United States

Department of

Agriculture

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

Sp Sy 3 (00)

Farms and

Land in Farms

February 2000
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 1 NASS, USDA

Released February 18, 2000, 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 202-690-3226, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:30

p.m. ET.

Farm Numbers Continue Gradual Upward Trend

The number of farms in the United States in 1999 is estimated at 2.19 million, up fractionally from 1998. 

The increase in farm numbers can be attributed to the continued rise in the number of small farms. Total

land in farms, at 947.3 million acres, was down 0.7 percent or 6.2 million acres from last year. This decline

in land in farms continues the historical trend of less land in farms. The average farm size decreased 3 acres

from 1998 to 432 acres.

The U.S. number of farms in the $1,000-$9,999 economic sales class increased 15,690 to 1,196,640 in 1999. 

Those with sales in the $10,000-$99,999 economic sales class decreased 3,760 from 1998 to 648,550 farms. 

The $100,000 and over sales class dropped 9,220 farms from 1998 to 348,880 in 1999. The drop in this

class is attributed to low commodity prices during 1999.

The South Region showed the largest increase in number of farms, up 2,300 or 0.2 percent. The North

Central Region was the only region to decline in farm numbers during 1999. This region was down 500

farms or less than 0.1 percent from 1998.

Farm numbers during 1999 increased in 13 States, declined in 13 States, and remained unchanged in 24

States. States with an increase of 1,000 farms were Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New

York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia. States with a decrease of 1,000 farms were Alabama,

Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. 

Farm and ranch land declined in a total of 26 States while the remaining 24 were unchanged. Texas

continues to lead the Nation with 130.5 million acres of land in farms and ranches, down 1 million acres

from the previous year. Other States with significant decreases in farmland were California (700,000 acres),

Arizona and New Mexico (600,000 acres), and Montana (500,000 acres). 
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 2 NASS, USDA
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 3 NASS, USDA

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

United States, 1989-99 1

Year Number

of Farms

Land

in Farms

Average

Farm Size

1,000 Acres Acres

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2,174,520

2,145,820

2,116,760

2,107,840

2,201,590

2,197,690

2,196,400

2,190,500

2,190,510

2,191,360

2,194,070

990,723

986,850

981,736

978,503

968,845

965,935

962,515

958,675

956,010

953,500

947,340

456

460

464

464

440

440

438

438

436

435

432 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 2000 4 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: By State and United States, 1997-99

State 1997 1998 1999

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

49,000

560

7,900

49,000

87,000

29,500

4,100

2,800

45,000

49,000

5,500

24,500

79,000

66,000

98,000

65,000

91,000

30,000

7,000

13,000

6,000

53,000

81,000

42,000

110,000

27,000

55,000

3,000

3,000

9,600

15,500

38,000

59,000

31,500

79,000

83,000

39,000

60,000

750

25,000

32,500

91,000

225,000

15,000

6,600

49,000

39,000

21,000

79,000

9,200

2,190,510

49,000

560

7,800

49,500

89,000

29,500

4,100

2,700

45,000

50,000

5,500

24,500

79,000

66,000

97,000

65,000

90,000

30,000

6,900

12,500

6,000

52,000

80,000

42,000

110,000

27,500

55,000

3,000

3,100

9,600

16,000

38,000

58,000

31,000

80,000

83,000

39,500

60,000

700

25,000

32,500

91,000

226,000

15,000

6,700

49,000

40,000

21,000

78,000

9,200

2,191,360

48,000

570

7,700

48,500

89,000

29,000

4,000

2,600

45,000

50,000

5,500

24,500

79,000

65,000

96,000

65,000

91,000

30,000

6,900

12,400

6,100

53,000

81,000

43,000

110,000

28,000

55,000

3,000

3,100

9,600

15,500

39,000

58,000

30,500

80,000

84,000

40,500

59,000

700

25,000

32,500

91,000

227,000

15,500

6,700

50,000

40,000

20,500

78,000

9,200

2,194,070
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 5 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: By State and United States, 1997-99

