United States

Department of

Agriculture

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

ISSN: 1930-7128

Farms, Land in Farms,

and Livestock Operations

2011 Summary

February 2012

Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 3

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Contents

2011 Number of Farms and Land in Farms Highlights .......................................................................................................... 4

2011 Livestock Operations Highlights ................................................................................................................................... 5

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2010 and 2011........................................................................ 6

Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2010 and 2011 ..................................................................... 6

Farms and Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class – United States: 2011........................................................................... 7 

Number of Farms and Average Farm Size – United States: 1995-2011................................................................................. 7

Point Farms, Percent of Total – United States: 2002-2011..................................................................................................... 8

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – United States: 2002-2011....................................................... 8

Percent of Farms and Land in Farms and the Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class – United States: 

2010 and 2011......................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – States and United States: 2010 and 2011............................... 9

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011...................................... 10

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011 ........................................... 14

Number of Cattle and Calves, Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group – United States: 

2010 and 2011....................................................................................................................................................................... 18

Number of Milk Cow Operations, Percent of Inventory, and Percent of Milk Production by Size Group –

United States: 2010 and 2011 ............................................................................................................................................... 18

Number of Hog and Pig Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group – United States: 2010 and 2011.................. 19

Number of Hog and Pig Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group, Based on Ownership –

United States: 2010 and 2011 ............................................................................................................................................... 19

Number of Sheep and Goat Operations – United States: 2010 and 2011 ............................................................................. 19

Breeding Sheep, Survey Percent by Size Group – United States: 2010 and 2011................................................................ 19

Statistical Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................... 20

Terms and Definitions .......................................................................................................................................................... 21

Farm Definition History........................................................................................................................................................ 22

Special Note Regarding 2007 Estimates............................................................................................................................... 23

Information Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................ 25
4 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

2011 Number of Farms and Land in Farms Highlights

The number of farms in the United States in 2011 is estimated at 2.2 million, down slightly from 2010. Total land in 

farms, at 917 million acres, decreased 1.85 million acres from 2010. The average farm size is 420 acres, up 1 acre from 

the previous year. 

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 increased slightly in the $10,000-$99,999, $250,000-$499,999, and $500,000 and over sales classes. 

Higher commodity prices and larger value of sales contributed to changes in the number of farms within these sales 

classes. Farm numbers increased 1.3 percent, to slightly over 600,000 farms in the $10,000 - $99,999 sales class and 1.9 

percent in the $250,000 - $499,999 sales class to over 100,000 farms. Meanwhile, the number of farms in the $500,000 

and over sales class increased by 5.9 percent, to 133,570 farms. 

Land in farms increased in the largest sales class while decreasing in all other sales classes. Land operated by farms in 

the $500,000 & over in sales class increased 2.5 percent, to 305.7 million acres. Land operated by farms in both $1,000-

$9,999 and $100,000-$249,999 sales classes decreased by 3.5 percent, to 100.7 million acres and 138.7 million acres 

respectively. 

The average farm size increased 1 acre in 2011 to 420 acres per farm. However, average farm sizes declined in some of

the sales classes partially due to smaller farms moving up to higher sales classes.
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 5

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

2011 Livestock Operations Highlights

The number of operations with cattle totaled 922,000 for 2011, down 1 percent from 2010. Beef cow operations in 

2011, at 734,000, were also down 1 percent from last year. The number of milk cow operations for 2011 totaled 60,000, 

down 4 percent from 2010.

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 69,100 for 2011, unchanged from 2010. Places with 2,000 or more head 

accounted for 87 percent of the inventory.

The number of operations with sheep totaled 80,000 for 2011, down 1 percent from 2010. Of all sheep operations that 

include breeding sheep, 93.5 percent were comprised of 1-99 head, 5.4 percent had 100-499 head, and the remaining 1.1 

percent were operations with 500 head or more. Operations with 1-99 head account for 35.9 percent of the inventory, 100-

499 head account for 21.1 percent of the inventory, and 500+ head account for 43.0 percent of the inventory.

The number of operations with goats totaled 151,000 for 2011, down 1 percent from a year earlier. Angora goat 

operations totaled 5,500, down 8 percent from 2010. Milk goat operations totaled 31,000, unchanged from 2010. Meat 

goat operations totaled 124,000, down 3 percent from a year earlier. Total goat operations will be equal to or less than the 

sum of angora, milk and meat goat operations since places which own more than one goat type count as only one 

operation.
6 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

<$10,000 $10,000-$99,999 $100,000-$249,999 $250,000-$499,999 $500,000+

Thousands of farms

Economic Sales Class

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class –

United States: 2010 and 2011

2010 2011

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

<$10,000 $10,000-$99,999 $100,000-$249,999 $250,000-$499,999 $500,000+

Acres

Economic Sales Class

Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class –

United States: 2010 and 2011

2010 2011
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 7

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

<$10,000 $10,000-$99,999 $100,000-$249,999 $250,000-$499,999 $500,000+

Percent of total

Economic Sales Class

Farms and Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class –

United States: 2011

Number of farms Land in farms

410

415

420

425

430

435

440

445

2.05

2.10

2.15

2.20

2.25

2.30

2.35

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

Millions of farms Average farm size

Year

Number of Farms and Average Farm Size –

United States: 1995-2011

Number of farms

Average farm size
8 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Point Farms, Percent of Total – United States: 2002-2011

Year Farms Land

(percent) (percent)

2002 ...........................................................................................................

