United States

Department of

Agriculture

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

Sp Sy 3 (04) a

Farms and

Land in Farms

February 2004

Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 1 NASS, USDA

 Farms and Land in Farms Decline Slightly in 2003

The number of farms in the United States in 2003 is estimated at 2.13 million, 0.4 percent fewer than in 2002. The decline in farms occurred in all sales categories except the $250,000-$499,999 class which remained

unchanged. Total land in farms, at 938.8 million acres, decreased 1,550,000 acres from 2002. The average size farm during 2003 was 441 acres, an increase of one acre from the previous year. The decline in the number of farms and land in farms continues to reflect consolidation in farming operations and competition for agricultural land for other uses.

The U.S. number of agricultural operations in the economic sales class $1,000-$9,999 declined 0.2 percent to 1,199,270 in 2003. Farms with sales of $10,000-$99,999 decreased 0.7% from 2002 to 600,530. The number of

farms with $100,000-$249,999 in sales was 167,230, a decline of 0.9 percent. In the $250,000-$499,999 sales

class, the number of farms was unchanged from the previous year. The number of agricultural operations with $500,000 or more of sales declined 0.4% from 2002. Generally favorable weather, stronger commodity prices, higher value of commodities produced, farm consolidation, and competition for other uses of farmland contributed to the shifting of farms among the sales categories.

The number of farms in the North Central Region decreased by 5,300 (0.7 percent) and the number of farms in the West Region declined by 1,800 (0.6 percent). The South Region lost 1,300 farms (0.1 percent). The number of farms declined 100 (0.1 percent) in the Northeast Region. 

The number of farms in 2003 declined in 20 States, remained unchanged in 28 States, and increased in two States. 

The largest decline in farms occurred in California which lost 1,200 places followed by Missouri with 1,000. Other notable declines were: Minnesota and Nebraska, 900; Indiana, 800; North Carolina, 700; Iowa, 600; and

Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin each losing 500 farms. For the two states with increased farm numbers,

Mississippi added 600 and Montana 100 places.

Texas, with 130.5 million acres of farm and ranch land, leads the nation. The farm and ranch acreage for Texas in 2003 was unchanged from 2002. States with the largest decreases in land in farms were: California, down

500,000 acres; Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, Tennessee, and

Wisconsin each lost 100,000 acres. Other states showing declines in agricultural acreage were: Virginia, 70,000 acres; Indiana and Wyoming, 60,000 acres; Louisiana and Washington, 50,000 acres; Maryland, 20,000 acres; and Delaware, New York, Ohio, and Vermont each with 10,000 fewer acres. After several years of drought

conditions, renewed public grazing allotments contributed to an increase of 300,000 acres in Montana’s ranch

land.

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm: United States, 1992-2003 1

Year Number

of Farms

Land

in Farms AverageFarm Size

Number 1,000 Acres Acres

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2,201,590

2,197,690

2,196,400

2,190,500

2,190,510

2,192,330

2,187,280

2,166,780

2,148,630

2,135,360

2,126,860

968,845

965,935

962,515

958,675

956,010

952,080

948,460

945,080

942,070

940,300

938,750

440

440

438

438

436

434

434

436

438

440

441 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.

Update Alert 

Page 9 was corrected to contain 2002 land in farm data rather than 2003. 

Page 10 was corrected to contain 2001 number of farms rather than 2002. 
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 20042 NASS, USDA
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 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, 1999-2003 

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

2003 19.0 3.0
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 4 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: By State and United States, 2001-2003

