United States

Department of

Agriculture

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

Sp Sy 3 (03)

Farms and

Land in Farms

February 2003
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 1 NASS, USDA

Farms and Land in Farms Up Slightly in 2002

The number of farms in the United States in 2002 is estimated at 2.16 million, up 0.1 percent from 2001. The

increase in farms occurred primarily in agricultural operations with $1,000-$9,999 in sales. Total land in

farms, at 941.5 million acres, increased 170,000 acres from last year. The average size of farm at 436 acres,

decreased one acre from 2001. The increase in the number of farms and land in farms primarily resulted from

the inclusion of pasture only farms in 2002.

The U.S. number of agricultural operations in the economic sales class $1,000-$9,999 increased 1.0 percent

to 1,172,770 in 2002. Farms with sales in the $10,000-$99,999 economic class decreased 0.9% from 2001 to

637,160 operations. The number of farms with sales over $100,000 at 348,160 decreased 1.1 percent. Dry

weather, below normal yields, and lower commodity prices contributed to the shifting of farms among the

economic sales classes.

The number of farms in the South Region increased by 5,700, 0.6 percent, and the number of farms in the

West Region increased by 510, 0.2 percent. The North Central Region lost 3,300 farms, 0.4 percent. The

number of farms declined 500, or 0.4 percent in the Northeast Region. 

The number of farms in 2002 increased in nine States, remained unchanged in 32 States, and decreased in

nine States. Texas gained 3,000 farms while Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Oregon added 1,000

farms during the year. Arkansas, Montana, and South Carolina farms increased by 500. California, Iowa,

Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee farms declined by 1,000. New York lost 500 farms and North Dakota lost

300. 

Texas, which leads the Nation in acres in farms with 131 million acres, increased agricultural acreage during

2002 adding 1.0 million acres. States with decreases in land in farms were; Wisconsin, down 200,000 acres,

and Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee which declined 100,000 acres. Other states

losing agricultural acreage were Delaware, New Hampshire, and New Jersey, each down 10,000 acres.

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

United States, 1992-2002 1

Year Number

of Farms

Land

in Farms

Average

Farm Size

Number 1,000 Acres Acres

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2,107,840

2,201,590

2,197,690

2,196,400

2,190,500

2,190,510

2,191,360

2,192,070

2,172,280

2,155,680

2,158,090

978,503

968,845

965,935

962,515

958,675

956,010

953,500

947,440

943,090

941,310

941,480

464

440

440

438

438

436

435

432

434

437

436

 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.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 20032 NASS, USDA
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 3 NASS, USDA

Percent of Farms and Land in Farms for Places With Less Than $1,000 of

Reported Sales, but with Sufficient Crops and Livestock to Normally

Have Sales of at least $1,000, United States, 1999-2002 

Year

Percent of Total

Farms Land

1999 15.5 2.0

2000 15.0 2.0

2001 16.0 2.0

2002 18.0 3.0
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 4 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: By State and United States, 2000-2002