2003 ...........................................................................................................

2004 ...........................................................................................................

2005 ...........................................................................................................

2006 ...........................................................................................................

2007 ...........................................................................................................

2008 ...........................................................................................................

2009 ...........................................................................................................

2010 ...........................................................................................................

2011 ...........................................................................................................

19.0

18.0

17.0

18.0

19.0

22.0

17.0

18.0

19.0

19.0

3.0

3.0

2.5

2.5

2.7

3.0

2.8

2.9

3.0

3.0

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – United States: 2002-2011

Year Number

of farms

Land

in farms

Average

farm size

(number) (1,000 acres) (acres)

2002 ...............................................

2003 ...............................................

2004 ...............................................

2005 ...............................................

2006 ...............................................

2007 ...............................................

2008 ...............................................

2009 ...............................................

2010 ...............................................

2011 ...............................................

2,135,360

2,126,860

2,112,970

2,098,690

2,088,790

2,204,950

2,200,100

2,200,210

2,192,000

2,181,000

940,300

936,750

932,260

927,940

925,790

921,460

919,910

919,890

918,840

916,990

440

440

441

442

443

418

418

418

419

420

Percent of Farms and Land in Farms and the Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class –

United States: 2010 and 2011

Economic sales class

Percent of total

Average farm size

Farms Land in farms

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (acres) (acres)

$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 ...............................................

27.3

14.9

13.7

12.2

8.0

6.8

6.8

4.5

3.5

2.3

100.0

27.0

14.5

13.5

12.0

8.3

7.2

6.7

4.6

3.7

2.5

100.0

3.6

3.6

4.2

6.9

7.3

10.1

15.9

15.9

16.0

16.5

100.0

3.5

3.5

4.0

6.8

7.3

10.4

15.1

16.0

16.4

17.0

100.0

55

101

128

236

381

620

980

1,481

1,916

3,007

419

54

101

124

238

370

608

951

1,468

1,871

2,870

420
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 9

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size – States and United States: 2010 and 2011

State

Number of farms Land in farms Average farm size

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(number) (number) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (acres) (acres)

Alabama ..........................

Alaska .............................

Arizona ............................

Arkansas .........................

California .........................

Colorado ..........................

Connecticut .....................

Delaware .........................

Florida .............................

Georgia ...........................

Hawaii .............................

Idaho ...............................

Illinois ..............................

Indiana ............................

Iowa .................................

Kansas ............................

Kentucky ..........................

Louisiana .........................

Maine ..............................

Maryland ..........................

Massachusetts .................

Michigan ..........................

Minnesota ........................

Mississippi .......................

Missouri ...........................

Montana ..........................

Nebraska .........................

Nevada ............................

New Hampshire ...............

New Jersey ......................

New Mexico .....................

New York .........................

North Carolina .................

North Dakota ...................

Ohio .................................

Oklahoma ........................

Oregon ............................

Pennsylvania ...................

Rhode Island ...................

South Carolina .................

South Dakota ...................

Tennessee .......................

Texas ..............................

Utah .................................

Vermont ...........................

Virginia ............................

Washington .....................

West Virginia ...................

Wisconsin ........................

Wyoming .........................