State 2001 2002 2003

Number Number Number

AL

AK

AZ 1

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 1

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

RI

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

WA

WV

WI

WY

US

46,000

600

10,400

48,000

81,000

30,900

4,200

2,500

44,000

49,200

5,500

24,500

75,000

62,100

92,000

64,500

88,000

28,000

7,150

12,300

6,100

53,000

81,000

42,000

108,000

27,800

50,000

3,050

3,300

9,800

17,800

37,500

55,000

30,600

78,000

84,000

40,000

58,500

830

24,400

32,000

88,000

228,600

15,500

6,600

47,900

36,500

20,800

77,000

9,200

2,148,630

45,000

610

10,300

47,500

79,700

31,400

4,200

2,400

44,000

49,300

5,500

25,000

73,000

60,300

90,600

64,500

87,000

27,500

7,200

12,200

6,100

53,300

80,900

42,200

107,000

27,900

49,400

3,000

3,400

9,900

17,700

37,000

54,200

30,500

77,800

83,500

40,000

58,200

850

24,500

31,800

87,500

229,000

15,300

6,600

47,600

36,000

20,800

77,000

9,200

2,135,360

45,000

610

10,300

47,500

78,500

31,400

4,200

2,300

44,000

49,300

5,500

25,000

73,000

59,500

90,000

64,500

87,000

27,200

7,200

12,100

6,100

53,300

80,000

42,800

106,000

28,000

48,500

3,000

3,400

9,900

17,500

37,000

53,500

30,300

77,600

83,500

40,000

58,200

850

24,400

31,600

87,000

229,000

15,300

6,500

47,500

35,500

20,800

76,500

9,200

2,126,860

 1 Includes some accounting for individual farms on reservation land.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 5 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: By State and United States, 2001-2003

State 2001 2002 2003

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

8,900

900

26,700

14,600

27,800

31,400

360

550

10,300

10,850

1,350

11,800

27,500

15,100

32,000

47,300

13,800

7,910

1,350

2,100

520

10,120

27,800

11,130

30,200

59,600

46,000

6,300

440

830

44,800

7,660

9,120

39,400

14,680

33,800

17,200

7,710

60

4,880

43,900

11,800

130,700

11,600

1,270

8,680

15,400

3,600

15,800

34,500

942,070

8,900

900

26,600

14,500

27,600

31,100

360

540

10,300

10,800

1,300

11,800

27,500

15,100

31,800

47,300

13,800

7,900

1,370

2,080

520

10,090

27,800

11,110

30,200

59,800

45,900

6,300

450

820

44,800

7,660

9,100

39,400

14,610

33,700

17,200

7,700

60

4,850

43,800

11,700

130,500

11,600

1,260

8,670

15,350

3,600

15,700

34,500

940,300

8,900

900

26,500

14,400

27,100

31,000

360

530

10,200

10,800

1,300

11,800

27,500

15,040

31,700

47,200

13,800

7,850

1,370

2,060

520

10,090

27,700

11,110

30,200

60,100

45,900

6,300

450

820

44,700

7,650

9,100

39,400

14,600

33,700

17,200

7,700

60

4,850

43,800

11,600

130,500

11,600

1,250

8,600

15,300

3,600

15,600

34,440

938,750
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 6 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 2003