State 2000 2001 2002

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

47,000

580

7,500

48,000

87,500

29,500

3,900

2,600

44,000

50,000

5,500

24,500

78,000

64,000

95,000

64,000

90,000

29,500

6,800

12,400

6,100

52,000

79,000

43,000

109,000

27,600

54,000

3,000

3,100

9,600

15,200

38,000

57,000

30,300

80,000

85,000

40,000

59,000

700

24,000

32,500

90,000

226,000

15,500

6,700

49,000

40,000

20,500

77,000

9,200

2,172,280

47,000

580

7,300

48,000

85,000

30,000

3,900

2,500

44,000

50,000

5,300

24,000

76,000

63,000

93,500

63,000

88,000

29,000

6,700

12,400

6,000

52,000

79,000

42,000

108,000

27,500

53,000

3,000

3,100

9,600

15,000

37,500

56,000

30,300

78,000

86,000

40,000

59,000

700

24,000

32,500

91,000

227,000

15,000

6,600

49,000

39,000

20,500

77,000

9,200

2,155,680

47,000

590

7,300

48,500

84,000

30,000

3,900

2,400

44,000

50,000

5,300

24,000

76,000

63,000

92,500

63,000

89,000

29,000

6,700

12,200

6,000

52,000

79,000

43,000

107,000

28,000

52,000

3,000

3,100

9,600

15,000

37,000

56,000

30,000

78,000

87,000

41,000

59,000

700

24,500

32,500

90,000

230,000

15,000

6,600

49,000

39,000

20,500

77,000

9,200

2,158,090
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 5 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: By State and United States, 2000-2002

State 2000 2001 2002

1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 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

9,000

920

26,700

14,600

27,800

31,600

360

580

10,300

11,100

1,440

11,900

27,700

15,500

32,800

47,500

13,600

8,100

1,270

2,100

570

10,400

28,600

11,100

30,000

56,700

46,400

6,800

420

830

44,000

7,700

9,200

39,400

14,900

34,000

17,200

7,700

60

4,800

44,000

11,700

130,000

11,600

1,340

8,700

15,700

3,600

16,200

34,600

943,090

8,900

920

26,600

14,600

27,700

31,300

360

570

10,200

11,000

1,440

11,900

27,700

15,400

32,700

47,400

13,600

8,050

1,260

2,100

560

10,400

28,500

11,000

29,900

56,700

46,400

6,800

420

830

44,000

7,600

9,100

39,400

14,800

34,000

17,200

7,700

60

4,800

44,000

11,800

130,000

11,600

1,340

8,700

15,700

3,600

16,100

34,600

941,310

8,900

920

26,500

14,600

27,700

31,300

360

560

10,200

11,000

1,440

11,900

27,700

15,400

32,600

47,400

13,600

8,050

1,260

2,100

560

10,400

28,400

11,000

29,800

56,700

46,400

6,800

410

820

44,000

7,600

9,100

39,400

14,700

34,000

17,200

7,700

60

4,800

44,000

11,700

131,000

11,600

1,340

8,700

15,700

3,600

15,900

34,600

941,480
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 6 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 2002