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

48,200

680

15,500

48,700

81,500

36,400

4,900

2,500

47,500

47,400

7,500

25,200

75,400

62,000

92,400

65,500

85,500

29,500

8,100

12,800

7,700

54,900

80,500

42,400

107,300

29,400

47,200

3,050

4,150

10,300

21,700

36,300

51,400

31,900

74,300

86,000

38,500

62,700

1,220

26,800

31,500

78,000

246,300

16,600

7,000

46,700

39,500

23,000

77,500

11,000

2,192,000

47,500

680

15,500

48,300

81,500

36,700

4,900

2,500

47,500

47,000

7,500

24,700

74,600

62,000

92,300

65,500

85,300

29,000

8,100

12,800

7,700

54,900

79,800

42,400

106,500

29,300

46,800

2,950

4,150

10,300

23,000

36,000

50,400

31,900

73,700

85,500

38,300

62,200

1,220

26,500

31,300

77,300

245,000

16,600

7,000

46,400

39,500

22,500

77,000

11,000

2,181,000

9,000

880

26,100

13,600

25,400

31,300

400

490

9,250

10,300

1,110

11,400

26,700

14,800

30,800

46,100

14,000

8,000

1,350

2,050

520

10,000

26,900

11,150

29,000

60,600

45,600

5,900

470

730

43,300

7,000

8,600

39,600

13,700

34,900

16,350

7,700

70

4,900

43,700

10,850

130,200

11,100

1,220

8,000

14,800

3,650

15,100

30,200

918,840

8,950

880

26,100

13,500

25,400

31,300

400

490

9,250

10,300

1,110

11,400

26,600

14,700

30,700

46,000

14,000

7,950

1,350

2,050

520

10,000

26,850

11,150

28,900

60,500

45,500

5,850

470

730

43,400

7,000

8,500

39,600

13,600

34,700

16,300

7,650

70

4,900

43,650

10,800

130,000

11,100

1,220

7,950

14,800

3,650

15,000

30,200

916,990

187

1,294

1,684

279

312

860

82

196

195

217

148

452

354

239

333

704

164

271

167

160

68

182

334

263

270

2,061

966

1,934

113

71

1,995

193

167

1,241

184

406

425

123

57

183

1,387

139

529

669

174

171

375

159

195

2,745

419

188

1,294

1,684

280

312

853

82

196

195

219

148

462

357

237

333

702

164

274

167

160

68

182

336

263

271

2,065

972

1,983

113

71

1,887

194

169

1,241

185

406

426

123

57

185

1,395

140

531

669

174

171

375

162

195

2,745

420
10 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011

Region and state

Economic sales class

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

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(number) (number) (number) (number) (number) (number)

Northeast

 Connecticut ...............................

 Maine ........................................

 Massachusetts ..........................

 New Hampshire ........................

 New Jersey ...............................

 New York ..................................

 Pennsylvania .............................

 Rhode Island .............................

 Vermont ....................................

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

 Total ..........................................

North Central

 Illinois ........................................

 Indiana ......................................

 Iowa ..........................................

 Kansas ......................................

 Michigan ...................................

 Minnesota .................................

 Missouri ....................................

 Nebraska ..................................

 North Dakota .............................

 Ohio ..........................................

 South Dakota ............................

 Wisconsin .................................

 Total ..........................................

3,050

5,300

4,800

2,900

6,700

19,000

37,000

750

4,000

(X)

83,500

33,000

33,700

30,200

28,000

32,200

36,500

58,300

11,500

10,500

40,200

9,200

38,800

362,100

3,050

5,300

4,800

2,900

6,700

18,900

35,800

750

4,000

(X)

82,200

31,300

33,000

30,000

28,000

32,300

35,500

56,300

10,000

10,200

38,700

9,000

37,500

351,800

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

10,700

15,500

(NA)

(NA)

10,950

37,150

17,100

15,200

28,500

22,500

14,400

21,500

36,800

12,900

9,200

22,300

9,900

20,500

230,800

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

10,800

15,700

(NA)

(NA)

11,050

37,550

16,600

15,500

28,400

22,300

14,000

21,300

37,900

13,600

9,400

22,700

9,800

20,400

231,900

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

3,400

5,300

(NA)

(NA)

2,270

10,970

8,300

5,300

14,300

6,700

3,500

9,200

5,500

9,000

4,600

5,300

4,800

8,800

85,300

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

3,200

5,200

(NA)

(NA)

2,220

10,620

8,200

5,000

14,400

6,700

3,700

8,900

5,300

8,200

3,800

5,000

4,800

9,300

83,300

See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 11

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 

2010 and 2011 (continued)

Region and state

Economic sales class

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

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(number) (number) (number) (number) (number) (number)

South

 Alabama ...................................

 Arkansas ..................................

 Delaware ..................................

 Florida ......................................

 Georgia .....................................

 Kentucky ...................................

 Louisiana ..................................

 Maryland ...................................

 Mississippi ................................

 North Carolina ..........................

 Oklahoma .................................

 South Carolina ..........................

 Tennessee ................................

 Texas ........................................

 Virginia .....................................

 West Virginia ............................

 Other States 2...........................

 Total .........................................

West

 Alaska .......................................

 Arizona .....................................

 California ..................................

 Colorado ...................................

 Hawaii .......................................

 Idaho ........................................

 Montana ...................................

 Nevada .....................................

 New Mexico ..............................

 Oregon .....................................

 Utah ..........................................

 Washington ...............................

 Wyoming ..................................

 Other States 3...........................

 Total .........................................