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 5

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM 5

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,850

5,100

3,850

2,500

6,900

19,500

34,400

490

4,050

79,640

27,000

31,000

27,800

28,200

31,700

35,200

59,600

13,100

8,800

44,900

8,800

37,000

353,100

31,000

26,500

950

27,600

32,200

56,500

17,100

7,700

30,300

33,500

52,000

18,400

65,500

157,000

31,200

17,200

604,650

330

7,300

33,100

17,700

3,100

14,900

11,900

1,650

12,000

26,800

9,700

19,700

3,700

161,880

1,199,270

11,200

14,500

7,810

33,510

24,600

18,000

33,800

24,800

15,100

25,500

36,100

19,000

12,000

23,400

12,700

21,500

266,500

9,300

11,700

11,000

10,800

25,000

6,400

8,100

11,500

24,900

4,300

17,500

56,000

12,400

5,820

214,720

25,500

9,700

6,000

10,600

3,950

8,900

4,100

8,900

8,150

85,800

600,530

3,700

6,200

2,390

12,290

11,000

5,600

15,200

6,700

3,200

10,000

6,100

9,100

5,500

5,600

6,200

12,100

96,300

1,300

3,200

2,300

2,000

3,200

1,600

1,500

2,500

3,800

600

1,950

8,000

1,750

1,200

34,900

7,400

2,100

1,900

3,700

750

2,000

750

3,000

2,140

23,740

167,230

1,500

2,000

1,180

4,680

7,300

2,900

8,200

2,800

1,800

5,400

2,500

4,300

2,600

2,400

2,600

3,900

46,700

1,400

3,200

1,200

1,800

1,300

1,000

1,000

2,500

1,600

400

1,200

4,500

1,100

1,060

23,260

4,200

900

900

1,200

350

1,200

400

1,800

960

11,910

86,550

1,100

1,100

1,030

3,230

3,100

2,000

5,000

2,000

1,500

3,900

1,700

3,000

1,400

1,300

1,300

2,000

28,200

2,000

2,900

1,900

2,500

1,000

1,100

1,900

3,500

1,200

700

850

3,500

1,050

1,270

25,370

8,300

1,000

1,300

600

450

1,100

350

2,100

1,280

16,480

73,280

4,200

7,200

6,100

3,400

9,900

37,000

58,200

850

6,500

133,350

73,000

59,500

90,000

64,500

53,300

80,000

106,000

48,500

30,300

77,600

31,600

76,500

790,800

45,000

47,500

2,300

44,000

49,300

87,000

27,200

12,100

42,800

53,500

83,500

24,400

87,000

229,000

47,500

20,800

902,900

610

10,300

78,500

31,400

5,500

25,000

28,000

3,000

17,500

40,000

15,300

35,500

9,200

299,810

2,126,860

 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. 5 Includes some accounting for individual farms on reservation land.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 7 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class by State,

Region, and United States, 2003

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 5

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM 5

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

140

540

220

240

220

1,780

2,300

30

400

5,870

1,800

1,620

1,750

3,400

2,000

3,070

7,200

1,600

3,000

2,800

3,500

3,000

34,740

3,300

2,850

50

1,650

3,700

4,600

1,450

500

3,750

2,300

6,000

1,950

4,700

21,000

2,800

2,100

62,700

360

620

2,280

3,100

80

1,140

4,300

130

2,400

1,700

900

1,100

3,360

21,470

124,780

2,250

2,200

1,105

5,555

5,580

3,310

7,500

15,500

2,600

6,850

10,700

10,700

11,200

4,500

11,400

4,100

93,940

3,000

3,500

2,300

2,800

5,100

2,050

2,670

2,000

13,700

1,380

3,600

46,500

3,100

1,680

93,380

6,220

10,500

3,080

17,800

12,400

4,500

2,450

2,700

17,530

77,180

270,055

1,400

1,700

665

3,765

7,080

3,260

8,450

12,300

1,650

5,920

5,200

12,600

11,500

3,100

13,600

3,400

88,060

800

1,600

1,250

1,100

1,600

1,400

960

1,050

6,400

450

950

23,500

1,100

540

42,700

4,160

7,000

2,370

18,800

10,100

3,700

1,550

3,200

10,740

61,620

196,145

870

800

465

2,135

7,000

3,210

7,600

8,000

1,590

5,410

3,900

10,000

7,900

2,450

8,600

2,600

68,260

700

2,250

850

1,100

1,080

1,200

930

1,250

3,800

400

950

16,500

720

500

32,230

3,140

4,500

1,580

10,400

7,500

3,400

4,550

2,600

9,840

47,510

150,135

1,350

700

805

2,855

6,040

3,640

6,400

8,000

2,250

6,450

3,200

11,000

5,800

1,750

6,700

2,500

63,730

1,100

4,200

4,150

2,100

1,420

1,750

2,800

2,500

3,800

670

1,400

23,000

880

820

50,590

11,300

5,900

3,630

8,800

12,300

3,900

2,150

5,700

26,780

80,460

197,635

360

1,370

520

450

820

7,650

7,700

60

1,250

20,180

27,500

15,040

31,700

47,200

10,090

27,700

30,200

45,900

39,400

14,600

43,800

15,600

348,730

8,900

14,400

530

10,200

10,800

13,800

7,850

2,060

11,110

9,100

33,700

4,850

11,600

130,500

8,600

3,600

281,600

900

26,500

27,100

31,000

1,300

11,800

60,100

6,300

44,700

17,200

11,600

15,300

34,440

288,240

938,750

 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. 5 Includes some accounting for individual farms on reservation land.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 8 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 5