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000-

$249,999

$250,000-

$499,999

$500,000

& Over

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 1

 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

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,450

4,200

3,200

2,100

6,400

16,800

35,000

350

3,500

74,000

26,000

29,500

28,000

22,000

28,500

31,000

61,300

13,000

8,400

40,000

7,000

37,700

332,400

34,000

26,500

710

26,000

33,000

49,000

18,300

5,700

31,000

34,000

55,000

18,300

69,000

156,000

31,900

17,000

605,410

360

4,400

40,000

14,800

3,000

12,500

11,500

1,600

9,000

27,500

8,300

24,600

3,400

160,960

1,172,770

11,400

14,500

8,880

34,780

26,000

22,000

36,000

27,500

15,500

28,000

35,400

20,500

12,500

27,300

14,500

20,800

286,000

8,000

12,000

12,000

10,500

33,500

6,500

7,500

13,000

26,000

4,000

17,000

57,000

13,800

9,530

230,330

25,000

10,000

6,600

9,900

4,400

9,000

5,000

7,500

8,650

86,050

637,160

4,000

6,900

3,240

14,140

13,300

6,300

17,000

8,500

4,600

12,500

6,500

10,700

5,800

6,400

6,500

11,500

109,600

1,600

3,700

2,600

3,500

4,300

1,700

2,000

3,500

3,500

1,300

2,000

10,000

1,400

800

41,900

7,000

2,800

2,500

4,000

700

1,400

900

2,800

2,130

24,230

189,870

3,000

1,800

1,070

5,870

7,600

2,900

7,500

2,800

1,600

5,000

2,400

5,000

2,400

2,800

3,000

4,600

47,600

1,500

3,300

1,600

1,500

1,400

1,300

1,000

2,400

1,500

400

1,000

4,000

1,000

624

22,524

3,500

1,300

1,300

1,800

400

1,600

400

2,000

950

13,250

89,244

1,800

800

1,210

3,810

3,100

2,300

4,000

2,200

1,800

2,500

1,400

2,800

900

1,500

1,500

2,400

26,400

1,900

3,000

1,800

1,500

800

1,200

1,500

3,100

1,000

500

1,000

3,000

900

736

21,936

8,500

1,100

1,100

800

500

1,500

400

2,100

900

16,900

69,046

3,900

6,700

6,000

3,100

9,600

37,000

59,000

700

6,600

132,600

76,000

63,000

92,500

63,000

52,000

79,000

107,000

52,000

30,000

78,000

32,500

77,000

802,000

47,000

48,500

2,400

44,000

50,000

89,000

29,000

12,200

43,000

56,000

87,000

24,500

90,000

230,000

49,000

20,500

922,100

590

7,300

84,000

30,000

5,300

24,000

28,000

3,000

15,000

41,000

15,000

39,000

9,200

301,390

2,158,090

 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3 DE, MD, and WV. 4 AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 7 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 2002

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000-

$249,999

$250,000-

$499,999

$500,000

& Over

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 1

 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

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

130

440

220

200

180

1,500

2,300

20

350

5,340

1,400

1,100

1,700

2,400

1,800

3,000

7,100

1,700

3,500

2,600

2,000

3,000

31,300

3,700

2,200

30

1,000

2,800

3,500

1,700

350

3,300

2,200

6,600

2,500

4,500

22,300

2,300

2,300

61,280

210

1,800

2,400

4,000

105

1,500

3,500

1,000

4,000

1,700

1,000

2,500

3,100

26,815

124,735

2,300

2,200

1,150

5,650

5,400

3,900

9,300

15,000

2,800

8,300

11,300

10,800

12,600

4,600

13,500

4,100

101,600

2,300

3,300

2,200

2,600

5,800

1,900

2,600

1,800

13,400

1,150

3,900

45,700

3,800

2,135

92,585

6,900

9,500

3,200

15,700

12,000

4,500

2,300

2,700

17,465

74,265

274,100

1,600

1,700

935

4,235

8,300

4,000

11,000

15,000

2,100

7,600

5,800

14,500

12,500

3,000

16,000

4,500

104,300

1,100

1,850

1,400

1,800

1,900

1,500

1,100

1,400

6,700

400

1,200

24,000

800

465

45,615

2,900

10,300

2,300

19,000

9,000

3,500

4,400

3,900

11,435

66,735

220,885

1,300

800

535

2,635

5,900

3,200

6,700

8,000

1,500

5,300

3,100

9,900

6,800

2,500

8,000

2,700

63,600

800

2,350

1,200

1,300

1,100

1,350

1,000

1,500

4,200

250

900

16,000

800

405

33,155

2,800

4,500

1,800

11,500

8,000

3,000

1,500

2,800

16,205

52,105

151,495

900

700

650

2,250

6,700

3,200

3,900

7,000

2,200

4,200

2,500

9,500

4,000

2,000

4,500

1,600

51,300

1,000

4,900

4,400

2,500

1,300

1,600

3,000

2,200

3,100

500

1,200

23,000

1,000

575

50,275

12,700

3,000

3,100

7,000

11,000

4,500

2,400

3,800

18,940

66,440

170,265

360

1,260

560

410

820

7,600

7,700

60

1,340

20,110

27,700

15,400

32,600

47,400

10,400

28,400

29,800

46,400

39,400

14,700

44,000

15,900

352,100

8,900

14,600

560

10,200

11,000

13,600

8,050

2,100

11,000

9,100

34,000

4,800

11,700

131,000

8,700

3,600

282,910

920

26,500

27,700

31,300

1,440

11,900

56,700

6,800

44,000

17,200

11,600

15,700

34,600

286,360

941,480

 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3 DE, MD, and WV. 4 AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 8 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 2001

