Sp Sy 4 (10) a


United States
Department of
Agriculture
                                                                                
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service
                                                                                
                                                                                
	
	
                                                                                
Farms, Land in 
Farms,
and Livestock 
Operations
2009 Summary
                                                                                
February 2010
                                                                                
                                    Contents                                    
	                                                                   Page
National Summaries
					
	Number of Farms and Land in Farms 	                             2
                                                                                
	Livestock Operations 	                                             3
                                                                                
Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size 	                     4
                                                                                
Livestock Operations by Species, U.S.
                                                                                
	Cattle and Calves 	                                            14
                                                                                
	Beef Cows 	                                                    14
                                                                                
	Milk Cows 	                                                    15
                                                                                
	Milk Production 	                                            15
                                                                                
	Hogs and Pigs 	                                                    16
                                                                                
	Sheep and Goats 	                                            17
                                                                                
Reliability Statement 	                                                    18
                                                                                
Terms and Definitions 	                                                    19
                                                                                
Farm Definition History	                                                    20
                                                                                
Special Note Regarding the 2007 Estimates 	                            21
                                                                                
Contacts 	                                                            22

**********************************************************************************
                                Update Alert
                                                                                
On page 13, the 2008 estimate for Northeast region's other states total for the 
land in farms in the "$500,000 &  over" sales class has been corrected to be 
965,000 acres. The  2008 estimate for Northeast region total for the land in 
farms in the "$500,000 & over" sales class has been corrected to 4,355,000 
acres. The 2008 estimate for the U.S. total for the land in farms in the 
"$500,000 &  over" sales class has been corrected to 293,055,000 acres. The 
total land in farms for the Northeast region and the U.S. was published 
correctly.
**********************************************************************************                                                                                
                                  Special Note                                  
                                                                                
NASS is in the process of modifying report layouts in order to improve 
readability. This report issue is published using both layouts but all future 
issues will only be produced with the new layout, which is available on the 
NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov. This is the last issue using this layout.
                                                                                
               2009 Number of Farms and Land in Farms Highlights                
                                                                                
The number of farms in the United States in 2009 is estimated at 2.2 million, 
virtually unchanged from 2008.  Total land in farms, at 919.8 million acres, 
decreased 110 thousand acres from 2008.  The average farm size is 418 acres, 
unchanged from the previous year.  
                                                                                
Farm numbers and land in farms are broken down into five economic sales 
classes.  Farms and ranches are classified into these "sales classes" by 
summing their sales of agricultural products and government program payments.  
Sales class breaks occur at $10,000, $100,000, $250,000, and $500,000.
                                                                                
Farm numbers declined slightly in the $10,000-$99,999 and $500,000 and over 
sales classes.  Lower commodity prices and smaller value of sales contributed 
to changes in the number of farms within these sales classes.  Farm numbers 
increased 0.5 percent, to 1.23 million farms, in the $1,000 - $9,999 sales 
class.  Meanwhile, the number of farms in the $500,000 and over sales class 
decreased by 1.0 percent to 124,720 farms. 
                                                                                
Land in farms decreased in the smallest and largest sales classes.  In the 
$1,000-$9,999 sales class, land in farms dropped 1.1 percent, to 
105.5 million acres.  Land operated by farms in the $500,000 & over in sales 
class decreased 1.0 percent, to 290.0 million acres.  Land operated by farms 
with $250,000-$499,999 in sales increased by 4.1 percent. 
                                                                                
The average farm size was unchanged in 2009.  However, average farm sizes 
declined in some of the sales classes partially due to smaller farms moving 
up to higher sales classes.
                                                                                
This report also contains estimates of farm numbers and land in farms for 
Puerto Rico.  The number of farms with sales of $1,000 or more in Puerto Rico 
was 10,400 in 2009, down 800 farms from 2008.  Land in farms, at 
450,000 acres, is down 20,000 acres from the previous year.  The average farm 
size in Puerto Rico in 2009 was estimated at 43 acres.
                                                                                
                       Livestock Operations 2009 Summary                        
                                                                                
The number of operations with cattle totaled 950,000 for 2009, down 1 percent 
from 2008.  Beef cow operations in 2009, at 753,000, were also down 1 percent 
from last year.  The number of milk cow operations for 2009 totaled 65,000, 
down 3 percent from 2008.
                                                                                
The three operation classes:  cattle, beef cows, and milk cows, are 
classified into size groups independently.  Therefore, it is possible to have 
more beef cow operations in a particular size group than cattle operations.  
As an example, an operator with 75 cattle and 40 beef cows would be 
classified in the 50-99 size group for cattle and 1-49 size group for beef 
cows.
                                                                                
The number of operations with hogs totaled 71,450 for 2009, down 2 percent 
from 2008.  Places with 2,000 or more head accounted for 86 percent of the 
inventory.	
                                                                                
The number of operations with sheep totaled 82,000 for 2009, down 1 percent 
from 2008.  Of all sheep operations that include breeding sheep, 93.7 percent 
were comprised of 1-99 head, 5.2 percent had 100-499 head, and the remaining 
1.1 percent were operations with 500 head or more.  Operations with 1-99 head 
account for 36.2 percent of the inventory, 100-499 head account for 20.8 
percent of the inventory, and 500+ head account for 43.0 percent of the 
inventory.
                                                                                
The number of operations with goats totaled 152,000 for 2009, up 1 percent 
from a year earlier.  Angora goat operations totaled 5,400, down 17 percent 
from 2008.  Milk goat operations totaled 30,000, up 3 percent from 2008.  
Meat goat operations totaled 130,000, up 1 percent from a year earlier.  
Total goat operations will be equal to or less than the sum of angora, milk 
and meat because places which own more than one goat type count as only one 
operation.
                                                                                
                                  Special Note                                  
                                                                                
State level numbers are published in conjunction with the Census of 
Agriculture every five years.  The number of operations at the U.S. level are 
published on an annual basis.  The reference date for operation estimates is 
December 31 beginning with the 2007 estimates.  This change from the previous 
definition of an operation as any place having one or more head of a specie 
on hand at any time during the year results in a break in the data series.
                                                                                
