Farms, Land in Farms,
and Livestock Operations
2010 Summary

February 2011

ISSN: 1930-7128

United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service

Contents

2010 Number of Farms and Land in Farms Highlights........................................................  5

2010 Livestock Operations Highlights.....................................................................  6

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class - United States: 2009 and 2010...................................  7

Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class - United States: 2009 and 2010.................................  7

Farms and Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class - United States: 2010....................................  8 

Number of Farms and Average Farm Size - United States: 1994-2010.........................................  8

Point Farms - United States: 2004-2010...................................................................  9

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size - United States: 2000-2010.........................  9

Percent of Farms and Land in Farms and the Average Farm Size by Economic Sales Class - United States: 
2009 and 2010............................................................................................  9

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size - State, United States, and Puerto Rico: 2009 
and 2010................................................................................................. 10

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010... 11

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010..... 15

Number of Cattle and Calves, Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group - United States: 2009 
and 2010................................................................................................. 19

Number of All Cattle and Beef Cow Operations - United States: 1990-2010.................................. 19

Number of Milk Cow Operations, Percent of Inventory, and Percent of Milk Production by Size Group - 
United States: 2009 and 2010............................................................................. 20

Number of Milk Cow Operations - United States: 1990-2010................................................. 20

Number of Hog and Pig Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group - United States: 2009 and 2010... 21

Number of Hog and Pig Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group, Based on Ownership - 
United States: 2009 and 2010............................................................................. 21

Number of Hog Operations - United States: 1990-2010...................................................... 21

Number of Sheep and Goat Operations - United States: 2009 and 2010....................................... 22

Breeding Sheep, Survey Percent by Size Group - United States: 2009 and 2010.............................. 22

Number of Sheep Operations - United States: 1990-2010.................................................... 22

Statistical Methodology ................................................................................. 23

Terms and Definitions ................................................................................... 24

Farm Definition History.................................................................................. 25

Special Note Regarding 2007 Estimates.................................................................... 26

Information Contacts..................................................................................... 28
 

*********************************************************************************

Update Alert - February 17, 2011

Land in Farms on page 16, $100,000-$249,999 sales class, in 2009, for the West
Region; Other States total, the West Region total and the United States
total has been updated.

*********************************************************************************


2010 Number of Farms and Land in Farms Highlights

The number of farms in the United States in 2010 is estimated at 2.2 million, 
virtually unchanged from 2009. Total land in farms, at 920.0 million acres, 
increased 100 thousand acres from 2009. 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 increased slightly in the $1,000-$9,999 and $500,000 and over 
sales classes. Higher commodity prices and larger value of sales contributed 
to changes in the number of farms within these sales classes. Farm numbers 
increased 0.1 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 
increased by 1.6 percent, to 126,720 farms. 

Land in farms increased in the largest sales class while decreasing in all 
other sales classes. Land operated by farms in the $500,000 & over in sales 
class increased 3.0 percent, to 298.9 million acres. Land operated by farms 
with $1,000-$9,999 in sales decreased by 0.6 percent, to 105.0 million acres. 

The average farm size was unchanged in 2010. 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 2010, unchanged from 2009. Land in farms, at 450,000 acres, is 
unchanged from the previous year. The average farm size in Puerto Rico in 
2010 was estimated at 43 acres.

2010 Livestock Operations Highlights

The number of operations with cattle totaled 935,000 for 2010, down 1 percent 
from 2009.  Beef cow operations in 2010, at 742,000, were also down 1 percent 
from last year. The number of milk cow operations for 2010 totaled 62,500, 
down 4 percent from 2009.

The three operation classes:  cattle, beef cows, and milk cows, are 
classified into size groups independently. Therefore, it is possible to have 
more beef cow operations in a particular size group than cattle operations. 
As an example, an operator with 75 cattle and 40 beef cows would be 
classified in the 50-99 size group for cattle and 1-49 size group for beef 
cows.

The number of operations with hogs totaled 69,100 for 2010, down 3 percent 
from 2009. Places with 2,000 or more head accounted for 86 percent of the 
inventory.	

The number of operations with sheep totaled 81,000 for 2010, down 1 percent 
from 2009. Of all sheep operations that include breeding sheep, 93.8 percent 
were comprised of 1-99 head, 5.1 percent had 100-499 head, and the remaining 
1.1 percent were operations with 500 head or more. Operations with 1-99 head 
account for 35.8 percent of the inventory, 100-499 head account for 20.1 
percent of the inventory, and 500+ head account for 44.1 percent of the 
inventory.

The number of operations with goats totaled 152,000 for 2010, unchanged from 
a year earlier. Angora goat operations totaled 6,000, up 9 percent from 2009. 
Milk goat operations totaled 31,000, up 3 percent from 2009. Meat goat 
operations totaled 128,000, down 2 percent from a year earlier. Total goat 
operations will be equal to or less than the sum of angora, milk and meat 
goat operations since places which own more than one goat type count as only 
one operation.