State 1997 1998 1999

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

9,600

910

28,300

14,800

28,700

32,500

380

585

10,600

11,300

1,440

12,000

27,800

15,600

33,000

47,500

13,900

8,200

1,280

2,200

570

10,400

29,100

11,700

30,100

57,800

46,400

6,900

420

830

45,300

7,800

9,500

39,700

14,900

34,000

17,500

7,700

65

5,000

44,000

12,000

131,500

11,600

1,330

8,800

15,700

3,700

16,500

34,600

956,010

9,500

910

28,100

14,750

28,500

32,200

380

580

10,600

11,300

1,440

12,000

27,800

15,600

33,000

47,500

13,800

8,200

1,270

2,150

570

10,400

28,900

11,600

30,100

57,500

46,400

6,900

420

830

45,300

7,800

9,400

39,500

14,900

34,000

17,200

7,700

60

4,900

44,000

11,900

131,500

11,600

1,340

8,800

15,700

3,700

16,400

34,600

953,500

9,200

910

27,500

14,650

27,800

31,800

370

580

10,400

11,200

1,440

11,900

27,700

15,500

33,000

47,500

13,600

8,150

1,270

2,100

570

10,400

28,800

11,400

30,100

57,000

46,400

6,800

420

830

44,700

7,800

9,300

39,400

14,900

34,000

17,200

7,700

60

4,850

44,000

11,900

130,500

11,600

1,340

8,600

15,700

3,600

16,300

34,600

947,340
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 6 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 1999

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

2,550

4,400

3,300

2,100

6,400

19,400

33,000

350

3,600

75,100

28,500

30,200

28,000

24,400

28,500

31,000

63,100

14,000

8,400

43,000

7,000

35,000

341,100

34,000

26,500

800

29,500

32,600

52,000

19,000

6,200

31,000

35,800

52,600

18,700

69,000

155,000

34,000

17,000

613,700

340

4,700

44,500

13,700

3,200

12,500

11,500

1,600

9,600

27,000

9,000

25,700

3,400

166,740

1,196,640

10,900

16,500

9,700

37,100

26,500

22,000

38,100

27,200

16,500

30,000

36,700

22,600

13,500

27,000

15,300

25,000

300,400

9,000

11,500

10,500

9,700

33,000

6,600

7,500

12,200

25,500

4,000

18,000

55,500

13,000

7,320

223,320

25,500

10,400

7,200

10,700

4,200

9,000

5,000

7,500

8,230

87,730

648,550

8,700

9,500

4,700

22,900

24,000

12,800

29,900

13,400

8,000

20,000

10,200

18,400

8,600

10,000

10,200

18,000

183,500

5,000

10,500

5,000

7,700

6,000

4,400

4,500

10,000

5,900

2,300

4,000

16,500

3,000

4,180

88,980

19,000

4,900

4,800

5,800

1,700

4,500

1,500

6,800

4,500

53,500

348,880

4,000

6,900

6,100

3,100

9,600

39,000

59,000

700

6,700

135,100

79,000

65,000

96,000

65,000

53,000

81,000

110,000

55,000

30,500

80,000

32,500

78,000

825,000

48,000

48,500

2,600

45,000

50,000

91,000

30,000

12,400

43,000

58,000

84,000

25,000

91,000

227,000

50,000

20,500

926,000

570

7,700

89,000

29,000

5,500

24,500

28,000

3,000

15,500

40,500

15,500

40,000

9,200

307,970

2,194,070 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 2000 7 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 1999

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

140

450

230

200

190

1,900

2,100

20

350

5,580

1,700

1,200

1,800

3,400

1,900

3,100

7,300

2,000

3,500

3,000

2,000

2,900

33,800

3,700

2,150

33

1,800

3,000

4,000

1,750

360

3,700

2,200

6,800

2,550

4,800

22,500

2,900

2,300

64,543

200

2,000

2,800

3,800

105

1,500

4,100

1,000

5,200

1,700

1,100

2,600

3,100

29,205

133,128

2,100

2,400

1,300

5,800

5,800

3,900

9,700

16,100

2,800

8,600

11,600

12,000

14,000

4,900

14,400

4,700

108,500

2,800

3,350

2,600

2,400

5,700

1,900

2,600

1,900

14,700

1,150

4,000

48,000

3,300

1,607

96,007

7,000

10,300

3,300

17,000

12,000

4,800

2,800

2,700

17,985

77,885

288,192

3,800

3,200

1,980

8,980

20,200

10,400

21,500

28,000

5,700

17,100

11,200

32,400

21,900

7,000

27,600

8,700

211,700

2,700

9,150

6,000

5,800

3,900

4,500

5,100

5,200

12,500

1,150

3,100

60,000

2,400

1,980

123,480

18,000

17,700

7,100

35,900

27,500

10,700

7,700

10,400

46,860

181,860

526,020

370

1,270

570

420

830

7,800

7,700

60

1,340

20,360

27,700

15,500

33,000

47,500

10,400

28,800

30,100

46,400

39,400

14,900

44,000

16,300

354,000

9,200

14,650

580

10,400

11,200

13,600

8,150

2,100

11,400

9,300

34,000

4,850

11,900

130,500

8,600

3,600

284,030

910

27,500

27,800

31,800

1,440

11,900

57,000

6,800

44,700

17,200

11,600

15,700

34,600

288,950

947,340 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 2000 8 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, June 1, 1998