                    Point Farms:  United States, 2003 - 2009                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                    Percent of Total 1/                    
        Year        :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :            Farms            :            Land             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003                :            18.0                           3.0             
2004                :            17.0                           2.5             
2005                :            18.0                           2.5             
2006                :            19.0                           2.7             
2007                :            22.0                           3.0             
2008 2/             :            17.0                           2.8             
2009                :            18.0                           2.9             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Percent of farms and land in farms for places having less than $1,000 of    
    reported sales, but with sufficient crops and/or livestock to normally have 
    sales of at least $1,000.                                                   
2/  Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
             Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size:             
                            United States, 1999-2009                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :        Number        :          Land           :     Average     
     Year    :       of Farms       :        in Farms         :    Farm Size    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :        Number                1,000 Acres              Acres      
             :                                                                  
1999         :      2,187,280                 948,460                 434       
2000         :      2,166,780                 945,080                 436       
2001         :      2,148,630                 942,070                 438       
2002         :      2,135,360                 940,300                 440       
2003         :      2,126,860                 936,750                 440       
2004         :      2,112,970                 932,260                 441       
2005         :      2,098,690                 927,940                 442       
2006         :      2,088,790                 925,790                 443       
2007         :      2,204,950                 921,460                 418       
2008 1/      :      2,200,100                 919,910                 418       
2009         :      2,200,010                 919,800                 418       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
  Percent of Farms and Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size:  By Economic Sales 
                         Class, United States, 2008-2009                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :           Percent of Total            :                   
      Economic      :---------------------------------------: Average Farm Size 
        Sales       :       Farms       :   Land in Farms   :      (Acres)      
        Class       :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  $1,000 -   $2,499 :   27.8      28.0       4.0       3.7        60        55  
  $2,500 -   $4,999 :   14.4      14.4       3.3       3.2        96        93  
  $5,000 -   $9,999 :   13.3      13.4       4.3       4.6       135       143  
 $10,000 -  $24,999 :   12.1      11.8       6.8       6.5       235       230  
 $25,000 -  $49,999 :    8.0       8.0       7.4       7.8       387       408  
 $50,000 -  $99,999 :    7.4       7.4      10.3      10.4       582       588  
$100,000 - $249,999 :    6.8       6.8      16.4      16.1     1,010       991  
$250,000 - $499,999 :    4.5       4.5      15.6      16.2     1,452     1,506  
$500,000 - $999,999 :    3.4       3.4      15.4      15.4     1,897     1,895  
$1,000,000 +        :    2.3       2.3      16.5      16.1     3,004     2,936  
                    :                                                           
Total               :  100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0       418       418  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
              Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size             
               By State, United States, and Puerto Rico 2008-2009               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   Number of Farms   :    Land in Farms    :  Average Farm Size  
     State    :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              : 2008 1/  :   2009   : 2008 1/  :   2009   : 2008 1/  :   2009   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :------ Number ------   --- 1,000 Acres --     ----- Acres ----   
              :                                                                 
AL            :   48,500     48,500     8,950      9,000       185        186   
AK            :      680        680       890        880     1,309      1,294   
AZ            :   15,600     15,500    26,100     26,100     1,673      1,684   
AR            :   49,300     49,100    13,700     13,600       278        277   
CA            :   81,500     81,500    25,400     25,400       312        312   
CO            :   36,500     36,200    31,300     31,300       858        865   
CT            :    4,900      4,900       400        400        82         82   
DE            :    2,500      2,480       500        490       200        198   
FL            :   47,500     47,500     9,250      9,250       195        195   
GA            :   47,800     47,600    10,400     10,300       218        216   
HI            :    7,500      7,500     1,110      1,120       148        149   
ID            :   25,200     25,500    11,400     11,400       452        447   
IL            :   75,900     75,800    26,700     26,700       352        352   
IN            :   61,000     61,500    14,800     14,800       243        241   
IA            :   92,600     92,600    30,800     30,800       333        333   
KS            :   65,500     65,500    46,200     46,200       705        705   
KY            :   85,300     85,500    14,000     14,000       164        164   
LA            :   30,000     30,000     8,050      8,050       268        268   
ME            :    8,100      8,100     1,350      1,350       167        167   
MD            :   12,850     12,800     2,050      2,050       160        160   
MA            :    7,700      7,700       520        520        68         68   
MI            :   55,000     54,800    10,000     10,000       182        182   
MN            :   81,000     81,000    26,900     26,900       332        332   
MS            :   42,000     42,300    11,000     11,050       262        261   
MO            :  108,000    108,000    29,100     29,100       269        269   
MT            :   29,500     29,800    60,800     60,800     2,061      2,040   
NE            :   47,400     47,200    45,600     45,600       962        966   
NV            :    3,100      3,080     5,900      5,900     1,903      1,916   
NH            :    4,150      4,150       470        470       113        113   
NJ            :   10,300     10,300       730        730        71         71   
NM            :   20,600     20,500    43,000     43,000     2,087      2,098   
NY            :   36,600     36,600     7,100      7,100       194        194   
NC            :   52,500     52,400     8,600      8,600       164        164   
ND            :   32,000     32,000    39,600     39,600     1,238      1,238   
OH            :   75,000     74,900    13,900     13,800       185        184   
OK            :   86,600     86,500    35,100     35,100       405        406   
OR            :   38,600     38,600    16,400     16,400       425        425   
PA            :   63,200     63,200     7,750      7,750       123        123   
RI            :    1,220      1,220        70         70        57         57   
SC            :   26,900     27,000     4,900      4,900       182        181   
SD            :   31,300     31,500    43,700     43,700     1,396      1,387   
TN            :   79,000     78,700    10,900     10,900       138        139   
TX            :  247,500    247,500   130,400    130,400       527        527   
UT            :   16,500     16,600    11,100     11,100       673        669   
VT            :    7,000      7,000     1,220      1,220       174        174   
VA            :   47,000     47,000     8,000      8,000       170        170   
WA            :   39,500     39,500    14,800     14,800       375        375   
WV            :   23,200     23,200     3,700      3,700       159        159   
WI            :   78,000     78,000    15,200     15,200       195        195   
WY            :   11,000     11,000    30,100     30,200     2,736      2,745   
              :                                                                 
US            :2,200,100  2,200,010   919,910    919,800       418        418   
              :                                                                 
PR            :   11,200     10,400       470        450        42         43   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/Revised.                                                                      
                                                                                