Point Farms - United States: 2004-2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        :           Percent of total            
                  Year                  :---------------------------------------
                                        :       Farms       :       Land        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004 ...................................:       17.0                 2.5        
2005 ...................................:       18.0                 2.5        
2006 ...................................:       19.0                 2.7        
2007 ...................................:       22.0                 3.0        
2008 ...................................:       17.0                 2.8        
2009 ...................................:       18.0                 2.9        
2010 ...................................:       19.0                 3.0        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size - United States: 2000-2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :      Number       :       Land        :      Average      
        Year        :     of farms      :     in farms      :     farm size     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :      number            1,000 acres            acres       
                    :                                                           
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 ...............:     2,200,100            919,910               418        
2009 ...............:     2,200,210            919,890               418        
2010 ...............:     2,200,930            919,990               418        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Percent of Farms and Land in Farms and the Average Farm Size by Economic Sales
Class - United States: 2009 and 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :           Percent of total            :                   
                    :---------------------------------------: Average farm size 
Economic sales class:       Farms       :   Land in farms   :      (acres)      
                    :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1,000 - $2,499 ....:   28.0      27.3       3.7       3.6        55        55  
$2,500 - $4,999 ....:   14.4      14.9       3.2       3.6        93       101  
$5,000 - $9,999 ....:   13.4      13.7       4.6       4.2       143       128  
$10,000 - $24,999 ..:   11.8      12.2       6.5       6.9       231       236  
$25,000 - $49,999 ..:    8.0       8.0       7.8       7.3       408       381  
$50,000 - $99,999 ..:    7.4       6.8      10.4      10.1       588       620  
$100,000 - $249,999 :    6.8       6.8      16.1      15.9       992       980  
$250,000 - $499,999 :    4.5       4.5      16.2      15.9     1,508     1,481  
$500,000 - $999,999 :    3.4       3.5      15.4      16.0     1,897     1,916  
$1,000,000 + .......:    2.3       2.3      16.1      16.5     2,932     3,007  
                    :                                                           
Total ..............:  100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0       418       418  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA)  Not available.                                                            
(X)   Not applicable.                                                           

Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size - State, United States,
and Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :   Number of farms   :    Land in farms    :  Average farm size  
     State     :-----------------------------------------------------------------
               :   2009   :   2010   :   2009   :   2010   :   2009   :   2010   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :------ number ------   --- 1,000 acres --     ----- acres ----   
               :                                                                 
Alabama .......:   48,500     48,500     9,000      9,000       186        186   
Alaska ........:      680        680       880        880     1,294      1,294   
Arizona .......:   15,500     15,500    26,100     26,100     1,684      1,684   
Arkansas ......:   49,100     49,300    13,600     13,700       277        278   
California ....:   81,500     81,700    25,400     25,400       312        311   
Colorado ......:   36,200     36,100    31,300     31,200       865        864   
Connecticut ...:    4,900      4,900       400        400        82         82   
Delaware ......:    2,480      2,480       490        490       198        198   
Florida .......:   47,500     47,500     9,250      9,250       195        195   
Georgia .......:   47,600     47,400    10,300     10,300       216        217   
               :                                                                 
Hawaii ........:    7,500      7,500     1,110      1,110       148        148   
Idaho .........:   25,500     25,700    11,400     11,400       447        444   
Illinois ......:   75,800     76,000    26,700     26,700       352        351   
Indiana .......:   61,500     62,000    14,800     14,800       241        239   
Iowa ..........:   92,600     92,400    30,800     30,800       333        333   
Kansas ........:   65,500     65,500    46,200     46,200       705        705   
Kentucky ......:   85,500     85,700    14,000     14,000       164        163   
Louisiana .....:   30,000     30,000     8,050      8,050       268        268   
Maine .........:    8,100      8,100     1,350      1,350       167        167   
Maryland ......:   12,800     12,800     2,050      2,050       160        160   
               :                                                                 
Massachusetts .:    7,700      7,700       520        520        68         68   
Michigan ......:   54,800     54,900    10,000     10,000       182        182   
Minnesota .....:   81,000     81,000    26,900     26,900       332        332   
Mississippi ...:   42,300     42,400    11,050     11,150       261        263   
Missouri ......:  108,000    108,000    29,100     29,100       269        269   
Montana .......:   29,800     29,400    60,800     60,800     2,040      2,068   
Nebraska ......:   47,200     47,200    45,600     45,600       966        966   
Nevada ........:    3,080      3,100     5,900      5,900     1,916      1,903   
New Hampshire .:    4,150      4,150       470        470       113        113   
New Jersey ....:   10,300     10,300       730        730        71         71   
               :                                                                 
New Mexico ....:   20,700     21,000    43,100     43,200     2,082      2,057   
New York ......:   36,600     36,300     7,100      7,000       194        193   
North Carolina :   52,400     52,400     8,600      8,600       164        164   
North Dakota ..:   32,000     31,900    39,600     39,600     1,238      1,241   
Ohio ..........:   74,900     74,700    13,800     13,700       184        183   
Oklahoma ......:   86,500     86,500    35,100     35,200       406        407   
Oregon ........:   38,600     38,800    16,400     16,400       425        423   
Pennsylvania ..:   63,200     63,200     7,750      7,750       123        123   
Rhode Island ..:    1,220      1,220        70         70        57         57   
South Carolina :   27,000     27,000     4,900      4,900       181        181   
               :                                                                 
South Dakota ..:   31,500     31,800    43,700     43,700     1,387      1,374   
Tennessee .....:   78,700     78,300    10,900     10,900       139        139   
Texas .........:  247,500    247,500   130,400    130,400       527        527   
Utah ..........:   16,600     16,600    11,100     11,100       669        669   
Vermont .......:    7,000      7,000     1,220      1,220       174        174   
Virginia ......:   47,000     47,300     8,000      8,050       170        170   
Washington ....:   39,500     39,500    14,800     14,800       375        375   
West Virginia .:   23,200     23,000     3,700      3,650       159        159   
Wisconsin .....:   78,000     78,000    15,200     15,200       195        195   
Wyoming .......:   11,000     11,000    30,200     30,200     2,745      2,745   
               :                                                                 
United States .:2,200,210  2,200,930   919,890    919,990       418        418   
               :                                                                 
Puerto Rico ...:   10,400     10,400       450        450        43         43   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and
Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                   Economic sales class                    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
  State and region :   $1,000-$9,999   :  $10,000-$99,999  : $100,000-$249,999 
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                          number                           
                   :                                                           
Northeast          :                                                           
  Connecticut .....:   3,050     3,050      (NA)      (NA)     (NA)      (NA)  
  Maine ...........:   5,300     5,300      (NA)      (NA)     (NA)      (NA)  
  Massachusetts ...:   4,800     4,800      (NA)      (NA)     (NA)      (NA)  
  New Hampshire ...:   2,900     2,900      (NA)      (NA)     (NA)      (NA)  
  New Jersey ......:   6,700     6,600      (NA)      (NA)     (NA)      (NA)  
  New York ........:  18,900    19,000    10,900    10,700    3,200     3,400  
  Pennsylvania ....:  37,000    37,000    15,500    15,800    5,600     5,600  
  Rhode Island ....:     750       750      (NA)      (NA)     (NA)      (NA)  
  Vermont .........:   4,000     4,000      (NA)      (NA)     (NA)      (NA)  
                   :                                                           
  Other States 1/ .:     (X)       (X)    10,950    11,050    2,270     2,320  
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  83,400    83,400    37,350    37,550   11,070    11,320  
                   :                                                           
North Central      :                                                           
  Illinois ........:  32,400    33,400    17,600    17,200    8,500     8,400  
  Indiana .........:  32,800    33,700    15,800    15,200    5,200     5,300  
  Iowa ............:  30,300    30,200    28,400    28,500   14,200    14,300  
  Kansas ..........:  28,500    28,000    22,200    22,500    6,700     6,700  
  Michigan ........:  32,100    32,200    14,400    14,400    3,500     3,500  
  Minnesota .......:  36,400    36,300    21,900    21,800    9,400     9,400  
  Missouri ........:  58,100    58,800    37,800    36,800    5,200     5,700  
  Nebraska ........:  11,700    12,000    13,400    12,400    8,600     9,000  
  North Dakota ....:  10,700    10,500     9,300     9,200    4,400     4,600  
  Ohio ............:  40,200    40,200    22,700    22,600    5,300     5,300  
  South Dakota ....:   9,200     9,300     9,800    10,000    5,000     4,800  
  Wisconsin .......:  38,800    38,300    20,500    20,900    9,400     9,000  
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........: 361,200   362,900   233,800   231,500   85,400    86,000  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                    --continued