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

2,650

4,400

3,300

2,100

6,300

18,400

33,300

350

3,600

74,400

27,700

31,000

26,500

24,200

27,000

29,500

62,700

14,000

8,200

41,500

7,000

34,000

333,300

35,000

27,500

800

29,500

32,500

51,000

19,000

6,300

30,000

34,000

52,000

18,700

69,000

153,000

32,000

17,400

607,700

350

4,800

42,600

13,900

3,200

12,500

12,000

1,600

10,000

26,500

9,000

25,700

3,400

165,550

1,180,950

11,000

17,200

9,700

37,900

27,800

22,500

38,500

27,300

17,000

29,500

36,700

22,600

14,000

27,300

15,300

25,500

304,000

9,000

11,500

10,500

9,700

33,000

6,500

7,400

14,000

25,000

4,000

18,000

56,000

13,000

7,400

225,000

24,400

10,800

7,200

10,000

4,200

8,600

4,500

7,500

8,210

85,410

652,310

8,600

9,500

4,700

22,800

23,500

12,500

32,000

13,500

8,000

21,000

10,600

18,400

8,800

11,200

10,200

18,500

188,200

5,000

10,500

5,000

7,800

6,000

4,500

4,600

10,000

6,000

2,300

4,000

17,000

4,000

4,300

91,000

22,000

4,800

4,800

5,500

1,800

4,400

1,500

6,800

4,500

56,100

358,100

4,100

6,900

6,000

3,100

9,600

38,000

60,000

700

6,700

135,100

79,000

66,000

97,000

65,000

52,000

80,000

110,000

55,000

31,000

80,000

32,500

78,000

825,500

49,000

49,500

2,700

45,000

50,000

90,000

30,000

12,500

42,000

58,000

83,000

25,000

91,000

226,000

49,000

21,000

923,700

560

7,800

89,000

29,500

5,500

24,500

27,500

3,000

16,000

39,500

15,000

40,000

9,200

307,060

2,191,360 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 2000 9 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, June 1, 1998

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

150

450

230

200

180

1,800

2,100

20

350

5,480

1,700

1,500

1,700

3,500

1,900

3,100

7,300

2,100

3,400

2,800

2,000

2,800

33,800

4,000

2,250

33

1,800

3,000

3,900

1,800

370

3,800

2,300

6,900

2,550

4,800

22,000

2,800

2,350

64,653

200

2,100

3,000

4,100

105

1,500

4,000

1,000

5,350

1,700

1,100

2,600

3,100

29,855

133,788

2,200

2,500

1,305

6,005

6,000

4,000

9,200

16,000

2,800

8,500

11,600

12,500

14,000

4,600

14,400

4,800

108,400

2,800

3,300

2,800

2,400

5,900

1,900

2,900

1,900

14,100

1,200

4,000

45,500

3,200

1,652

93,552

7,300

10,600

3,400

16,900

12,000

4,800

2,800

2,800

18,460

79,060

287,017

3,800

3,100

1,985

8,885

20,100

10,100

22,100

28,000

5,700

17,300

11,200

31,800

22,100

7,500

27,600

8,800

212,300

2,700

9,200

6,000

5,900

4,000

4,500

4,900

5,200

13,000

1,150

3,100

64,000

2,800

2,025

128,475

18,200

17,500

7,100

36,600

27,950

10,700

7,700

10,300

46,985

183,035

532,695

380

1,270

570

420

830

7,800

7,700

60

1,340

20,370

27,800

15,600

33,000

47,500

10,400

28,900

30,100

46,400

39,500

14,900

44,000

16,400

354,500

9,500

14,750

580

10,600

11,300

13,800

8,200

2,150

11,600

9,400

34,000

4,900

11,900

131,500

8,800

3,700

286,680

910

28,100

28,500

32,200

1,440

12,000

57,500

6,900

45,300

17,200

11,600

15,700

34,600

291,950

953,500 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 2000 10 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, June 1, 1997

