety & Food Security 

*Conservation *Energy 

 *Risk Management *Biotechnology 

 *Food Prices *World Markets