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and
Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010 (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                   Economic sales class                    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
  State and region :   $1,000-$9,999   :  $10,000-$99,999  : $100,000-$249,999 
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                          number                           
                   :                                                           
South              :                                                           
  Alabama .........:   31,200    31,000   12,400    12,500     1,300     1,300 
  Arkansas ........:   27,600    27,200   13,000    13,600     1,700     1,500 
  Delaware ........:    1,000     1,000     (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  Florida .........:   29,500    29,500   12,700    12,600     2,100     2,200 
  Georgia .........:   30,100    29,700   10,000    10,000     2,500     2,300 
  Kentucky ........:   55,000    55,500   24,500    24,000     2,900     2,800 
  Louisiana .......:   18,700    18,700    7,900     7,900     1,100     1,100 
  Maryland ........:    7,100     7,100     (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  Mississippi .....:   27,500    27,700   10,100    10,000       950     1,000 
  North Carolina ..:   32,600    32,600   11,300    11,300     2,050     2,000 
  Oklahoma ........:   51,000    51,000   28,000    28,000     3,700     3,600 
  South Carolina ..:   19,600    19,300    5,400     5,500       600       600 
  Tennessee .......:   56,100    55,500   18,400    18,700     1,600     1,600 
  Texas ...........:  171,000   171,000   59,000    59,000     7,700     7,000 
  Virginia ........:   29,800    30,300   13,600    13,300     1,300     1,400 
  West Virginia ...:   18,400    18,400     (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
                   :                                                           
  Other States 2/ .:      (X)       (X)    7,930     7,730     1,220     1,230 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  606,200   605,500  234,230   234,130    30,720    29,630 
                   :                                                           
West               :                                                           
  Alaska ..........:      350       350     (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  Arizona .........:   12,000    12,000     (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  California ......:   35,600    35,500   26,800    26,700     6,400     6,700 
  Colorado ........:   19,500    19,500   11,300    11,300     2,700     2,400 
  Hawaii ..........:    4,600     4,600     (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  Idaho ...........:   13,400    13,800    7,200     7,300     1,700     1,700 
  Montana .........:   13,500    13,100    9,300     9,300     3,500     3,400 
  Nevada ..........:    1,650     1,650     (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  New Mexico ......:   13,900    14,100    5,000     5,100       840       840 
  Oregon ..........:   24,400    24,500    9,300     9,200     2,100     2,200 
  Utah ............:   10,200    10,200    4,700     4,750       840       840 
  Washington ......:   24,300    24,500    9,000     8,900     2,000     1,900 
  Wyoming .........:    5,200     5,200     (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
                   :                                                           
  Other States 3/ .:      (X)       (X)    9,100     9,120     2,120     2,120 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  178,600   179,000   91,700    91,670    22,200    22,100 
                   :                                                           
United States .....:1,229,400 1,230,800  597,080   594,850   149,390   149,050 
                   :                                                           
Puerto Rico .......:    6,800     6,800    2,800     2,800       400       400 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                    --continued