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

31,200

26,900

1,000

29,500

29,700

55,300

18,400

7,100

27,700

31,900

51,000

19,200

55,400

169,900

30,000

18,400

(X)

602,600

350

12,000

35,500

19,600

4,600

13,400

13,100

1,650

14,500

24,400

10,200

24,500

5,200

(X)

179,000

1,227,200

28,400

26,600

1,000

29,600

28,700

54,400

18,100

7,100

27,700

30,800

50,000

18,100

54,600

165,200

29,500

17,700

(X)

587,500

350

12,000

35,600

19,800

4,600

11,400

13,400

1,600

15,300

24,600

10,200

25,000

5,200

(X)

179,050

1,200,550

12,000

13,400

(NA)

12,600

10,000

24,000

7,700

(NA)

10,000

11,300

27,700

5,500

18,500

59,000

13,200

(NA)

7,730

232,630

(NA)

(NA)

26,700

11,400

(NA)

7,200

9,300

(NA)

5,400

9,200

4,750

8,800

(NA)

9,090

91,840

592,420

14,300

13,300

(NA)

12,400

10,300

24,400

7,600

(NA)

10,000

11,600

28,400

6,200

18,200

62,000

12,800

(NA)

7,830

239,330

(NA)

(NA)

26,300

11,400

(NA)

8,200

9,000

(NA)

5,800

8,700

4,700

8,400

(NA)

9,070

91,570

600,350

1,300

1,500

(NA)

2,200

2,300

2,800

1,100

(NA)

1,000

1,900

3,400

500

1,600

6,900

1,300

(NA)

1,230

29,030

(NA)

(NA)

6,500

2,600

(NA)

1,700

3,400

(NA)

840

2,100

840

1,900

(NA)

2,110

21,990

147,290

1,100

1,500

(NA)

2,300

2,400

3,100

1,000

(NA)

1,000

1,800

3,300

700

1,800

6,800

1,400

(NA)

1,280

29,480

(NA)

(NA)

6,600

2,700

(NA)

2,000

3,200

(NA)

900

2,000

850

1,900

(NA)

2,090

22,240

145,640

See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued
12 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011 

(continued)

Region and state

Economic sales class

$250,000-$499,999 $500,000 and over Total

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(number) (number) (number) (number) (number) (number)

Northeast

 Connecticut ...............................

 Maine ........................................

 Massachusetts ..........................

 New Hampshire ........................

 New Jersey ...............................

 New York ..................................

 Pennsylvania .............................

 Rhode Island .............................

 Vermont ....................................

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

 Total ..........................................

North Central

 Illinois ........................................

 Indiana ......................................

 Iowa ..........................................

 Kansas ......................................

 Michigan ...................................

 Minnesota .................................

 Missouri ....................................

 Nebraska ..................................

 North Dakota .............................

 Ohio ..........................................

 South Dakota ............................

 Wisconsin .................................

 Total ..........................................

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,450

2,600

(NA)

(NA)

1,270

5,320

8,000

3,300

9,600

3,900

2,200

6,600

2,900

6,300

3,700

3,400

4,200

5,500

59,600

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,300

2,900

(NA)

(NA)

1,220

5,420

8,300

3,600

9,500

3,900

2,200

7,000

2,900

6,000

3,900

3,900

4,100

5,500

60,800

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,750

2,300

(NA)

(NA)

1,380

5,430

9,000

4,500

9,800

4,400

2,600

6,700

3,800

7,500

3,900

3,100

3,400

3,900

62,600

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,800

2,600

(NA)

(NA)

1,380

5,780

10,200

4,900

10,000

4,600

2,700

7,100

4,100

9,000

4,600

3,400

3,600

4,300

68,500

4,900

8,100

7,700

4,150

10,300

36,300

62,700

1,220

7,000

(X)

142,370

75,400

62,000

92,400

65,500

54,900

80,500

107,300

47,200

31,900

74,300

31,500

77,500

800,400

4,900

8,100

7,700

4,150

10,300

36,000

62,200

1,220

7,000

(X)

141,570

74,600

62,000

92,300

65,500

54,900

79,800

106,500

46,800

31,900

73,700

31,300

77,000

796,300

See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 13

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011 

(continued)

Region and state

Economic sales class

$250,000-$499,999 $500,000 and over Total

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(number) (number) (number) (number) (number) (number)

South

 Alabama ...................................

 Arkansas ..................................

 Delaware ..................................

 Florida ......................................

 Georgia .....................................

 Kentucky ...................................

 Louisiana ..................................

 Maryland ...................................

 Mississippi ................................

 North Carolina ..........................

 Oklahoma .................................

 South Carolina ..........................

 Tennessee ................................

 Texas ........................................

 Virginia .....................................

 West Virginia ............................

 Other States 2...........................