               Number of Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,              
               Region, United States, and Puerto Rico 2008-2009              
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                   Economic Sales Class                    
      State      :-----------------------------------------------------------
       and       :   $1,000-$9,999   :  $10,000-$99,999  : $100,000-$249,999 
      Region     :-----------------------------------------------------------
                 : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                          Number                           
                 :                                                           
Northeast        :                                                           
  CT 2/          :    3,050     3,050                                        
  ME 2/          :    5,300     5,300                                        
  MA 2/          :    4,800     4,800                                        
  NH 2/          :    2,900     2,900                                        
  NJ 2/          :    6,700     6,700                                        
  NY             :   18,700    18,900   10,800    10,900     3,100     3,200 
  PA             :   37,000    37,000   15,500    15,500     5,600     5,600 
  RI 2/          :      740       750                                        
  VT 2/          :    4,000     4,000                                        
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 3/     :                      11,060    10,950     2,220     2,270 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :   83,190    83,400   37,360    37,350    10,920    11,070 
                 :                                                           
North Central    :                                                           
  IL             :   33,500    32,400   17,400    17,600     8,100     8,500 
  IN             :   31,700    32,800   16,000    15,800     5,150     5,200 
  IA             :   30,200    30,300   28,500    28,400    14,100    14,200 
  KS             :   28,300    28,500   22,500    22,200     6,600     6,700 
  MI             :   32,300    32,100   14,500    14,400     3,600     3,500 
  MN             :   36,500    36,400   21,900    21,900     9,400     9,400 
  MO             :   57,700    58,100   38,000    37,800     5,700     5,200 
  NE             :   12,300    11,700   14,200    13,400     7,600     8,600 
  ND             :   10,600    10,700    9,400     9,300     4,300     4,400 
  OH             :   40,300    40,200   22,700    22,700     5,500     5,300 
  SD             :    9,400     9,200    9,600     9,800     5,200     5,000 
  WI             :   39,000    38,800   20,500    20,500     9,300     9,400 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  361,800   361,200  235,200   233,800    84,550    85,400 
                 :                                                           
South            :                                                           
  AL             :   31,000    31,200   12,500    12,400     1,300     1,300 
  AR             :   27,900    27,600   13,200    13,000     1,600     1,700 
  DE 2/          :    1,000     1,000                                        
  FL             :   29,500    29,500   12,700    12,700     2,100     2,100 
  GA             :   30,200    30,100   10,000    10,000     2,500     2,500 
  KY             :   54,000    54,000   25,200    25,400     2,900     3,000 
  LA             :   18,700    18,700    7,900     7,900     1,100     1,100 
  MD 2/          :    7,100     7,100                                        
  MS             :   27,400    27,500    9,900    10,100     1,050       950 
  NC             :   32,700    32,600   11,300    11,300     2,000     2,050 
  OK             :   51,000    51,000   28,000    28,000     3,800     3,700 
  SC             :   19,500    19,600    5,400     5,400       600       600 
  TN             :   55,900    56,100   19,100    18,400     1,650     1,600 
  TX             :  163,800   171,000   65,100    59,000     7,500     7,700 
  VA             :   30,000    29,800   13,300    13,600     1,450     1,300 
  WV 2/          :   18,400    18,400                                        
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 4/     :                       8,030     7,930     1,210     1,220 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  598,100   605,200  241,630   235,130    30,760    30,820 
                 :                                                           
West             :                                                           
  AK 2/          :      360       350                                        
  AZ 2/          :   12,000    12,000                                        
  CA             :   35,500    35,600   26,600    26,800     6,500     6,400 
  CO             :   20,600    19,500   10,400    11,300     2,600     2,700 
  HI 2/          :    4,600     4,600                                        
  ID             :   13,300    13,400    7,000     7,200     1,900     1,700 
  MT             :   13,100    13,500    9,400     9,300     3,700     3,500 
  NV 2/          :    1,650     1,650                                        
  NM             :   13,800    13,700    5,000     5,000       800       840 
  OR             :   24,400    24,400    8,900     9,300     2,300     2,100 
  UT             :   10,100    10,200    4,700     4,700       840       840 
  WA             :   24,400    24,300    8,900     9,000     2,000     2,000 
  WY 2/          :    5,200     5,200                                        
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 5/     :                       9,410     9,100     2,130     2,120 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  179,010   178,400   90,310    91,700    22,770    22,200 
                 :                                                           
US               :1,222,100 1,228,200  604,500   597,980   149,000   149,490 
                 :                                                           
PR               :    7,200     6,800    3,000     2,800       500       400 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                  --continued
                                                                                