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

Number Number Number Number

Northeast

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY

 PA

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 1

 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

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,450

4,200

3,200

2,100

6,400

17,800

32,800

350

3,500

72,800

26,000

29,000

27,500

21,500

28,500

30,500

61,500

13,000

8,300

41,500

7,000

35,900

330,200

33,000

26,000

740

26,000

32,000

49,000

18,000

5,900

30,000

34,000

54,000

17,700

69,000

154,000

31,900

17,000

598,240

350

4,400

40,000

14,600

3,000

12,500

11,000

1,600

9,300

26,500

8,500

24,600

3,400

159,750

1,160,990

11,000

16,500

10,600

38,100

25,000

22,000

37,000

28,500

15,500

28,500

36,000

21,000

13,000

25,500

14,500

22,700

289,200

9,000

12,000

12,000

10,500

32,500

6,700

7,500

13,000

26,000

4,100

18,000

56,000

14,000

7,280

228,580

26,000

10,500

6,600

10,000

4,100

9,000

5,000

7,500

8,130

86,830

642,710

8,700

9,700

3,800

22,200

25,000

12,000

29,000

13,000

8,000

20,000

10,500

19,000

9,000

11,000

11,000

18,400

185,900

5,000

10,000

6,000

7,500

6,500

4,300

4,500

9,000

6,000

2,200

4,000

17,000

3,100

4,480

89,580

19,000

4,900

4,900

6,500

1,600

4,500

1,500

6,900

4,500

54,300

351,980

3,900

6,700

6,000

3,100

9,600

37,500

59,000

700

6,600

133,100

76,000

63,000

93,500

63,000

52,000

79,000

108,000

53,000

30,300

78,000

32,500

77,000

805,300

47,000

48,000

2,500

44,000

50,000

88,000

29,000

12,400

42,000

56,000

86,000

24,000

91,000

227,000

49,000

20,500

916,400

580

7,300

85,000

30,000

5,300

24,000

27,500

3,000

15,000

40,000

15,000

39,000

9,200

300,880

2,155,680

 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3 DE, MD, and WV. 4 AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 9 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 2001

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

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 1

 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

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

130

440

220

200

190

1,600

2,000

20

350

5,150

1,500

1,200

1,700

2,500

1,800

3,000

7,100

1,700

3,500

2,700

2,000

2,900

31,600

3,500

2,100

30

1,000

2,600

3,600

1,650

400

3,400

2,000

6,600

2,500

4,500

22,000

2,400

2,300

60,580

210

1,800

2,500

3,900

105

1,500

3,700

1,000

4,500

1,700

1,100

2,500

3,100

27,615

124,945

2,200

2,500

1,150

5,850

5,200

3,800

9,400

15,900

2,700

8,400

11,300

10,900

13,300

4,500

13,500

4,400

103,300

2,500

3,400

2,200

2,700

5,700

1,900

2,500

1,800

13,700

1,200

4,000

45,000

3,900

1,585

92,085

6,800

9,400

3,200

15,900

11,500

4,500

2,500

2,700

18,145

74,645

275,880

3,800

3,200

2,130

9,130

21,000

10,400

21,600

29,000

5,900

17,100

11,500

33,800

22,600

7,600

28,500

8,800

217,800

2,900

9,100

7,000

5,700

4,300

4,500

5,100

5,300

13,700

1,100

3,300

63,000

2,400

1,955

129,355

18,400

18,000

7,200

37,100

28,000

11,000

8,000

10,500

46,000

184,200

540,485

360

1,260

560

420

830

7,600

7,700

60

1,340

20,130

27,700

15,400

32,700

47,400

10,400

28,500

29,900

46,400

39,400

14,800

44,000

16,100

352,700

8,900

14,600

570

10,200

11,000

13,600

8,050

2,100

11,000

9,100

34,000

4,800

11,800

130,000

8,700

3,600

282,020

920

26,600

27,700

31,300

1,440

11,900

56,700

6,800

44,000

17,200

11,600

15,700

34,600

286,460

941,310

 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3 DE, MD, and WV. 4 AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 10 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 2000