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and
Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010  (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                   Economic sales class                    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
  State and region : $250,000-$499,999 : $500,000 and over :       Total       
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                          number                           
                   :                                                           
Northeast          :                                                           
  Connecticut .....:   (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      4,900     4,900 
  Maine ...........:   (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      8,100     8,100 
  Massachusetts ...:   (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      7,700     7,700 
  New Hampshire ...:   (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      4,150     4,150 
  New Jersey ......:   (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)     10,300    10,300 
  New York ........:  1,600     1,450     2,000     1,750     36,600    36,300 
  Pennsylvania ....:  2,800     2,500     2,300     2,300     63,200    63,200 
  Rhode Island ....:   (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      1,220     1,220 
  Vermont .........:   (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      7,000     7,000 
                   :                                                           
  Other States 1/ .:  1,320     1,220     1,330     1,380        (X)       (X) 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  5,720     5,170     5,630     5,430    143,170   142,870 
                   :                                                           
North Central      :                                                           
  Illinois ........:  8,100     8,000     9,200     9,000     75,800    76,000 
  Indiana .........:  3,200     3,300     4,500     4,500     61,500    62,000 
  Iowa ............:  9,800     9,600     9,900     9,800     92,600    92,400 
  Kansas ..........:  3,900     3,900     4,200     4,400     65,500    65,500 
  Michigan ........:  2,200     2,200     2,600     2,600     54,800    54,900 
  Minnesota .......:  6,500     6,800     6,800     6,700     81,000    81,000 
  Missouri ........:  3,100     2,900     3,800     3,800    108,000   108,000 
  Nebraska ........:  6,000     6,300     7,500     7,500     47,200    47,200 
  North Dakota ....:  3,700     3,700     3,900     3,900     32,000    31,900 
  Ohio ............:  3,400     3,400     3,300     3,200     74,900    74,700 
  South Dakota ....:  4,200     4,300     3,300     3,400     31,500    31,800 
  Wisconsin .......:  5,500     5,700     3,800     4,100     78,000    78,000 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........: 59,600    60,100    62,800    62,900    802,800   803,400 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                    --continued

Number of Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and
Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010  (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                   Economic sales class                    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
  State and region : $250,000-$499,999 : $500,000 and over :       Total       
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                          number                           
                   :                                                           
South              :                                                           
  Alabama .........:  1,400     1,400      2,200     2,300     48,500    48,500
  Arkansas ........:  1,900     2,000      4,900     5,000     49,100    49,300
  Delaware ........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)      2,480     2,480
  Florida .........:  1,100     1,100      2,100     2,100     47,500    47,500
  Georgia .........:  1,400     1,600      3,600     3,800     47,600    47,400
  Kentucky ........:  1,400     1,500      1,700     1,900     85,500    85,700
  Louisiana .......:    800       800      1,500     1,500     30,000    30,000
  Maryland ........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)     12,800    12,800
  Mississippi .....:  1,000       900      2,750     2,800     42,300    42,400
  North Carolina ..:  2,450     2,500      4,000     4,000     52,400    52,400
  Oklahoma ........:  1,800     1,850      2,000     2,050     86,500    86,500
  South Carolina ..:    300       400      1,100     1,200     27,000    27,000
  Tennessee .......:  1,100     1,050      1,500     1,450     78,700    78,300
  Texas ...........:  4,500     4,200      5,300     6,300    247,500   247,500
  Virginia ........:    900     1,000      1,400     1,300     47,000    47,300
  West Virginia ...:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)     23,200    23,000
                   :                                                           
  Other States 2/ .:    860       850      1,970     1,970        (X)       (X)
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........: 20,910    21,150     36,020    37,670    928,080   928,080
                   :                                                           
West               :                                                           
  Alaska ..........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)        680       680
  Arizona .........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)     15,500    15,500
  California ......:  4,000     3,900      8,700     8,900     81,500    81,700
  Colorado ........:  1,100     1,200      1,600     1,700     36,200    36,100
  Hawaii ..........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)      7,500     7,500
  Idaho ...........:  1,200     1,100      2,000     1,800     25,500    25,700
  Montana .........:  2,300     2,200      1,200     1,400     29,800    29,400
  Nevada ..........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)      3,080     3,100
  New Mexico ......:    400       400        560       560     20,700    21,000
  Oregon ..........:  1,000     1,100      1,800     1,800     38,600    38,800
  Utah ............:    400       350        460       460     16,600    16,600
  Washington ......:  1,700     1,600      2,500     2,600     39,500    39,500
  Wyoming .........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)     11,000    11,000
                   :                                                           
  Other States 3/ .:  1,240     1,240      1,500     1,500        (X)       (X)
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........: 13,340    13,090     20,320    20,720    326,160   326,580
                   :                                                           
United States .....: 99,570    99,510    124,770   126,720  2,200,210 2,200,930
                   :                                                           
Puerto Rico .......:    200       200        200       200     10,400    10,400
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA)  Not available.                                                           
(X)   Not applicable.                                                          
1/    Other States includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,  
      New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.                                   
2/    Other States includes Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia.             
3/    Other States includes Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Wyoming.      