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

Number Number Number Number

Northeast

 NY

 PA

 Oth Sts 1

 Total

North Central

 IL

 IN

 IA

 KS

 MI

 MN

 MO

 NE

 ND

 OH

 SD

 WI

 Total

South

 AL 2

 AR

 FL 2

 GA

 KY 2

 LA 2

 MS 2

 NC

 OK

 TN 2

 TX

 VA 2

 Other States 2 3

 Total

West

 CA

 OR 2

 WA

 Other States 2 4

 Total

US

18,700

33,300

24,050

76,050

27,700

31,500

27,500

24,200

28,500

29,500

62,700

13,500

8,500

40,600

7,000

33,600

334,800

35,000

26,500

29,500

31,900

53,000

19,500

30,000

35,000

52,700

69,000

154,000

32,000

49,900

618,000

42,000

26,000

24,300

69,900

162,200

1,191,050

11,000

17,200

9,100

37,300

27,800

22,000

38,500

27,300

17,000

30,500

36,500

23,300

14,000

27,500

15,500

26,700

306,600

12,000

9,600

14,000

24,000

54,000

216,000

25,000

7,800

86,060

645,960

8,300

9,500

3,900

21,700

23,500

12,500

32,000

13,500

7,500

21,000

10,800

18,200

9,000

10,900

10,000

18,700

187,600

10,500

7,500

10,000

6,300

17,000

89,800

20,000

6,900

54,400

353,500

38,000

60,000

37,050

135,050

79,000

66,000

98,000

65,000

53,000

81,000

110,000

55,000

31,500

79,000

32,500

79,000

829,000

49,000

49,000

45,000

49,000

91,000

30,000

42,000

59,000

83,000

91,000

225,000

49,000

61,800

923,800

87,000

39,000

39,000

137,660

302,660

2,190,510 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3 DE, MD, SC, and WV. 4 AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 11 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, June 1, 1997

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

 NY

 PA

 Oth Sts 1

 Total

North Central

 IL

 IN

 IA

 KS

 MI

 MN

 MO

 NE

 ND

 OH

 SD

 WI

 Total

South

 AL 2

 AR

 FL 2

 GA

 KY 2

 LA 2

 MS 2

 NC

 OK

 TN 2

 TX

 VA 2

 Other States 2 3

 Total

West

 CA

 OR 2

 WA

 Other States 2 4

 Total

US

1,900

2,100

1,475

5,475

1,700

1,500

1,800

3,800

2,000

3,100

7,300

2,100

3,500

2,800

2,100

2,800

34,500

4,000

2,200

1,800

3,000

4,000

1,800

3,700

2,400

7,000

4,800

22,000

2,800

5,400

64,900

3,000

1,700

2,500

23,300

30,500

135,375

2,200

2,500

1,400

6,100

6,000

4,100

9,500

16,000

2,900

8,700

11,500

12,700

14,000

4,800

14,800

4,900

109,900

3,300

2,500

2,000

14,000

45,500

93,985

7,300

2,900

78,500

288,485

3,700

3,100

2,000

8,800

20,100

10,000

21,700

27,700

5,500

17,300

11,300

31,600

22,200

7,300

27,100

8,800

210,600

9,300

5,800

5,100

13,000

64,000

128,500

18,400

10,300

184,250

532,150

7,800

7,700

4,875

20,375

27,800

15,600

33,000

47,500

10,400

29,100

30,100

46,400

39,700

14,900

44,000

16,500

355,000

9,600

14,800

10,600

11,300

13,900

8,200

11,700

9,500

34,000

12,000

131,500

8,800

11,485

287,385

28,700

17,500

15,700

231,350

293,250

956,010 1 CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT. 2 Estimates not available for all sales classes. 3 DE, MD, SC, and WV. 4 AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 12 NASS, USDA