               Number of Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,              
         Region, United States, and Puerto Rico 2008-2009 (continued)        
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                   Economic Sales Class                    
      State      :-----------------------------------------------------------
       and       : $250,000-$499,999 :  $500,000 & Over  :       Total       
      Region     :-----------------------------------------------------------
                 : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                          Number                           
                 :                                                           
Northeast        :                                                           
  CT 2/          :                                            4,900     4,900
  ME 2/          :                                            8,100     8,100
  MA 2/          :                                            7,700     7,700
  NH 2/          :                                            4,150     4,150
  NJ 2/          :                                           10,300    10,300
  NY             :  1,700     1,600      2,300     2,000     36,600    36,600
  PA             :  2,800     2,800      2,300     2,300     63,200    63,200
  RI 2/          :                                            1,220     1,220
  VT 2/          :                                            7,000     7,000
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 3/     :  1,220     1,320      1,380     1,330                     
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  5,720     5,720      5,980     5,630    143,170   143,170
                 :                                                           
North Central    :                                                           
  IL             :  7,900     8,100      9,000     9,200     75,900    75,800
  IN             :  3,600     3,200      4,550     4,500     61,000    61,500
  IA             :  9,800     9,800     10,000     9,900     92,600    92,600
  KS             :  3,900     3,900      4,200     4,200     65,500    65,500
  MI             :  2,100     2,200      2,500     2,600     55,000    54,800
  MN             :  6,400     6,500      6,800     6,800     81,000    81,000
  MO             :  2,900     3,100      3,700     3,800    108,000   108,000
  NE             :  6,000     6,000      7,300     7,500     47,400    47,200
  ND             :  3,700     3,700      4,000     3,900     32,000    32,000
  OH             :  3,300     3,400      3,200     3,300     75,000    74,900
  SD             :  3,900     4,200      3,200     3,300     31,300    31,500
  WI             :  5,200     5,500      4,000     3,800     78,000    78,000
                 :                                                           
  Total          : 58,700    59,600     62,450    62,800    802,700   802,800
                 :                                                           
South            :                                                           
  AL             :  1,400     1,400      2,300     2,200     48,500    48,500
  AR             :  1,700     1,900      4,900     4,900     49,300    49,100
  DE 2/          :                                            2,500     2,480
  FL             :  1,100     1,100      2,100     2,100     47,500    47,500
  GA             :  1,600     1,400      3,500     3,600     47,800    47,600
  KY             :  1,400     1,450      1,800     1,650     85,300    85,500
  LA             :    800       800      1,500     1,500     30,000    30,000
  MD 2/          :                                           12,850    12,800
  MS             :    900     1,000      2,750     2,750     42,000    42,300
  NC             :  2,500     2,450      4,000     4,000     52,500    52,400
  OK             :  1,800     1,800      2,000     2,000     86,600    86,500
  SC             :    300       300      1,100     1,100     26,900    27,000
  TN             :    950     1,100      1,400     1,500     79,000    78,700
  TX             :  4,500     4,500      6,600     5,300    247,500   247,500
  VA             :    950       900      1,300     1,400     47,000    47,000
  WV 2/          :                                           23,200    23,200
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 4/     :    850       860      1,960     1,970                     
                 :                                                           
  Total          : 20,750    20,960     37,210    35,970    928,450   928,080
                 :                                                           
West             :                                                           
  AK 2/          :                                              680       680
  AZ 2/          :                                           15,600    15,500
  CA             :  4,000     4,000      8,900     8,700     81,500    81,500
  CO             :  1,200     1,100      1,700     1,600     36,500    36,200
  HI 2/          :                                            7,500     7,500
  ID             :  1,200     1,200      1,800     2,000     25,200    25,500
  MT             :  2,100     2,300      1,200     1,200     29,500    29,800
  NV 2/          :                                            3,100     3,080
  NM             :    400       400        600       560     20,600    20,500
  OR             :  1,200     1,000      1,800     1,800     38,600    38,600
  UT             :    410       400        450       460     16,500    16,600
  WA             :  1,700     1,700      2,500     2,500     39,500    39,500
  WY 2/          :                                           11,000    11,000
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 5/     :  1,120     1,240      1,410     1,500                     
                 :                                                           
  Total          : 13,330    13,340     20,360    20,320    325,780   325,960
                 :                                                           
US               : 98,500    99,620    126,000   124,720  2,200,100 2,200,010
                 :                                                           
PR               :    250       200        250       200     11,200    10,400
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.                                                                 
2/  Estimates not available for all sales classes.                           
3/  CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT.                                          
4/  DE, MD, and WV.                                                          
5/  AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY.                                                  
                                                                                
                Land in Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,               
               Region, United States, and Puerto Rico 2008-2009              
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                   Economic Sales Class                    
      State      :-----------------------------------------------------------
       and       :   $1,000-$9,999   :  $10,000-$99,999  : $100,000-$249,999 
      Region     :-----------------------------------------------------------
                 : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                        1,000 Acres                        
                 :                                                           
Northeast        :                                                           
  CT 2/          :     130       130                                         
  ME 2/          :     480       480                                         
  MA 2/          :     210       210                                         
  NH 2/          :     230       230                                         
  NJ 2/          :     180       180                                         
  NY             :   1,400     1,500     1,700     1,800       960       960 
  PA             :   2,400     2,400     2,050     2,050     1,150     1,150 
  RI 2/          :      30        30                                         
  VT 2/          :     340       340                                         
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 3/     :                       1,260     1,250       490       500 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :   5,400     5,500     5,010     5,100     2,600     2,610 
                 :                                                           
North Central    :                                                           
  IL             :   1,500     1,300     2,300     2,200     3,300     3,400 
  IN             :   1,300     1,300     2,100     2,200     1,900     1,900 
  IA             :   1,700     1,600     4,700     4,800     5,400     5,400 
  KS             :   3,200     3,300     9,900     9,600     8,300     8,300 
  MI             :   1,800     1,700     2,000     1,900     1,400     1,300 
  MN             :   3,200     3,100     4,800     4,800     4,200     4,200 
  MO             :   5,000     4,900    10,400    10,400     3,900     3,400 
  NE             :   1,400     1,300     6,200     6,200     8,300     8,200 
  ND             :   2,000     1,800     6,200     6,200     6,900     6,900 
  OH             :   2,000     1,950     3,200     3,200     2,200     2,200 
  SD             :   1,600     1,500     7,300     7,400     9,400     9,300 
  WI             :   2,700     2,400     3,300     3,200     2,700     2,700 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  27,400    26,150    62,400    62,100    57,900    57,200 
                 :                                                           
South            :                                                           
  AL             :   3,000     3,100     3,100     3,100       800       800 
  AR             :   2,300     2,100     3,150     3,200       950     1,100 
  DE 2/          :      30        30                                         
  FL             :   1,400     1,400     1,950     1,950       900       900 
  GA             :   3,200     3,100     2,350     2,500     1,000     1,000 
  KY             :   4,400     4,400     5,010     4,900     1,320     1,400 
  LA             :   1,400     1,400     1,950     1,950       900       900 
  MD 2/          :     400       400                                         
  MS             :   3,500     3,400     2,600     2,650     1,000       900 
  NC             :   2,000     2,000     1,650     1,600       800       800 
  OK             :   6,000     6,000    12,600    12,600     6,100     6,000 
  SC             :   1,900     1,800     1,200     1,300       400       400 
  TN             :   3,750     3,800     3,700     3,600       900       800 
  TX             :  18,800    19,500    43,500    44,000    20,800    18,400 
  VA             :   2,300     2,200     2,900     3,000       900       800 
  WV 2/          :   1,920     1,900                                         
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 4/     :                       1,840     1,800       530       540 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  56,300    56,530    87,500    88,150    37,300    34,740 
                 :                                                           
West             :                                                           
  AK 2/          :     270       270                                         
  AZ 2/          :     750       750                                         
  CA             :   1,800     1,800     5,000     4,900     3,600     3,700 
  CO             :   2,700     2,600     8,400     9,400     5,900     5,800 
  HI 2/          :      80        80                                         
  ID             :     950     1,000     2,400     2,200     1,950     1,900 
  MT             :   2,500     2,500    12,000    12,000    15,400    15,400 
  NV 2/          :     200       200                                         
  NM             :   3,000     3,000    11,300    11,300     8,400     8,500 
  OR             :   1,700     1,600     3,400     3,600     3,100     3,200 
  UT             :     850       900     2,250     2,300     1,500     1,400 
  WA             :   1,300     1,300     3,100     3,100     1,800     1,800 
  WY 2/          :   1,500     1,300                                         
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 5/     :                      22,550    22,750    11,850    11,750 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  17,600    17,300    70,400    71,550    53,500    53,450 
                 :                                                           
US               : 106,700   105,480   225,310   226,900   151,300   148,000 
                 :                                                           
PR               :     120       120       160       155        70        65 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                  --continued
                                                                                