 Total .........................................

West

 Alaska .......................................

 Arizona .....................................

 California ..................................

 Colorado ...................................

 Hawaii .......................................

 Idaho ........................................

 Montana ...................................

 Nevada .....................................

 New Mexico ..............................

 Oregon .....................................

 Utah ..........................................

 Washington ...............................

 Wyoming ..................................

 Other States 3...........................

 Total .........................................

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

1,400

2,000

(NA)

1,100

1,600

1,500

800

(NA)

900

2,400

1,850

400

1,050

4,200

900

(NA)

870

20,970

(NA)

(NA)

3,900

1,200

(NA)

1,100

2,200

(NA)

400

1,000

350

1,700

(NA)

1,240

13,090

98,980

1,300

2,000

(NA)

1,100

1,500

1,500

900

(NA)

900

2,300

1,800

400

1,200

4,200

1,200

(NA)

890

21,190

(NA)

(NA)

3,900

1,200

(NA)

1,200

2,400

(NA)

450

1,000

400

1,700

(NA)

1,230

13,480

100,890

2,300

4,900

(NA)

2,100

3,800

1,900

1,500

(NA)

2,800

3,900

2,050

1,200

1,450

6,300

1,300

(NA)

1,970

37,470

(NA)

(NA)

8,900

1,600

(NA)

1,800

1,400

(NA)

560

1,800

460

2,600

(NA)

1,490

20,610

126,110

2,400

4,900

(NA)

2,100

4,100

1,900

1,400

(NA)

2,800

3,900

2,000

1,100

1,500

6,800

1,500

(NA)

2,000

38,400

(NA)

(NA)

9,100

1,600

(NA)

1,900

1,300

(NA)

550

2,000

450

2,500

(NA)

1,490

20,890

133,570

48,200

48,700

2,500

47,500

47,400

85,500

29,500

12,800

42,400

51,400

86,000

26,800

78,000

246,300

46,700

23,000

(X)

922,700

680

15,500

81,500

36,400

7,500

25,200

29,400

3,050

21,700

38,500

16,600

39,500

11,000

(X)

326,530

2,192,000

47,500

48,300

2,500

47,500

47,000

85,300

29,000

12,800

42,400

50,400

85,500

26,500

77,300

245,000

46,400

22,500

(X)

915,900

680

15,500

81,500

36,700

7,500

24,700

29,300

2,950

23,000

38,300

16,600

39,500

11,000

(X)

327,230

2,181,000

(NA) Not available.

(X) Not applicable.

1 Other States includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

2 Other States includes Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia.

3 Other States includes Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Wyoming.
14 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011

Region and state

Economic sales class

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

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres)

Northeast ......................................

 Connecticut ...............................

 Maine ........................................

 Massachusetts ..........................

 New Hampshire ........................

 New Jersey ...............................

 New York ..................................

 Pennsylvania .............................

 Rhode Island .............................

 Vermont ....................................

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

 Total ..........................................

North Central ................................

 Illinois ........................................

 Indiana ......................................

 Iowa ..........................................

 Kansas ......................................

 Michigan ...................................

 Minnesota .................................

 Missouri ....................................

 Nebraska ..................................

 North Dakota .............................

 Ohio ..........................................

 South Dakota ............................

 Wisconsin .................................

 Total ..........................................

130

480

210

230

180

1,600

2,400

30

340

(X)

5,600

1,400

1,300

1,500

3,000

1,700

3,100

4,900

1,300

1,800

1,950

1,500

2,400

25,850

130

480

210

230

180

1,600

2,300

30

340

(X)

5,500

1,300

1,200

1,400

3,000

1,650

2,900

4,600

1,100

1,600

1,850

1,450

2,300

24,350

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,700

2,100

(NA)

(NA)

1,250

5,050

2,300

2,200

4,900

9,300

1,900

4,800

10,200

5,500

6,000

3,150

7,400

3,200

60,850

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,800

2,050

(NA)

(NA)

1,250

5,100

2,200

1,900

4,900

9,100

1,800

4,650

10,300

5,500

6,000

3,150

7,300

3,000

59,800

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,200

1,100

(NA)

(NA)

500

2,800

3,400

2,000

5,500

8,300

1,300

4,100

3,600

8,600

6,900

2,150

9,100

2,500

57,450

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,100

1,000

(NA)

(NA)

500

2,600

3,100

1,800

5,400

8,300

1,350

3,900

3,300

7,800

5,400

2,000

9,100

2,600

54,050

See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 15

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011 

(continued)

Region and state

Economic sales class

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

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres)

South ............................................

 Alabama ...................................

 Arkansas ..................................

 Delaware ..................................

 Florida ......................................

 Georgia .....................................

 Kentucky ...................................