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

Number Number Number Number

Northeast

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY

 PA

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 1

 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

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,450

4,300

3,300

2,100

6,400

18,400

33,000

350

3,600

73,900

28,000

29,700

27,000

23,100

27,500

30,000

62,000

13,500

8,500

43,000

7,000

34,500

333,800

33,000

26,000

800

28,500

32,600

51,000

18,500

5,900

31,000

34,000

52,500

17,700

68,000

153,000

32,000

17,000

601,500

350

4,500

43,500

14,200

3,200

12,500

10,400

1,600

9,500

26,500

9,000

25,700

3,400

164,350

1,173,550

11,200

16,500

10,300

38,000

26,000

22,000

38,000

27,200

16,500

29,000

36,600

22,000

13,100

27,000

15,300

24,500

297,200

9,000

12,000

10,500

9,900

33,000

6,600

7,400

13,000

26,500

4,000

18,000

56,000

14,000

7,320

227,220

25,000

10,300

7,200

10,800

4,100

9,000

5,000

7,500

8,230

87,130

649,550

8,400

9,500

4,100

22,000

24,000

12,300

30,000

13,700

8,000

20,000

10,400

18,500

8,700

10,000

10,200

18,000

183,800

5,000

10,000

5,000

7,500

6,000

4,400

4,600

10,000

6,000

2,300

4,000

17,000

3,000

4,480

89,280

19,000

5,000

4,800

6,400

1,600

4,500

1,500

6,800

4,500

54,100

349,180

3,900

6,800

6,100

3,100

9,600

38,000

59,000

700

6,700

133,900

78,000

64,000

95,000

64,000

52,000

79,000

109,000

54,000

30,300

80,000

32,500

77,000

814,800

47,000

48,000

2,600

44,000

50,000

90,000

29,500

12,400

43,000

57,000

85,000

24,000

90,000

226,000

49,000

20,500

918,000

580

7,500

87,500

29,500

5,500

24,500

27,600

3,000

15,200

40,000

15,500

40,000

9,200

305,580

2,172,280

 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3 DE, MD, and WV. 4 AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 11 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 2000

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

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 1

 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

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

130

450

230

200

190

1,800

2,100

20

350

5,470

1,700

1,300

1,700

2,800

1,900

3,000

7,200

1,800

3,400

2,900

2,000

2,800

32,500

3,500

2,100

33

1,800

2,900

3,700

1,700

365

3,500

2,000

6,700

2,500

4,400

21,000

2,400

2,300

60,898

210

1,900

2,800

3,800

105

1,500

4,300

1,000

4,700

1,700

1,100

2,600

3,100

28,815

127,683

2,200

2,400

1,300

5,900

5,600

3,900

9,400

15,500

2,800

8,500

11,500

11,800

13,800

4,800

14,400

4,700

106,700

2,800

3,400

2,500

2,500

5,800

1,900

2,500

1,800

14,800

1,200

4,000

48,000

3,900

1,607

96,707

7,000

10,200

3,300

16,400

11,700

4,800

2,800

2,700

17,985

76,885

286,192

3,700

3,200

1,980

8,880

20,400

10,300

21,700

29,200

5,700

17,100

11,300

32,800

22,200

7,200

27,600

8,700

214,200

2,700

9,100

6,000

5,700

4,100

4,500

5,100

5,400

12,500

1,100

3,300

61,000

2,400

1,975

124,875

18,000

17,600

7,100

36,000

27,600

10,700

7,700

10,400

46,160

181,260

529,215

360

1,270

570

420

830

7,700

7,700

60

1,340

20,250

27,700

15,500

32,800

47,500

10,400

28,600

30,000

46,400

39,400

14,900

44,000

16,200

353,400

9,000

14,600

580

10,300

11,100

13,600

8,100

2,100

11,100

9,200

34,000

4,800

11,700

130,000

8,700

3,600

282,480

920

26,700

27,800

31,600

1,440

11,900

56,700

6,800

44,000

17,200

11,600

15,700

34,600

286,960

943,090

 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3 DE, MD, and WV. 4 AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 12 NASS, USDA