                Land in Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,               
         Region, United States, and Puerto Rico 2008-2009 (continued)        
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                   Economic Sales Class                    
      State      :-----------------------------------------------------------
       and       : $250,000-$499,999 :  $500,000 & Over  :       Total       
      Region     :-----------------------------------------------------------
                 : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   : 2008 1/ :  2009   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                        1,000 Acres                        
                 :                                                           
Northeast        :                                                           
  CT 2/          :                                             400       400 
  ME 2/          :                                           1,350     1,350 
  MA 2/          :                                             520       520 
  NH 2/          :                                             470       470 
  NJ 2/          :                                             730       730 
  NY             :     850       810     2,190     2,030     7,100     7,100 
  PA             :     950       950     1,200     1,200     7,750     7,750 
  RI 2/          :                                              70        70 
  VT 2/          :                                           1,220     1,220 
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 3/     :     445       455       965       955                     
                 :                                                           
  Total          :   2,245     2,215     4,355     4,185    19,610    19,610 
                 :                                                           
North Central    :                                                           
  IL             :   4,800     4,800    14,800    15,000    26,700    26,700 
  IN             :   2,500     2,500     7,000     6,900    14,800    14,800 
  IA             :   6,900     6,900    12,100    12,100    30,800    30,800 
  KS             :   8,400     8,200    16,400    16,800    46,200    46,200 
  MI             :   1,400     1,500     3,400     3,600    10,000    10,000 
  MN             :   4,800     4,800     9,900    10,000    26,900    26,900 
  MO             :   3,200     3,400     6,600     7,000    29,100    29,100 
  NE             :   9,100     9,700    20,600    20,200    45,600    45,600 
  ND             :   8,200     8,400    16,300    16,300    39,600    39,600 
  OH             :   2,400     2,350     4,100     4,100    13,900    13,800 
  SD             :  10,400    10,300    15,000    15,200    43,700    43,700 
  WI             :   2,600     2,800     3,900     4,100    15,200    15,200 
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  64,700    65,650   130,100   131,300   342,500   342,400 
                 :                                                           
South            :                                                           
  AL             :     700       700     1,350     1,300     8,950     9,000 
  AR             :   1,400     1,300     5,900     5,900    13,700    13,600 
  DE 2/          :                                             500       490 
  FL             :     900       900     4,100     4,100     9,250     9,250 
  GA             :     950       900     2,900     2,800    10,400    10,300 
  KY             :   1,020     1,100     2,250     2,200    14,000    14,000 
  LA             :     900       900     2,900     2,900     8,050     8,050 
  MD 2/          :                                           2,050     2,050 
  MS             :     900     1,000     3,000     3,100    11,000    11,050 
  NC             :   1,150     1,200     3,000     3,000     8,600     8,600 
  OK             :   4,300     4,400     6,100     6,100    35,100    35,100 
  SC             :     300       300     1,100     1,100     4,900     4,900 
  TN             :     800       900     1,750     1,800    10,900    10,900 
  TX             :  15,300    20,500    32,000    28,000   130,400   130,400 
  VA             :     650       650     1,250     1,350     8,000     8,000 
  WV 2/          :                                           3,700     3,700 
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 4/     :     430       420     1,100     1,150                     
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  29,700    35,170    68,700    64,800   279,500   279,390 
                 :                                                           
West             :                                                           
  AK 2/          :                                             890       880 
  AZ 2/          :                                          26,100    26,100 
  CA             :   2,900     2,900    12,100    12,100    25,400    25,400 
  CO             :   5,600     5,400     8,700     8,100    31,300    31,300 
  HI 2/          :                                           1,110     1,120 
  ID             :   1,300     1,200     4,800     5,100    11,400    11,400 
  MT             :  14,400    14,400    16,500    16,500    60,800    60,800 
  NV 2/          :                                           5,900     5,900 
  NM             :   7,700     7,700    12,600    12,500    43,000    43,000 
  OR             :   2,600     2,400     5,600     5,600    16,400    16,400 
  UT             :   1,200     1,100     5,300     5,400    11,100    11,100 
  WA             :   2,800     2,800     5,800     5,800    14,800    14,800 
  WY 2/          :                                          30,100    30,200 
                 :                                                           
  Oth Sts 5/     :   8,400     8,500    18,500    18,600                     
                 :                                                           
  Total          :  46,900    46,400    89,900    89,700   278,300   278,400 
                 :                                                           
US               : 143,545   149,435   293,055   289,985   919,910   919,800 
                 :                                                           
PR               :      40        40        80        70       470       450 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.                                                                 
2/  Estimates not available for all sales classes.                           
3/  CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT.                                          
4/  DE, MD, and WV.                                                          
5/  AK, AZ, HI, NV, and WY.                                                  
                                                                                