 Louisiana ..................................

 Maryland ...................................

 Mississippi ................................

 North Carolina ..........................

 Oklahoma .................................

 South Carolina ..........................

 Tennessee ................................

 Texas ........................................

 Virginia .....................................

 West Virginia ............................

 Other States 2...........................

 Total .........................................

West .............................................

 Alaska .......................................

 Arizona .....................................

 California ..................................

 Colorado ...................................

 Hawaii .......................................

 Idaho ........................................

 Montana ...................................

 Nevada .....................................

 New Mexico ..............................

 Oregon .....................................

 Utah ..........................................

 Washington ...............................

 Wyoming ..................................

 Other States 3...........................

 Total .........................................

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

3,000

2,050

30

1,400

2,900

4,400

1,400

400

3,450

2,000

6,100

1,700

3,800

19,100

2,250

1,900

(X)

55,880

270

750

1,800

2,600

80

1,000

2,300

200

3,100

1,600

850

1,200

1,300

(X)

17,050

104,380

2,650

2,000

30

1,400

2,750

4,350

1,400

400

3,450

1,900

6,000

1,550

3,700

18,200

2,100

1,800

(X)

53,680

270

750

1,800

2,700

80

800

2,400

200

3,100

1,600

850

1,300

1,300

(X)

17,150

100,680

3,100

3,250

(NA)

1,900

2,500

4,800

1,900

(NA)

2,700

1,600

12,500

1,300

3,600

43,500

3,000

(NA)

1,770

87,420

(NA)

(NA)

4,900

9,400

(NA)

2,500

11,800

(NA)

11,500

3,550

2,310

3,100

(NA)

22,750

71,810

225,130

3,550

3,200

(NA)

1,800

2,550

4,800

1,900

(NA)

2,700

1,700

12,800

1,450

3,450

44,500

2,750

(NA)

1,770

88,920

(NA)

(NA)

4,700

9,500

(NA)

2,500

11,500

(NA)

11,700

3,300

2,280

3,000

(NA)

22,750

71,230

225,050

800

1,000

(NA)

850

950

1,300

900

(NA)

950

800

5,500

300

800

16,000

800

(NA)

550

31,500

(NA)

(NA)

3,700

5,100

(NA)

1,900

14,700

(NA)

8,400

3,200

1,410

1,800

(NA)

11,750

51,960

143,710

650

1,000

(NA)

850

950

1,400

850

(NA)

950

750

5,350

400

900

15,500

850

(NA)

600

31,000

(NA)

(NA)

3,700

5,300

(NA)

1,900

14,300

(NA)

8,000

3,000

1,410

1,700

(NA)

11,770

51,080

138,730

See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued
16 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011 

(continued)

Region and state

Economic sales class

$250,000-$499,999 $500,000 and over Total

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres)

Northeast

 Connecticut ...............................

 Maine ........................................

 Massachusetts ..........................

 New Hampshire ........................

 New Jersey ...............................

 New York ..................................

 Pennsylvania .............................

 Rhode Island .............................

 Vermont ....................................

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

 Total ..........................................

North Central

 Illinois ........................................

 Indiana ......................................

 Iowa ..........................................

 Kansas ......................................

 Michigan ...................................

 Minnesota .................................

 Missouri ....................................

 Nebraska ..................................

 North Dakota .............................

 Ohio ..........................................

 South Dakota ............................

 Wisconsin .................................

 Total ..........................................

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

700

900

(NA)

(NA)

455

2,055

4,900

2,500

6,800

8,500

1,500

4,900

3,300

9,800

8,400

2,350

10,300

2,800

66,050

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

700

1,000

(NA)

(NA)

445

2,145

4,900

2,500

6,700

8,000

1,500

4,900

3,200

9,300

8,800

2,450

9,800

2,600

64,650

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,800

1,200

(NA)

(NA)

955

3,955

14,700

6,800

12,100

17,000

3,600

10,000

7,000

20,400

16,500

4,100

15,400

4,200

131,800

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

1,800

1,300

(NA)

(NA)

965

4,065

15,100

7,300

12,300

17,600

3,700

10,500

7,500

21,800

17,800

4,150

16,000

4,500

138,250

400

1,350

520

470

730

7,000

7,700

70

1,220

(X)

19,460

26,700

14,800

30,800

46,100

10,000

26,900

29,000

45,600

39,600

13,700

43,700

15,100

342,000

400

1,350

520

470

730

7,000

7,650

70

1,220

(X)

19,410

26,600

14,700

30,700

46,000

10,000

26,850

28,900

45,500

39,600

13,600

43,650

15,000

341,100

See footnote(s) at end of table. --continued
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 17

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class – Region, States, and United States: 2010 and 2011 

(continued)

Region and state

Economic sales class

$250,000-$499,999 $500,000 and over Total

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres) (1,000 acres)

South

 Alabama ...................................