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and
Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                   Economic sales class                    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
  State and region :   $1,000-$9,999   :  $10,000-$99,999  : $100,000-$249,999 
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                        1,000 acres                        
                   :                                                           
Northeast .........:                                                           
  Connecticut .....:    130       130      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)  
  Maine ...........:    480       480      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)  
  Massachusetts ...:    210       210      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)  
  New Hampshire ...:    230       230      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)  
  New Jersey ......:    180       180      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)  
  New York ........:  1,500     1,600     1,800     1,700       960     1,200  
  Pennsylvania ....:  2,400     2,450     2,050     2,100     1,150     1,200  
  Rhode Island ....:     30        30      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)  
  Vermont .........:    340       340      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)  
                   :                                                           
  Other States 1/ .:    (X)       (X)     1,250     1,250       500       510  
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  5,500     5,650     5,100     5,050     2,610     2,910  
                   :                                                           
North Central .....:                                                           
  Illinois ........:  1,300     1,400     2,200     2,300     3,400     3,400  
  Indiana .........:  1,300     1,300     2,200     2,200     1,900     2,000  
  Iowa ............:  1,600     1,500     4,800     4,900     5,400     5,500  
  Kansas ..........:  3,300     3,100     9,600     9,300     8,300     8,300  
  Michigan ........:  1,700     1,700     1,900     1,900     1,300     1,300  
  Minnesota .......:  3,100     3,000     4,800     4,800     4,200     4,200  
  Missouri ........:  4,900     5,000    10,400    10,300     3,400     3,500  
  Nebraska ........:  1,300     1,400     6,200     5,400     8,200     8,600  
  North Dakota ....:  1,800     1,800     6,200     6,000     6,900     6,900  
  Ohio ............:  1,950     1,950     3,200     3,150     2,200     2,150  
  South Dakota ....:  1,500     1,500     7,400     7,400     9,300     9,100  
  Wisconsin .......:  2,400     2,400     3,200     3,200     2,700     2,500  
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........: 26,150    26,050    62,100    60,850    57,200    57,450  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                    --continued

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and
Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010  (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                   Economic sales class                    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
  State and region :   $1,000-$9,999   :  $10,000-$99,999  : $100,000-$249,999 
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                        1,000 acres                        
                   :                                                           
South .............:                                                           
  Alabama .........:   3,100     3,000     3,100     3,100       800       800 
  Arkansas ........:   2,100     2,100     3,200     3,200     1,100       950 
  Delaware ........:      30        30      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  Florida .........:   1,400     1,400     1,950     1,900       900       850 
  Georgia .........:   3,100     2,900     2,500     2,600     1,000       950 
  Kentucky ........:   4,400     4,400     4,900     4,800     1,400     1,300 
  Louisiana .......:   1,400     1,400     1,950     1,950       900       900 
  Maryland ........:     400       400      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  Mississippi .....:   3,400     3,450     2,650     2,700       900       950 
  North Carolina ..:   2,000     2,000     1,600     1,600       800       800 
  Oklahoma ........:   6,000     6,000    12,600    12,700     6,000     5,900 
  South Carolina ..:   1,800     1,700     1,300     1,200       400       400 
  Tennessee .......:   3,800     3,800     3,600     3,600       800       800 
  Texas ...........:  19,500    19,500    44,000    42,000    18,400    17,600 
  Virginia ........:   2,200     2,250     3,000     2,900       800       900 
  West Virginia ...:   1,900     1,850      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
                   :                                                           
  Other States 2/ .:     (X)       (X)     1,800     1,820       540       540 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  56,530    56,180    88,150    86,070    34,740    33,640 
                   :                                                           
West ..............:                                                           
  Alaska ..........:     270       270      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  Arizona .........:     750       750      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  California ......:   1,800     1,800     4,900     4,800     3,700     3,800 
  Colorado ........:   2,600     2,600     9,400     9,400     5,800     5,000 
  Hawaii ..........:      80        80      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  Idaho ...........:   1,000       950     2,200     2,550     1,900     1,900 
  Montana .........:   2,500     2,300    12,000    11,800    15,400    14,800 
  Nevada ..........:     200       200      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
  New Mexico ......:   3,100     3,100    11,300    11,300     8,400     8,400 
  Oregon ..........:   1,600     1,600     3,600     3,450     3,200     3,200 
  Utah ............:     900       850     2,300     2,310     1,400     1,410 
  Washington ......:   1,300     1,300     3,100     3,100     1,800     1,800 
  Wyoming .........:   1,300     1,300      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA) 
                   :                                                           
  Other States 3/ .:     (X)       (X)    22,750    22,750    11,740    11,750 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  17,400    17,100    71,550    71,460    53,340    52,060 
                   :                                                           
United States .....: 105,580   104,980   226,900   223,430   147,890   146,060 
                   :                                                           
Puerto Rico .......:     120       120       155       155        65        65 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                    --continued