        Cattle and Calves:  Number of Operations and Percent of Inventory       
                     by Size Group, United States, 2008-2009                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :        Operations         :    Percent of Inventory    
                       :--------------------------------------------------------
          Head         :             :             :             :              
                       :   2008 1/   :    2009     :   2008 1/   :     2009     
                       :             :             :             :              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :   ------- Number ------        ----- Percent -----     
                       :                                                        
Cattle and Calves      :                                                        
 1-49                  :   645,000       642,000         11.4          11.4     
 50-99                 :   133,000       132,000          9.7           9.7     
 100-499               :   147,600       146,300         31.2          31.2     
 500-999               :    19,100        19,000         13.4          13.5     
 1,000-1,999           :     6,600         6,500          9.1           9.0     
 2,000-4,999           :     3,030         3,010          8.8           8.8     
 5,000-9,999           :       700           720          4.7           4.8     
 10,000-19,999         :       260           270          3.5           3.7     
 20,000+               :       210           200          8.2           7.9     
                       :                                                        
 Total                 :   955,500       950,000        100.0         100.0     
                       :                                                        
Beef Cows2/            :                                                        
 1-49                  :   601,000       598,000         28.5          28.3     
 50-99                 :    83,000        82,000         17.1          17.1     
 100-499               :    67,200        67,200         38.0          38.0     
 500-999               :     4,340         4,350          8.7           8.8     
 1,000-1,999           :     1,125         1,110          4.5           4.5     
 2,000-4,999           :       280           280          2.1           2.1     
 5,000+                :        55            60          1.1           1.2     
                       :                                                        
 Total                 :   757,000       753,000        100.0         100.0     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.                                                                    
2/  Included in operations with cattle.                                         
                                                                                
       Milk Cows:  Number of Operations, Percent of Inventory and Percent       
           of Milk Production by Size Group, United States, 2008-2009           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                     :     Percent of      :     Percent of      
              :    Operations 1/    :      Inventory      :    Production 2/    
     Head     :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :          :          :          :          :          :          
              :   2008   :   2009   :   2008   :   2009   :   2008   :   2009   
              :          :          :          :          :          :          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :  ----- Number ----     --------------- Percent --------------   
              :                                                                 
1-29          :  21,300     20,400       1.8        1.8        1.2        1.2   
30-49         :  11,900     11,500       5.1        4.9        3.9        3.8   
50-99         :  17,800     17,300      13.1       13.0       11.5       11.4   
100-199       :   8,700      8,600      12.5       12.4       11.8       11.6   
200-499       :   3,950      3,850      12.6       12.3       13.1       12.5   
500-999       :   1,720      1,700      12.5       12.5       12.5       12.6   
1,000-1,999   :     900        910      13.1       13.3       15.5       15.7   
2,000+        :     730        740      29.3       29.8       30.5       31.2   
              :                                                                 
Total         :  67,000     65,000     100.0      100.0      100.0      100.0   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Included in operations with cattle.                                         
2/  Estimates reflect the average distributions of various probability surveys  
    conducted during the year.                                                  
                                                                                
         Hogs and Pigs:  Number of Operations and Percent of Inventory         
                    by Size Group, United States, 2008-2009                    
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :         Operations          :    Percent of Inventory     
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
        Head       :              :              :              :              
                   :     2008     :     2009     :     2008     :     2009     
                   :              :              :              :              
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :    ------- Number ------         ------ Percent -----     
                   :                                                           
1-99               :    50,680         50,400           0.9            0.9     
100-499            :     6,740          6,100           2.5            2.3     
500-999            :     3,490          3,200           3.5            3.3     
1,000-1,999        :     3,950          3,550           8.0            7.5     
2,000-4,999        :     5,370          5,250          24.0           24.0     
5,000+             :     2,920          2,950          61.1           62.0     
                   :                                                           
Total              :    73,150         71,450         100.0          100.0     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
  Hogs and Pigs:  Number of Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group, 
                  Based on Ownership, United States, 2008-2009                 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :         Operations          :    Percent of Inventory     
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
        Head       :              :              :              :              
                   :     2008     :     2009     :     2008     :     2009     
                   :              :              :              :              
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :    ------- Number ------         ------ Percent -----     
                   :                                                           
1-99               :    50,610         50,370           1.0            0.9     
100-499            :     5,870          5,370           2.4            2.2     
500-999            :     2,380          2,050           2.4            2.2     
1,000-1,999        :     2,160          1,900           4.5            4.0     
2,000-4,999        :     2,350          2,200          10.7            9.7     
5,000-9,999        :       705            745           7.4            8.0     
10,000-19,999      :       365            350           7.4            7.3     
20,000-49,999      :       185            185           8.5            9.0     
50,000+            :       135            130          55.7           56.7     
                   :                                                           
Total              :    64,760         63,300         100.0          100.0     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
      Sheep and Goat Operations:  Number of Operations with Sheep or Goats,     
                            United States, 2008-2009                            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Commodity               :      2008 1/      :       2009        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        :      Number              Number       
                                        :                                       
Sheep                                   :       82,500              82,000      
                                        :                                       
Angora Goats                            :        6,500               5,400      
Milk Goats                              :       29,000              30,000      
Meat and Other Goats                    :      129,000             130,000      
All Goats                               :      150,000             152,000      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
   Breeding Sheep:  Survey Percent by Size Group, United States, 2008-2009 1/   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1-99 Head   : 100-499 Head  :500-4,999 Head :   5,000+ Head   
     Item     :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              : 2008  : 2009  : 2008  : 2009  : 2008  : 2009  :  2008  :  2009  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operations    : 92.5    93.7     6.2     5.2     1.2     1.0      0.1      0.1  
              :                                                                 
Inventory     : 32.6    36.2    22.7    20.8    30.2    31.3     14.5     11.7  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Percents reflect distributions from annual survey.                          
                                                                                
       Reliability of Farm Numbers and Land in Farms Data in this Report        
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  Data are collected by the National Agricultural Statistics 
Service (NASS) during the June Agricultural Survey using sampling procedures 
to ensure every farm and ranch has a chance of being selected.  NASS uses a 
multiple sampling frame approach to count farms and measure land in farms.  An 
Area Sampling Frame that divides all land into segments is built for every 
State.  A sample of segments is selected in each State and enumerated in early 
June.  Highly trained interviewers locate each sampled segment and identify 
every farm and ranch operating land in the segment and the number of acres in 
each operation.  
                                                                                