 Arkansas ..................................

 Delaware ..................................

 Florida ......................................

 Georgia .....................................

 Kentucky ...................................

 Louisiana ..................................

 Maryland ...................................

 Mississippi ................................

 North Carolina ..........................

 Oklahoma .................................

 South Carolina ..........................

 Tennessee ................................

 Texas ........................................

 Virginia .....................................

 West Virginia ............................

 Other States 2...........................

 Total .........................................

West

 Alaska .......................................

 Arizona .....................................

 California ..................................

 Colorado ...................................

 Hawaii .......................................

 Idaho ........................................

 Montana ...................................

 Nevada .....................................

 New Mexico ..............................

 Oregon .....................................

 Utah ..........................................

 Washington ...............................

 Wyoming ..................................

 Other States 3...........................

 Total .........................................

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

700

1,400

(NA)

900

1,050

1,050

900

(NA)

950

1,200

4,500

400

900

18,600

650

(NA)

410

33,610

(NA)

(NA)

2,800

5,700

(NA)

1,100

13,500

(NA)

7,700

2,400

1,080

2,800

(NA)

8,500

45,580

147,295

650

1,400

(NA)

900

950

1,000

1,050

(NA)

950

1,150

4,400

400

950

17,300

850

(NA)

410

32,360

(NA)

(NA)

2,800

5,800

(NA)

1,100

14,500

(NA)

8,500

2,400

1,100

2,900

(NA)

8,550

47,650

146,805

1,400

5,900

(NA)

4,200

2,900

2,450

2,900

(NA)

3,100

3,000

6,300

1,200

1,750

33,000

1,300

(NA)

1,130

70,530

(NA)

(NA)

12,200

8,500

(NA)

4,900

18,300

(NA)

12,600

5,600

5,450

5,900

(NA)

18,590

92,040

298,325

1,450

5,900

(NA)

4,300

3,100

2,450

2,750

(NA)

3,100

3,000

6,150

1,100

1,800

34,500

1,400

(NA)

1,180

72,180

(NA)

(NA)

12,400

8,000

(NA)

5,100

17,800

(NA)

12,100

6,000

5,460

5,900

(NA)

18,470

91,230

305,725

9,000

13,600

490

9,250

10,300

14,000

8,000

2,050

11,150

8,600

34,900

4,900

10,850

130,200

8,000

3,650

(X)

278,940

880

26,100

25,400

31,300

1,110

11,400

60,600

5,900

43,300

16,350

11,100

14,800

30,200

(X)

278,440

918,840

8,950

13,500

490

9,250

10,300

14,000

7,950

2,050

11,150

8,500

34,700

4,900

10,800

130,000

7,950

3,650

(X)

278,140

880

26,100

25,400

31,300

1,110

11,400

60,500

5,850

43,400

16,300

11,100

14,800

30,200

(X)

278,340

916,990

(NA) Not available.

(X) Not applicable.

1 Other States includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

2 Other States includes Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia.

3 Other States includes Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Wyoming.
18 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Cattle and Calves, Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group – United States: 

2010 and 2011

Head

Operations Percent of inventory

2010 2011 2010 2011

(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 cows 1

 1-49 .......................................................

 50-99 .....................................................

 100-499 .................................................

 500-999 .................................................

 1,000-1,999 ............................................

 2,000-4,999 ............................................

 5,000+ ....................................................

 Total .......................................................

635,000

129,000

141,600

18,700

6,500

3,010

720

270

200

935,000

588,000

82,000

66,300

4,280

1,090

280

50

742,000

627,000

127,000

138,700

18,600

6,500

3,020

710

270

200

922,000

583,000

81,000

64,200

4,390

1,080

280

50

734,000

11.4

9.6

31.0

13.5

9.0

8.9

4.9

3.7

8.0

100.0

28.0

17.4

38.0

8.8

4.5

2.1

1.2

100.0

11.6

9.5

30.4

13.5

9.0

8.9

5.0

3.8

8.3

100.0

27.7

17.4

38.2

9.1

4.3

2.1

1.2

100.0

1

Included in operations with cattle.

Number of Milk Cow Operations, Percent of Inventory, and Percent of Milk Production by Size Group –

United States: 2010 and 2011

[Included in operations with cattle]

Head

Operations Percent of

inventory

Percent of

production 1

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

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

20,000

10,800

15,800

8,600

3,950

1,670

920

760

62,500

19,400

10,100

14,800

8,300

4,000

1,650

950

800

60,000

1.7

4.7

12.2

12.3

12.5

12.4

13.3

30.9

100.0

1.6

4.3

11.2

11.9

12.5

12.3

13.7

32.5

100.0

1.1

3.5

10.6

11.3

12.6

12.7

15.5

32.7

100.0

1.0

3.2

9.4

10.9

12.6

12.6

15.7

34.6

100.0

1 Estimates reflect the average distributions of various probability surveys conducted during the year.
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 19

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Number of Hog and Pig Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group – United States: 

2010 and 2011

Head

Operations Percent of inventory

2010 2011 2010 2011

(number) (number) (percent) (percent)

1-99 ...............................................