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and
Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010  (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                   Economic sales class                    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
  State and region : $250,000-$499,999 : $500,000 and over :       Total       
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                        1,000 acres                        
                   :                                                           
Northeast          :                                                           
  Connecticut .....:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)       400       400 
  Maine ...........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)     1,350     1,350 
  Massachusetts ...:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)       520       520 
  New Hampshire ...:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)       470       470 
  New Jersey ......:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)       730       730 
  New York ........:    810       700      2,030     1,800     7,100     7,000 
  Pennsylvania ....:    950       850      1,200     1,150     7,750     7,750 
  Rhode Island ....:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)        70        70 
  Vermont .........:   (NA)      (NA)       (NA)      (NA)     1,220     1,220 
                   :                                                           
  Other States 1/ .:    455       445        955       955       (X)       (X) 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  2,215     1,995      4,185     3,905    19,610    19,510 
                   :                                                           
North Central      :                                                           
  Illinois ........:  4,800     4,900     15,000    14,700    26,700    26,700 
  Indiana .........:  2,500     2,500      6,900     6,800    14,800    14,800 
  Iowa ............:  6,900     6,800     12,100    12,100    30,800    30,800 
  Kansas ..........:  8,200     8,500     16,800    17,000    46,200    46,200 
  Michigan ........:  1,500     1,500      3,600     3,600    10,000    10,000 
  Minnesota .......:  4,800     4,900     10,000    10,000    26,900    26,900 
  Missouri ........:  3,400     3,300      7,000     7,000    29,100    29,100 
  Nebraska ........:  9,700     9,800     20,200    20,400    45,600    45,600 
  North Dakota ....:  8,400     8,400     16,300    16,500    39,600    39,600 
  Ohio ............:  2,350     2,350      4,100     4,100    13,800    13,700 
  South Dakota ....: 10,300    10,300     15,200    15,400    43,700    43,700 
  Wisconsin .......:  2,800     2,800      4,100     4,300    15,200    15,200 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........: 65,650    66,050    131,300   131,900   342,400   342,300 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnote(s) at end of table.                                    --continued

Land in Farms by Economic Sales Class - State, Region, United States, and
Puerto Rico: 2009 and 2010  (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                   Economic sales class                    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
  State and region : $250,000-$499,999 : $500,000 and over :       Total       
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
                   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   :  2009   :  2010   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                        1,000 acres                        
                   :                                                           
South              :                                                           
  Alabama .........:     700       700     1,300     1,400     9,000     9,000 
  Arkansas ........:   1,300     1,400     5,900     6,050    13,600    13,700 
  Delaware ........:    (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)       490       490 
  Florida .........:     900       900     4,100     4,200     9,250     9,250 
  Georgia .........:     900     1,050     2,800     2,800    10,300    10,300 
  Kentucky ........:   1,050     1,050     2,250     2,450    14,000    14,000 
  Louisiana .......:     900       900     2,900     2,900     8,050     8,050 
  Maryland ........:    (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)     2,050     2,050 
  Mississippi .....:   1,000       950     3,100     3,100    11,050    11,150 
  North Carolina ..:   1,200     1,200     3,000     3,000     8,600     8,600 
  Oklahoma ........:   4,400     4,500     6,100     6,100    35,100    35,200 
  South Carolina ..:     300       400     1,100     1,200     4,900     4,900 
  Tennessee .......:     900       900     1,800     1,800    10,900    10,900 
  Texas ...........:  20,500    17,900    28,000    33,400   130,400   130,400 
  Virginia ........:     650       750     1,350     1,250     8,000     8,050 
  West Virginia ...:    (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)     3,700     3,650 
                   :                                                           
  Other States 2/ .:     420       410     1,150     1,140       (X)       (X) 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  35,120    33,010    64,850    70,790   279,390   279,690 
                   :                                                           
West               :                                                           
  Alaska ..........:    (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)       880       880 
  Arizona .........:    (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)    26,100    26,100 
  California ......:   2,900     2,800    12,100    12,200    25,400    25,400 
  Colorado ........:   5,400     5,700     8,100     8,500    31,300    31,200 
  Hawaii ..........:    (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)     1,110     1,110 
  Idaho ...........:   1,200     1,100     5,100     4,900    11,400    11,400 
  Montana .........:  14,400    13,500    16,500    18,400    60,800    60,800 
  Nevada ..........:    (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)     5,900     5,900 
  New Mexico ......:   7,700     7,700    12,600    12,700    43,100    43,200 
  Oregon ..........:   2,400     2,550     5,600     5,600    16,400    16,400 
  Utah ............:   1,100     1,080     5,400     5,450    11,100    11,100 
  Washington ......:   2,800     2,700     5,800     5,900    14,800    14,800 
  Wyoming .........:    (NA)      (NA)      (NA)      (NA)    30,200    30,200 
                   :                                                           
  Other States 3/ .:   8,500     8,500    18,600    18,590       (X)       (X) 
                   :                                                           
  Total ...........:  46,400    45,630    89,800    92,240   278,490   278,490 
                   :                                                           
United States .....: 149,385   146,685   290,135   298,835   919,890   919,990 
                   :                                                           
Puerto Rico .......:      40        40        70        70       450       450 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NA)  Not available.                                                           
(X)   Not applicable.                                                          
1/    Other States includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,  
      New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.                                   
2/    Other States includes Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia.             
3/    Other States includes Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Wyoming.      