These data are used to compute summary indications of farm numbers and acres 
of land in farms.  Additionally, all farms found in the segments are checked 
against a list of farms and ranches maintained by NASS to determine if the 
farm is on the list.  Operations found in the Area Frame sample that are not 
on the list provide a measure of incompleteness of the list.  The summarized 
totals for these non-overlap (or not-on-list) operations are combined with 
summarized totals collected from a sample selected from the list to calculate 
additional indications of farms and land in farms.
                                                                                
Estimation Procedures:  Data are checked for reasonableness and consistency 
and summarized for each state.  State estimates are aggregated to regional 
and national totals for Headquarters review.  Field Offices perform a 
thorough review of their survey results and historical data relationships and 
recommend official estimates.  Headquarters establishes regional and national 
estimates and ensures that state estimates are in balance with the Regional 
and National numbers.
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  Estimates are subject to revision the following year and 
following review of the five-year Census of Agriculture.  The basis for 
revision must be supported by additional data which directly affects the 
level of the estimate.  
                                                                                
Reliability:  Two types of errors, sampling and non-sampling, are possible in 
an estimate based on a sample survey.  Both types can affect the quality of 
the estimates.
                                                                                
Sampling error occurs because a complete census is not taken.  The sampling 
error measures the variation in estimates from the average of all possible 
samples.  An estimate of 100 with a sampling error of 1 would mean that 
chances are 19 out of 20 that the estimates from all possible samples 
averaged together would be between 98 and 102; which is the survey estimate, 
plus or minus two times the sampling error.  The sampling error expressed as 
a percent of the estimate is called the relative sampling error.  The 
relative sampling error for the U.S. number of farms and land in farms is 
1.3 and 1.4 percent respectively.  The sampling error for total number of 
farms and total land in farms is less than the sampling error for each 
component of the total, such as number of farms by economic sales class.  
Relative sampling errors by economic sales class generally ranged from 1.8 to 
3.4 percent for number of farms and 2.1 to 6.8 percent for land in farms at 
the U.S. level.
                                                                                
Non-sampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as sample surveys.  
They are caused by the inability to obtain correct information from each 
person surveyed, differences in interpreting questions or definitions, and 
mistakes in coding or processing the data.  Special efforts are taken at each 
step of the survey to minimize non-sampling errors.
                                                                                
                             Terms and Definitions                              
                                                                                
A farm is "any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were 
produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the year".  
Government payments are included in sales.  Ranches, institutional farms, 
experimental and research farms, and Indian Reservations are included as 
farms.  Places with the entire acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve 
Program (CRP), Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), or other government programs 
are counted as farms.
                                                                                
The definition of a farm was first established in 1850 and has changed nine 
times since. The current definition was first used for the 1974 Census.
                                                                                
Land in farms consists of agricultural land used for crops, pasture, or 
grazing. Also included is woodland and wasteland not actually under 
cultivation or used for pasture or grazing, provided it was part of the farm 
operator's total operation.  Land in farms includes acres in the Conservation 
Reserve, Wetlands Reserve Programs, or other government programs.
                                                                                
Land in farms includes land owned and operated as well as land rented from 
others.  Land used rent-free is included as land rented from others.  All 
grazing land, except land used under government permits on a per-head basis, 
is included as land in farms provided it was part of a farm or ranch.  Land 
under the exclusive use of a grazing association is reported by the grazing 
association and included as land in farms.  All land in American Indian 
reservations used for growing crops or grazing livestock is included as land 
in farms.  Land in reservations not reported by individual American Indians 
or non-Native Americans is reported in the name of the cooperative group that 
used the land.  In many instances, the entire American Indian reservation is 
reported as one farm.
                                                                                
Economic sales classes are based on the gross value of agricultural products 
sold.  Government program payments are also included.
                                                                                
Point Farms are places that did not have $1,000 of reported sales for the 
year, but had sufficient crops and livestock to normally have sales of $1,000 
or more.
                                                                                
A cattle operation is any place having one or more head of cattle on hand on 
December 31.
                                                                                
A beef cow operation is any place having one or more head of beef cows on 
hand on December 31.
                                                                                
A milk cow operation is any place having one or more head of milk cows on 
hand on December 31.
                                                                                
A hogs and pigs operation is any place having one or more hog or pig on hand 
on December 31.
                                                                                
A sheep and lamb operation is any place having one or more head of sheep or 
lambs on hand on December 31.
                                                                                
A goat and kid operation is any place having one or more head of goats or 
kids on hand on December 31.
                                                                                
                            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.
						
                                        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         Value of        Value of Sales of        Required some    Apiaries and Fur 
                        Place        Agricultural   Agricultural Products       Agricultural         Farms
                                      Products                                  Operations        Enumerated
                                     (Produced)	
 	 	  
1974 - Present           - -            - -           $1,000 or more               - -                 - -

1959                Less than 10        - -            $250 or more                - -                 - -
                    10 or more	        - -             $50 or more                - -                 - -
	
1954                Less than 3         - -            $150 or more                - -                 - -
                    3 or more        $150 or more           - -                    - -                 - -

1950                Less than 3         - -            $150 or more                - -              Apiaries
                    3 or more        $150 or more           - -                    - -              Fur Farms 

1935 - 1945         Less than 3      $250 or more           - -                    - -              Apiaries
                    3 or more	        - -                 - -                     X               Fur Farms

1930                Less than 3      $250 or more           - -                    - -              Apiaries
                    3 or more	        - -                 - -                     X                  - -

1925                Less than 3      $250 or more           - -                    - -                 - -
                    3 or more	        - -                 - -                     X                  - -

1910 - 1925         Less than 3      $250 or more           - -                    - -              Apiaries
                    3 or more	        - -                 - -                     X                  - -

1900                Less than 3         - -                 - -                    - -              Apiaries
                    3 or more	        - -                 - -                     X                  - -

1870 - 1890         Less than 3         - -            $500 or more                - -              Apiaries
                    3 or more	        - -                 - -                     X                  - -

1860                   - -              - -                 - -                    - -                 - -

1850                   - -           $100 or more           - -                    - -              Apiaries

1840                   - -              - -                 - -                    - -                 - -

Historic Estimates: Final estimates of Farms and Land in Farms in earlier years are available in Statistical Bulletins, 
No. 991 for 1998-2002, No. 955 for 1993-97, No. 895 for 1988-92, No. 792 for 1979-87, SpSy3 for 1975-80, 
No. 594 for 1969-75, No. 507 for 1959-70, No. 316 for number of farm estimates for 1910-59 and land in farms estimates 
for 1950-59.