100-499 .........................................

500-999 .........................................

1,000-1,999 ...................................

2,000-4,999 ...................................

5,000+ ...........................................

Total ..............................................

49,000

5,200

2,800

3,650

5,350

3,100

69,100

49,400

5,100

2,400

3,400

5,500

3,300

69,100

0.8

2.1

3.1

8.0

25.0

61.0

100.0

0.8

2.0

2.7

7.5

24.9

62.1

100.0

Number of Hog and Pig Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group, Based on Ownership –

United States: 2010 and 2011

Head

Operations Percent of inventory

2010 2011 2010 2011

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

48,400

4,450

1,920

2,050

2,300

675

360

175

130

60,460

49,250

4,450

1,750

1,900

2,250

660

360

185

135

60,940

0.8

2.0

2.1

4.2

10.1

7.5

7.7

8.6

57.0

100.0

0.9

2.0

1.9

3.8

9.8

7.2

7.5

8.8

58.1

100.0

Number of Sheep and Goat Operations – United States: 2010 and 2011

Commodity 2010 2011

(number) (number)

Sheep .........................................................................................................

Angora goats ..............................................................................................

Milk goats ...................................................................................................

Meat and other goats ..................................................................................

All goats ......................................................................................................

81,000

6,000

31,000

128,000

152,000

80,000

5,500

31,000

124,000

151,000

Breeding Sheep, Survey Percent by Size Group – United States: 2010 and 2011

[Percents reflect distributions from the January annual survey]

Item

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

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

(percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)

Operations .....................

Inventory ........................

93.8

35.8

93.5

35.9

5.1

20.1

5.4

21.1

1.0

30.6

1.0

31.1

0.1

13.5

0.1

11.9
20 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

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. 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. 

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. The relative sampling error for the United States number of farms and land in farms is 

1.3 and 1.2 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 1.3 to 2.7 percent for number of farms and 1.2 to 4.1 percent for land in 

farms at the United States level.

Non-sampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as sample surveys. They are caused by the inability to obtain 

correct information from each person surveyed, differences in interpreting questions or definitions, and mistakes in coding 

or processing the data. Special efforts are taken at each step of the survey to minimize non-sampling errors.
Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 21

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Terms and Definitions

A farm is “any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would 

have been sold, during the year”. Government payments are included in sales. Ranches, institutional farms, experimental 

and research farms, and Indian Reservations are included as farms. Places with the entire acreage enrolled in the 

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), 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 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.

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 hog and pig 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.
22 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

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 

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. 

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, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012) 23

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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.
24 Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations 2011 Summary (February 2012)

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

The 2007- 2009 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 2011 Summary (February 2012) 25

USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Information Contacts

Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Economics Section of the Environmental, Economics, and 

Demographics Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail 

inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov.

Kevin Hintzman, Head, Economics Section.................................................................................................... (202) 690-3223

Daryl Brinkman – Prices Received, Prices Received Indexes .................................................................. (202) 720-8844

Kuan Chen – Prices, Prices Research........................................................................................................ (202) 720-5446

Bryan Combs – ARMS.............................................................................................................................. (202) 720-9168

Mark Gorsak – Prices, Prices Research .................................................................................................... (202) 720-3225

Vincent Davis – Prices Paid, Prices Paid Indexes..................................................................................... (202) 690-3229

Michael Mathison – ARMS....................................................................................................................... (202) 720-3243

Scott Shimmin – Cash Rents, Farm Numbers, Land in Farms, Land Values, Grazing Fees .................... (202) 690-3231

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

Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ............................................................................................................ (202) 690-2424

Travis Averill – Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..................................................................................................... (202) 720-3040

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

Doug Bounds – Hogs and Pigs, Goats ...................................................................................................... (202) 720-3106

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

Everett Olbert – Dairy Products Prices ..................................................................................................... (202) 720-4751

Lorie Warren – Dairy Products, Sheep ..................................................................................................... (202) 690-3236
Access to NASS Reports

For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:

 All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov

 Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free 

subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the “Follow NASS” box under “Receive reports by Email,” 

click on “National” or “State” to select the reports you would like to receive. 

 Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free 

(800) 999-6779, or (703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada. Accepted methods of 

payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order. 

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 

7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. 

 

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