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM 5

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,850

5,100

3,850

2,500

6,900

19,300

34,400

490

4,050

79,440

27,300

31,600

28,100

28,000

31,700

35,400

59,800

13,100

8,600

45,000

8,800

37,000

354,400

31,000

26,600

1,020

27,600

32,100

56,500

17,300

7,500

29,800

33,700

52,000

18,500

66,000

157,000

31,200

17,200

605,020

330

7,300

34,200

17,200

3,100

14,900

11,800

1,650

12,100

26,800

9,700

20,200

3,700

162,980

1,201,840

11,000

14,500

7,860

33,360

25,000

18,000

34,200

24,700

15,100

26,200

36,800

19,700

12,600

23,500

12,800

22,000

270,600

9,300

11,500

11,000

10,800

25,000

6,500

7,900

11,500

25,000

4,300

17,500

56,000

12,400

6,050

214,750

25,300

9,900

6,100

10,500

4,000

8,900

4,100

8,900

8,160

85,860

604,570

3,900

6,200

2,440

12,540

11,000

5,700

15,200

6,900

3,200

10,000

6,200

9,200

5,600

5,600

6,300

12,200

97,100

1,300

3,200

2,300

2,000

3,200

1,600

1,500

2,700

3,700

600

1,950

8,000

1,750

1,300

35,100

7,500

2,300

1,800

3,800

800

2,000

750

3,000

2,130

24,080

168,820

1,600

2,000

1,180

4,780

6,600

3,000

8,100

2,900

1,800

5,400

2,500

4,400

2,500

2,400

2,600

3,800

46,000

1,400

3,200

1,200

1,900

1,300

1,000

1,100

2,700

1,600

400

1,200

4,500

1,150

1,060

23,710

4,300

950

900

1,200

350

1,200

400

1,800

960

12,060

86,550

1,200

1,100

1,030

3,330

3,100

2,000

5,000

2,000

1,500

3,900

1,700

3,000

1,200

1,300

1,300

2,000

28,000

2,000

3,000

1,900

2,500

1,000

1,100

1,900

3,600

1,200

700

850

3,500

1,100

1,270

25,620

8,400

1,050

1,300

600

450

1,100

350

2,100

1,280

16,630

73,580

4,200

7,200

6,100

3,400

9,900

37,000

58,200

850

6,600

133,450

73,000

60,300

90,600

64,500

53,300

80,900

107,000

49,400

30,500

77,800

31,800

77,000

796,100

45,000

47,500

2,400

44,000

49,300

87,000

27,500

12,200

42,200

54,200

83,500

24,500

87,500

229,000

47,600

20,800

904,200

610

10,300

79,700

31,400

5,500

25,000

27,900

3,000

17,700

40,000

15,300

36,000

9,200

301,610

2,135,360

 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. 5 Includes some accounting for individual farms on reservation land.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 9 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 5

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM 5

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

140

540

220

240

220

1,770

2,300

30

400

5,860

1,700

1,650

1,750

3,500

1,990

3,290

7,200

1,600

3,000

2,850

3,400

3,000

34,930

3,300

2,950

65

1,700

3,600

4,600

1,500

480

3,690

2,250

6,300

1,960

4,800

22,000

2,850

2,100

64,145

360

620

2,230

3,100

80

1,140

4,300

130

2,620

1,700

910

1,140

3,360

21,690

126,625

2,200

2,200

1,105

5,505

5,590

3,340

7,670

15,400

2,660

6,830

10,900

10,900

11,800

4,560

11,500

4,100

95,250

3,000

3,500

2,350

2,930

5,100

2,050

2,700

1,950

13,600

1,360

3,600

46,000

3,060

1,720

92,920

6,420

10,500

3,080

17,700

12,380

4,500

2,510

2,780

17,610

77,480

271,155

1,420

1,700

675

3,795

7,180

3,260

8,470

12,300

1,630

5,900

5,100

12,600

11,600

3,080

13,600

3,500

88,220

800

1,600

1,250

1,170

1,600

1,400

960

1,090

6,200

450

950

23,500

1,100

570

42,640

4,250

7,100

2,370

18,600

10,090

3,700

1,620

3,190

10,730

61,650

196,305

920

800

465

2,185

6,990

3,210

7,550

8,000

1,590

5,380

3,800

9,900

7,500

2,410

8,600

2,600

67,530

700

2,250

850

1,080

1,080

1,200

940

1,310

3,800

400

950

16,000

770

495

31,825

3,210

4,500

1,580

10,500

7,440

3,400

4,380

2,650

9,970

47,630

149,170

1,350

700

805

2,855

6,040

3,640

6,360

8,100

2,220

6,400

3,200

10,900

5,500

1,710

6,700

2,500

63,270

1,100

4,200

4,150

2,020

1,420

1,750

2,820

2,500

3,800

680

1,400

23,000

890

790

50,520

11,490

5,900

3,630

8,700

12,270

3,900

2,180

5,590

26,740

80,400

197,045

360

1,370

520

450

820

7,660

7,700

60

1,260

20,200

27,500

15,100

31,800

47,300

10,090

27,800

30,200

45,900

39,400

14,610

43,800

15,700

349,200

8,900

14,500

540

10,300

10,800

13,800

7,900

2,080

11,110

9,100

33,700

4,850

11,700

130,500

8,670

3,600

282,050

900

26,600

27,600

31,100

1,300

11,800

59,800

6,300

44,800

17,200

11,600

15,350

34,500

288,850

940,300

 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. 5 Includes some accounting for individual farms on reservation land.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 10 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-