        
                                                                                
Historic Estimates: Final estimates of Farms and Land in Farms in earlier 
years are available in Statistical Bulletins, No. 991 for 1998-2002, No. 955 
for 1993-97, No. 895 for 1988-92, No. 792 for 1979-87, SpSy3 for 1975-80, No. 
594 for 1969-75, No. 507 for 1959-70, No. 316 for number of farm estimates 
for 1910-59 and land in farms estimates for 1950-59.
                                                                                
                   Special Note Regarding the 2007 Estimates                    
                                                                                
Census:  The Farms, Land in Farms, and Livestock Operations publication is 
produced annually.  The purpose of this publication is to provide annual 
estimates of Farms, Land in Farms, and Operations with Livestock.  It also 
provides revisions, as necessary, to previous year estimates.   The Census of 
Agriculture, conducted every five years provides a base from which the annual 
surveys measure the change from that base.  At the end of the next five year 
cycle, the annual estimates are revised based on inter-census trends.
                                                                                
The 2007 Census of Agriculture showed a significant increase in the number of 
farms, and reversed the downward trend that was shown in the annual estimates 
of Farm Numbers since the 2002 Census of Agriculture.  NASS believes that 
some of the increase is due to methodological changes that allowed NASS to 
more accurately count small farms in the 2007 Census.  This is discussed in 
more detail below.  
                                                                                
Methodological Discussion:  Each year NASS conducts the June Area Frame 
Survey (AFS) to provide an estimate of the number of farms and the land in 
farms.  The exception is Alaska, which does not have an area frame and uses a 
list survey instead.   The area frame is stratified by land use.  A sample of 
approximately 11,000 segments of land (each approximately one square mile in 
size) is selected, and field enumerators visit each sampled segment to 
identify agricultural activity within the segment.  The AFS is assumed to 
provide complete coverage of the universe of farm and ranch operations 
because the area-based frame covers all land in the U.S.
                                                                                
In preparation for the census of agriculture, NASS builds the Census Mail 
List (CML) consisting of all known farms and potential farms.  In addition, 
NASS uses the area frame sample to measure and account for the incompleteness 
of the CML in a dual-frame estimation procedure.  This dual-frame estimation 
procedure assumes complete coverage of the universe of farm and ranch 
operations because the undercoverage of the CML is accounted for through the 
area frame sample. 
                                                                                
Results from the 2002 Census of Agriculture indicated undercoverage of farms 
in the lowest value of sales categories.  This category includes a high 
concentration of disadvantaged and minority farm operators.  In preparation 
for the 2007 Census, NASS exerted more extensive efforts than in previous 
censuses to build a comprehensive list.  Additionally, NASS worked with 
several community based organizations and producer groups to enhance 
awareness, to increase response, and to improve coverage of these types of 
farms.  This resulted in a 2007 CML with 3,194,373 records as compared with 
2,841,788 in 2002.  Additionally, NASS augmented the area frame sample with 
segments that were located in areas where small and minority operated farms 
were likely to be located.  
                                                                                
The 2007 Census of Agriculture produced a greater number of farms in the 
lowest value of sales categories.  The extensive list building efforts and 
the augmentation of the area frame sample allowed NASS to capture more of the 
small farms with less than $10,000 in value of agricultural sales.  
Additionally, 2007 was a year of relatively high commodity prices.  As the 
value of farm commodities increased, more very small operations are able to 
meet the $1,000 value of sales threshold to qualify as a farm in the census.  
                                                                                
After the 2007 Census of Agriculture NASS conducted a classification error 
research study for the census in five states.  The study used data from the 
2007 AFS and the 2007 census to examine whether there were farms incorrectly 
classified as nonfarms, and whether there were any nonfarms incorrectly 
classified as farms.   Records in the 2007 AFS were matched to the 2007 
census using probabilistic record linkage.  Records whose farm status 
differed in the two data collections were interviewed to determine which data 
source was correct.  
                                                                                
Results of the study showed that where there were discrepancies in farm 
status between the two reports, the census data was more often correct than 
the AFS data.   Some AFS farms had not been correctly classified by the 
enumeration and processing procedures.   These results challenged the NASS 
assumption made for its annual estimates that all farms are captured using 
the AFS estimation procedures.  This assumption had been made on the basis of 
the completeness of the frame, the high quality of the personal enumeration 
mode utilized for the data collection, and the extensive training of field 
enumerators collecting the data.  However, the more extensive census 
procedures using dual-frame estimation produced a larger farm count than the 
AFS estimation.  This result and the results of the research study provided 
evidence that the AFS procedure is underestimating the number of farms.  
Because the AFS estimate is the major indicator for producing annual farm 
number estimates, it is likely these farms were also underestimated in the 
non census years.
                                                                                
The 2007- 2009 farm number estimates reflect adjustments in the number of 
farms based on estimates produced by the 2007 Census of Agriculture.  NASS 
has launched a research initiative to address the methodological issues 
discussed above. 
                                                                                
                              Information Contacts                              
                                                                                
Questions about the data in this report should be directed to the commodity 
specialists listed below.
                                                                                
                         Farm Numbers and Land in Farms                         
                                                                                
Kevin Barnes, Chief, Environmental, Economics, and 
   Demographics Branch	                                         (202) 720-6146
	Kevin Hintzman, Head, Economics Section	                 (202) 720-6146
	Scott Shimmin- Farm Numbers and Land in Farms	         (202) 690-3231
                                                                                
                              Livestock Operations                              
                                                                                
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch	                         (202) 720-3570
                                                                                
	Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section	                 (202) 720-3570
	Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs	                         (202) 720-3106
	Jim Collom - Dairy Products	                         (202) 690-3236
	Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices	                 (202) 690-2168
	Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows	         (202) 720-3278
	Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter	                 (515) 284-4340
	Everett Olbert - Sheep & Lambs, Goats & Kids	         (202) 720-4751
	Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed	         (202) 720-3040
	
                                                                                
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