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

Class, United States, 2000-2002 1

Economic

Sales

Class

Percent of Total Average Size Farm

(Acres) Farms Land in Farms

2000 2000 2000

 $1,000 - $2,499

 $2,500 - $4,999

 $5,000 - $9,999

 $10,000 - $19,999

 $20,000 - $39,999

 $40,000 - $99,999

$100,000 - $249,999

$250,000 - $499,999

$500,000 +

Total

26.8

15.1

12.1

10.2

9.0

10.7

9.3

3.8

3.0

100.0

4.4

4.2

4.9

5.6

8.6

16.1

22.8

13.9

19.5

100.0

71

121

176

238

415

653

1,064

1,588

2,822

434

2001 2001 2001

 $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

25.6

14.9

13.4

12.5

8.7

8.6

9.1

4.0

2.0

1.2

100.0

4.3

4.0

5.0

7.5

8.4

13.2

24.1

14.3

10.1

9.1

100.0

73

117

163

264

424

675

1,158

1,564

2,205

3,311

437

2002 2002 2002

 $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

26.9

14.8

12.7

12.7

8.7

8.1

8.8

4.1

2.0

1.2

100.0

4.5

3.8

4.9

7.7

9.9

11.5

23.5

16.1

8.6

9.5

100.0

73

113

169

264

496

619

1,161

1,708

1,872

3,457

436

 1 Economic Sales Classes changed for 2001 to standard government groupings.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 13 NASS, USDA

Average Size Farm: By State and United States, 2000-2002

State 2000 2001 2002

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

191

1,586

3,560

304

318

1,071

92

223

234

222

262

486

355

242

345

742

151

275

187

169

93

200

362

258

275

2,054

859

2,267

135

86

2,895

203

161

1,300

186

400

430

131

86

200

1,354

130

575

748

200

178

393

176

210

3,761

434

189

1,586

3,644

304

326

1,043

92

228

232

220

272

496

364

244

350

752

155

278

188

169

93

200

361

262

277

2,062

875

2,267

135

86

2,933

203

163

1,300

190

395

430

131

86

200

1,354

130

573

773

203

178

403

176

209

3,761

437

189

1,559

3,630

301

330

1,043

92

233

232

220

272

496

364

244

352

752

153

278

188

172

93

200

359

256

279

2,025

892

2,267

132

85

2,933

205

163

1,313

188

391

420

131

86

196

1,354

130

570

773

203

178

403

176

206

3,761

436
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 14 NASS, USDA

Reliability of 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 frame approach to measuring farms and land in farms. An area sampling

frame is built for every state that divides all land into segments. A sample of segments, designed for the state,

is selected 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 estimates of farm numbers and 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 not on the list provide a measure of incompleteness of the list. These data are combined

with data collected from a sample selected from the list to calculate estimates 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. State Statistical

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. A historical publication with revisions for 1993-1997 was published January 19, 1999.

Reliability: Two types of errors, sampling and nonsampling, are possible in an estimate based on a sample

survey. Both types affect the "precision" 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 just above 1.5 percent. The sampling error for total

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

as number of farms by economic sales class. Relative sampling errors by economic sales class generally

ranged from 1.2 to 4.7 percent for number of farms and 2.6 to 9.8 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 and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 15 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 perhead 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 from the previous year are also included.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2003 16 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.

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 - -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

X

Apiaries

- -

1870 - 1890 Less than 3

3 or more

- -

- -

$500 or more

- -

- -

X

Apiaries

- -

1860 - - - - - - - - - -

1850 - - $100 or more - - - - Apiaries

1840 - - - - - - - - - -
Released February 28, 2003, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics

Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Farms and Land in Farms" call Daryl Brinkman

at 202-720-6146, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

The next "Farms and Land in Farms" report will be released February, 2004.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of

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To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten

Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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