$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 5

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM 5

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,850

5,000

3,700

2,400

6,400

19,800

32,300

470

4,000

76,920

27,800

31,400

26,700

26,300

30,700

33,900

60,100

13,100

8,500

44,300

8,200

36,500

347,500

32,000

27,000

1,020

27,600

31,900

54,000

17,500

7,100

30,000

33,300

52,300

18,400

66,000

156,000

31,300

17,200

602,620

330

7,300

35,800

16,400

3,100

13,900

11,700

1,650

12,100

26,500

9,500

21,000

3,600

162,880

1,189,920

11,000

16,400

8,400

35,800

25,700

19,500

35,600

25,900

15,500

27,100

37,500

19,800

13,000

24,200

13,600

22,300

279,700

9,300

11,800

11,000

10,400

28,000

6,500

7,600

12,500

25,300

4,200

18,000

56,200

12,500

6,370

219,670

25,000

10,000

6,300

10,500

4,100

9,000

4,400

8,700

8,320

86,320

621,490

4,000

6,200

2,580

12,780

11,700

6,100

17,200

7,200

3,400

10,900

6,200

9,800

5,600

5,700

6,500

12,400

102,700

1,300

2,800

2,300

2,300

3,600

1,800

1,400

2,900

3,700

700

1,950

8,200

1,800

1,440

36,190

7,600

2,300

2,000

3,800

800

2,100

850

3,000

2,170

24,620

176,290

1,600

2,100

1,170

4,870

6,700

3,100

7,700

3,100

1,900

5,400

2,500

4,400

2,400

2,400

2,500

3,800

45,900

1,400

3,300

1,200

2,000

1,400

1,100

1,100

2,700

1,600

400

1,200

4,500

1,200

1,170

24,270

4,300

1,100

1,000

1,200

350

1,200

400

1,800

1,010

12,360

87,400

1,100

1,500

1,010

3,610

3,100

2,000

4,800

2,000

1,500

3,700

1,700

2,900

1,100

1,400

1,200

2,000

27,400

2,000

3,100

1,900

2,600

1,000

1,100

1,900

3,600

1,100

700

850

3,700

1,100

1,300

25,950

8,300

1,100

1,300

600

450

1,200

350

2,000

1,270

16,570

73,530

4,200

7,150

6,100

3,300

9,800

37,500

58,500

830

6,600

133,980

75,000

62,100

92,000

64,500

53,000

81,000

108,000

50,000

30,600

78,000

32,000

77,000

803,200

46,000

48,000

2,500

44,000

49,200

88,000

28,000

12,300

42,000

55,000

84,000

24,400

88,000

228,600

47,900

20,800

908,700

600

10,400

81,000

30,900

5,500

24,500

27,800

3,050

17,800

40,000

15,500

36,500

9,200

302,750

2,148,630

 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. 5 Includes some accounting for individual farms on reservation land.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 11 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-