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

Class, United States, 1997-99

Economic

Sales

Class

Percent of Total Average Size Farm

(Acres) Farms Land

1997 1997 1997

 $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

27.4

14.6

12.4

9.9

9.0

10.6

9.0

4.1

3.0

100.0

4.4

4.4

5.4

5.8

7.4

17.0

24.0

14.2

17.4

100.0

70

132

190

256

359

700

1,164

1,512

2,531

436

1998 1998 1998

 $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

26.9

14.6

12.4

10.0

9.0

10.8

9.0

4.2

3.1

100.0

4.4

4.4

5.2

5.9

7.4

16.8

23.8

14.6

17.5

100.0

71

131

182

257

358

677

1,151

1,513

2,456

435

1999 1999 1999

 $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

27.2

15.0

12.3

10.2

8.5

10.9

9.2

3.7

3.0

100.0

4.6

4.4

5.1

6.0

7.5

16.9

23.2

13.3

19.0

100.0

73

127

179

254

381

669

1,089

1,552

2,735

432
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 13 NASS, USDA

Average Size Farm: By State and United States, 1997-99

State 1997 1998 1999

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

196

1,625

3,582

302

330

1,102

93

209

236

231

262

490

352

236

337

731

153

273

183

169

95

196

359

279

274

2,141

844

2,300

140

86

2,923

205

161

1,260

189

410

449

128

87

200

1,354

132

584

773

202

180

403

176

209

3,761

436

194

1,625

3,603

298

320

1,092

93

215

236

226

262

490

352

236

340

731

153

273

184

172

95

200

361

276

274

2,091

844

2,300

135

86

2,831

205

162

1,274

186

410

435

128

86

196

1,354

131

582

773

200

180

393

176

210

3,761

435

192

1,596

3,571

302

312

1,097

93

223

231

224

262

486

351

238

344

731

149

272

184

169

93

196

356

265

274

2,036

844

2,267

135

86

2,884

200

160

1,292

186

405

425

131

86

194

1,354

131

575

748

200

172

393

176

209

3,761

432
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2000 14 NASS, USDA

Reliability of Data in this Report

Survey Procedures: These data were collected by the National Agricultural Statistics Service during the 

 June Agricultural Survey and the Fall Agricultural Survey using sampling procedures

to ensure every farm operator had a chance of being selected. Two samples of farm operators are selected

for June, while only the area sample is surveyed in the Fall. First, NASS maintains a list of farms which are

classified and sampled by size and type. Larger farms are selected with greater frequency but all farms are

represented. A second sample, used in June and the Fall consists of area segments of land scientifically

selected from aerial photography. Each June and December, highly trained interviewers locate each

selected land segment and identify every farm operating land within the sample segment's boundaries. The

names associated with those farms found in the area segments are matched against the list of farms; those

not found on the list represent all farms not on the NASS list. This methodology is known as multiple frame

sampling, with an area sample used to measure incompleteness of the list. The area segments also provide

independent indications of number of farms and land in farms.

Program changes initiated with the 2000 Farms and Land in Farms release include publishing the number of

farms with less than $10,000 in sales for all states for 1998, 1999, and future years. Estimates of number of

farms with $10,000-$99,999 and $100,000 plus in sales are expanded to include Alabama, Colorado,

Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina,

Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.

Estimation Procedures: National, Regional, and State data were reviewed for reasonableness and

 consistency. Each State Statistical Office submits its analysis to the Agricultural

Statistics Board (ASB) which prepares the estimates for publication. Farm numbers and land in farm

estimates are based on survey results and the historical relationship of official estimates to the survey

results.

Revision Policy: Farm numbers information is 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 that directly affect the level of the estimate. A historical publication with revisions for 1993-

97 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 was just above 1 percent and just above 1 percent for land in

farms. 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 1.8 to 3.8 percent for number of farms and 2.3 to 6.7 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 sampled, 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 2000 15 NASS, USDA

Terms and Definition

A farm is defined as "any establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were sold or

would normally be sold during the year". Government payments are included in sales. Institutional farms,

experimental and research farms, and Indian Reservations are included as farms. Places with their entire

acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, set aside, or other government programs are

considered operating.

Land in farms is all land operated by farms during the year. It includes crop and livestock acreage,

wasteland, woodland, pasture, land in summer fallow, idle cropland, and land enrolled in the Conservation

Reserve Program and other set aside or commodity acreage programs. It excludes public, industrial, and

grazing association land and nonagricultural land. It excludes all land operated by establishments not

qualifying as farms.

Economic sales classes are based on the gross value of sales, which includes sales of agricultural products

such as crops, livestock, horses, honey, furs, fish, nursery and greenhouse products, rabbits, etc. 

Government program payments from the previous year are also included.
The next "Farms and Land in Farms" report will be released in February, 2001.

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

color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for

communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA’s TARGET

Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

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

14th and 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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