Number of Cattle and Calves, Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group
- United States: 2009 and 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :        Operations         :    Percent of inventory    
                       :--------------------------------------------------------
          Head         :             :             :             :              
                       :    2009     :    2010     :    2009     :     2010     
                       :             :             :             :              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :   ------- number ------        ----- percent -----     
                       :                                                        
Cattle and calves .....:                                                        
 1-49 .................:   641,000       635,000         11.4          11.4     
 50-99 ................:   131,000       129,000          9.6           9.6     
 100-499 ..............:   144,300       141,600         31.2          31.0     
 500-999 ..............:    18,900        18,700         13.5          13.5     
 1,000-1,999 ..........:     6,600         6,500          9.0           9.0     
 2,000-4,999 ..........:     3,010         3,010          8.8           8.9     
 5,000-9,999 ..........:       720           720          4.9           4.9     
 10,000-19,999 ........:       270           270          3.7           3.7     
 20,000+ ..............:       200           200          7.9           8.0     
                       :                                                        
 Total ................:   946,000       935,000        100.0         100.0     
                       :                                                        
Beef cows 1/           :                                                        
 1-49 .................:   596,000       588,000         28.3          28.0     
 50-99 ................:    82,000        82,000         17.1          17.4     
 100-499 ..............:    67,200        66,300         38.0          38.0     
 500-999 ..............:     4,350         4,280          8.8           8.8     
 1,000-1,999 ..........:     1,110         1,090          4.5           4.5     
 2,000-4,999 ..........:       280           280          2.1           2.1     
 5,000+ ...............:        60            50          1.2           1.2     
                       :                                                        
 Total ................:   751,000       742,000        100.0         100.0     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Included in operations with cattle.                                         

Number of Milk Cow Operations, Percent of Inventory, and Percent of Milk
Production by Size Group - United States: 2009 and 2010
[Included in operations with cattle]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                     :     Percent of      :     Percent of      
              :     Operations      :      inventory      :    production 1/    
     Head     :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              :          :          :          :          :          :          
              :   2009   :   2010   :   2009   :   2010   :   2009   :   2010   
              :          :          :          :          :          :          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :  ----- number ----     --------------- percent --------------   
              :                                                                 
1-29 .........:  20,400     20,000       1.8        1.7        1.2        1.1   
30-49 ........:  11,500     11,000       4.9        4.7        3.8        3.5   
50-99 ........:  17,300     15,500      13.0       11.8       11.4       10.4   
100-199 ......:   8,600      8,600      12.4       12.3       11.6       11.3   
200-499 ......:   3,850      4,000      12.3       12.8       12.5       12.7   
500-999 ......:   1,700      1,720      12.5       12.6       12.6       13.0   
1,000-1,999 ..:     910        920      13.3       13.3       15.7       15.5   
2,000+ .......:     740        760      29.8       30.8       31.2       32.5   
              :                                                                 
Total ........:  65,000     62,500     100.0      100.0      100.0      100.0   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Estimates reflect the average distributions of various probability surveys  
    conducted during the year.                                                  

Number of Hog and Pig Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group -
United States: 2009 and 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :         Operations          :    Percent of inventory     
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
        Head       :              :              :              :              
                   :     2009     :     2010     :     2009     :     2010     
                   :              :              :              :              
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :    ------- number ------         ------ percent -----     
                   :                                                           
1-99 ..............:    50,400         49,000           0.9            0.8     
100-499 ...........:     6,100          5,200           2.3            2.1     
500-999 ...........:     3,200          2,800           3.3            3.1     
1,000-1,999 .......:     3,550          3,650           7.5            8.0     
2,000-4,999 .......:     5,250          5,350          24.0           25.0     
5,000+ ............:     2,950          3,100          62.0           61.0     
                   :                                                           
Total .............:    71,450         69,100         100.0          100.0     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of Hog and Pig Operations and Percent of Inventory by Size Group, Based
on Ownership - United States: 2009 and 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :         Operations          :    Percent of inventory     
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------
        Head       :              :              :              :              
                   :     2009     :     2010     :     2009     :     2010     
                   :              :              :              :              
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :    ------- number ------         ------ percent -----     
                   :                                                           
1-99 ..............:    50,370         48,400           0.9            0.8     
100-499 ...........:     5,370          4,450           2.2            2.0     
500-999 ...........:     2,050          1,920           2.2            2.1     
1,000-1,999 .......:     1,900          2,050           4.0            4.2     
2,000-4,999 .......:     2,200          2,300           9.7           10.1     
5,000-9,999 .......:       745            675           8.0            7.5     
10,000-19,999 .....:       350            360           7.3            7.7     
20,000-49,999 .....:       185            175           9.0            8.6     
50,000+ ...........:       130            130          56.7           57.0     
                   :                                                           
Total .............:    63,300         60,460         100.0          100.0     
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of Sheep and Goat Operations - United States: 2009 and 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Commodity               :       2009        :       2010        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        :      number              number       
                                        :                                       
Sheep ..................................:       82,000              81,000      
                                        :                                       
Angora Goats ...........................:        5,500               6,000      
Milk Goats .............................:       30,000              31,000      
Meat and Other Goats ...................:      130,000             128,000      
All Goats ..............................:      152,000             152,000      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Breeding Sheep, Survey Percent by Size Group - United States: 2009 and 2010
[Percents reflect distributions from the January annual survey]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :   1-99 head   : 100-499 head  :500-4,999 head :   5,000+ head   
     Item     :-----------------------------------------------------------------
              : 2009  : 2010  : 2009  : 2010  : 2009  : 2010  :  2009  :  2010  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :percent percent percent percent percent percent percent  percent 
              :                                                                 
Operations ...: 93.7    93.8     5.2     5.1     1.0     1.0      0.1      0.1  
              :                                                                 
Inventory ....: 36.2    35.8    20.8    20.1    31.3    30.6     11.7     13.5  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statistical Methodology 