$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 5

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM 5

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

140

520

210

230

200

1,800

2,330

30

390

5,850

1,660

1,580

1,700

3,500

1,980

3,220

7,200

1,700

3,300

2,840

3,200

2,900

34,780

3,300

2,900

50

1,700

3,500

4,400

1,550

450

3,680

2,240

6,500

2,030

4,800

21,500

2,800

2,100

63,500

340

540

2,500

3,400

100

1,150

4,400

140

3,100

1,700

930

1,340

3,320

22,960

127,090

2,200

2,370

1,165

5,735

5,590

3,420

8,000

15,400

2,680

7,200

11,200

11,000

12,700

4,580

12,000

4,200

97,970

2,960

3,600

2,350

2,880

5,200

2,000

2,700

1,960

13,900

1,290

3,700

46,330

3,090

1,710

93,670

6,600

10,300

3,150

17,600

12,200

4,500

2,550

2,790

17,830

77,520

274,895

1,430

1,440

685

3,555

7,100

3,300

8,600

12,100

1,700

6,200

5,000

13,000

11,900

3,080

13,700

3,600

89,280

850

1,600

1,250

1,170

1,700

1,380

920

1,090

5,900

430

950

23,380

1,100

580

42,300

4,220

7,000

2,400

18,300

10,000

3,700

1,880

3,190

11,240

61,930

197,065

920

790

475

2,185

7,000

3,200

7,600

8,200

1,580

5,380

3,700

9,800

7,100

2,430

8,400

2,600

66,990

670

2,300

850

1,100

1,100

1,230

960

1,310

3,800

420

950

16,280

800

510

32,280

3,180

4,800

1,600

10,600

7,100

3,400

3,680

2,780

10,010

47,150

148,605

1,310

780

785

2,875

6,150

3,600

6,100

8,100

2,180

5,800

3,100

10,500

4,400

1,750

6,600

2,500

60,780

1,120

4,200

4,150

2,200

1,400

1,750

2,870

2,520

3,700

710

1,400

23,210

890

850

50,970

11,300

5,900

3,500

8,700

12,400

3,900

2,560

5,300

26,230

79,790

194,415

360

1,350

520

440

830

7,660

7,710

60

1,270

20,200

27,500

15,100

32,000

47,300

10,120

27,800

30,200

46,000

39,400

14,680

43,900

15,800

349,800

8,900

14,600

550

10,300

10,850

13,800

7,910

2,100

11,130

9,120

33,800

4,880

11,800

130,700

8,680

3,600

282,720

900

26,700

27,800

31,400

1,350

11,800

59,600

6,300

44,800

17,200

11,600

15,400

34,500

289,350

942,070

 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. 5 Includes some accounting for individual farms on reservation land.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 12 NASS, USDA

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

Class, United States, 2001-2003 1

Economic

Sales

Class

Percent of Total Average Size Farm

(Acres) Farms Land in Farms

2001 2001 2001

 $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 - $999,999

$1,000,000 +

Total

27.1

14.9

13.3

11.7

8.7

8.6

8.2

4.1

2.2

1.2

100.0

4.3

4.2

5.0

7.5

8.4

13.3

20.9

15.8

11.4

9.2

100.0

70

124

165

281

423

678

1,118

1,690

2,272

3,361

438

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

27.3

15.0

13.7

11.5

8.7

8.4

7.9

4.1

2.2

1.2

100.0

4.5

4.1

4.9

7.6

9.7

11.5

20.9

15.8

11.5

9.5

100.0

73

120

157

291

491

603

1,165

1,697

2,302

3,486

440

2003 2003 2003

 $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

27.0

15.2

14.0

11.4

8.6

8.3

7.9

4.1

2.1

1.4

100.0

4.3

4.0

4.9

7.5

9.8

11.5

20.9

16.0

10.5

10.6

100.0

70

116

154

290

503

612

1,168

1,722

2,207

3,342

441

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

February 2004 13 NASS, USDA

Average Size Farm: By State and United States, 2001-2003

State 2001 2002 2003

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

193

1,500

2,567

304

343

1,016

86

220

234

221

245

482

367

243

348

733

157

283

189

171

85

191

343

265

280

2,144

920

2,066

133

85

2,517

204

166

1,288

188

402

430

132

72

200

1,372

134

572

748

192

181

422

173

205

3,750

438

198

1,475

2,583

305

346

990

86

225

234

219

236

472

377

250

351

733

159

287

190

170

85

189

344

263

282

2,143

929

2,100

132

83

2,531

207

168

1,292

188

404

430

132

71

198

1,377

134

570

758

191

182

426

173

204

3,750

440

198

1,475

2,573

303

345

987

86

230

232

219

236

472

377

253

352

732

159

289

190

170

85

189

346

260

285

2,146

946

2,100

132

83

2,554

207

170

1,300

188

404

430

132

71

199

1,386

133

570

758

192

181

431

173

204

3,743

441
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 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. Historical publication statistical bulletin, NASS-SB991 (04), with revisions for 1998-2002 was published

February 27, 2004.

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 1.9 to 3.0 percent for number of

farms and 2.9 to 13.2 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 2004 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 per-head

basis, is included as land in farms provided it was part of a farm or ranch. Land under the exclusive use of a

grazing association is reported by the grazing association and included as land in farms. All land in American

Indian reservations used for growing crops or grazing livestock is included as land in farms. Land in reservations

not reported by individual American Indians or non-Native Americans is reported in the name of the cooperative

group that used the land. In many instances, the entire American Indian reservation is reported as one farm.

Economic sales classes are based on the gross value of agricultural products sold. Government program payments

from the previous year are also included.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2004 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. 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 - - - - - - - - - -
Released February 27, 2004, 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 2005.

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, 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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