Survey Procedures:  Data are collected by the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service (NASS) during the June Agricultural Survey using sampling 
procedures to ensure every farm and ranch has a chance of being selected. 
NASS uses a multiple sampling frame approach to count farms and measure land 
in farms. An Area Sampling Frame that divides all land into segments is built 
for every State. A sample of segments is selected in each State and 
enumerated in early June.  Highly trained interviewers locate each sampled 
segment and identify every farm and ranch operating land in the segment and 
the number of acres in each operation.  

These data are used to compute summary indications of farm numbers and acres 
of land in farms. Additionally, all farms found in the segments are checked 
against a list of farms and ranches maintained by NASS to determine if the 
farm is on the list. Operations found in the Area Frame sample that are not 
on the list provide a measure of incompleteness of the list. The summarized 
totals for these non-overlap (or not-on-list) operations are combined with 
summarized totals collected from a sample selected from the list to calculate 
additional indications of farms and land in farms.

Estimation Procedures:  Data are checked for reasonableness and consistency 
and summarized for each state. State estimates are aggregated to regional and 
national totals for Headquarters review. Field Offices perform a thorough 
review of their survey results and historical data relationships and 
recommend official estimates. Headquarters establishes regional and national 
estimates and ensures that state estimates are in balance with the Regional 
and National numbers.

Revision Policy:  Estimates are subject to revision the following year and 
following review of the five-year Census of Agriculture. The basis for 
revision must be supported by additional data which directly affects the 
level of the estimate.  

Reliability:  Two types of errors, sampling and non-sampling, are possible in 
an estimate based on a sample survey. Both types can affect the quality of 
the estimates.

Sampling error occurs because a complete census is not taken. The sampling 
error measures the variation in estimates from the average of all possible 
samples. An estimate of 100 with a sampling error of 1 would mean that 
chances are 19 out of 20 that the estimates from all possible samples 
averaged together would be between 98 and 102; which is the survey estimate, 
plus or minus two times the sampling error. The sampling error expressed as a 
percent of the estimate is called the relative sampling error. The relative 
sampling error for the United States number of farms and land in farms is 
1.3 and 1.9 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 
2.4 percent for number of farms and 2.2 to 7.5 percent for land in farms at 
the United States level.

Non-sampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as sample surveys. 
They are caused by the inability to obtain correct information from each 
person surveyed, differences in interpreting questions or definitions, and 
mistakes in coding or processing the data. Special efforts are taken at each 
step of the survey to minimize non-sampling errors.

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 hog and pig operation is any place having one or more hog or pig on hand on 
December 31.

A sheep and lamb operation is any place having one or more head of sheep or 
lambs on hand on December 31.

A goat and kid operation is any place having one or more head of goats or 
kids on hand on December 31.

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.
						

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

Listed below are the commodity statisticians in the Economics Section of the 
Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch of the National Agricultural 
Statistics Service to contact for additional information.  E-mail inquiries may be sent 
to nass@nass.usda.gov.

Kevin Barnes, Chief, Environmental, Economics, and Demographics Branch.. (202) 720-6146

Kevin Hintzman, Head, Economics Section................................. (202) 690-3223
   Richard Barton - ARMS................................................ (202) 690-1052
   Daryl Brinkman - Prices Received, Prices Received Indexes............ (202) 720-8844
   Kuan Chen - Prices, Prices Research.................................. (202) 720-5446
   Angie Considine - Cash Rents......................................... (202) 720-2250
   Mark Gorsak - Prices, Prices Research................................ (202) 690-3225
   Michael Mathison - ARMS.............................................. (202) 720-3243
   Joe Samson - Cash Receipts, Grazing Fees............................. (202) 690-3347
   Scott Shimmin - Farm Numbers, Land in Farms, Land Values............. (202) 690-3231
   Jennifer Sissom - Prices Paid, Prices Paid Indexes................... (202) 690-3229

Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .................................. (202) 720-3570

Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section .................................. (202) 690-2424
   Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ............................. (515) 284-4340
   Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs ......................................... (202) 720-3106
   Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices .................................. (202) 690-2168
   Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ............................ (202) 720-3040
   Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows ......................... (202) 720-3278
   Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats .................................... (202) 720-4751
   Lorie Warren - Dairy Products ....................................... (202) 690-3236
   
Access to NASS Reports

For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following 
ways:

 	All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web 
site: http://www.nass.usda.gov

 	Both national and state specific reports are available via a free 
e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit 
http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Receive NASS Updates" box under 
"Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select 
the reports you would like to receive. 

 	Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical 
Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free (800) 999-6779, or 
(703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada. 
Accepted methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money 
order.  

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural 
Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: 
nass@nass.usda.gov. 
                                                                                
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