United States

Department of

Agriculture

National

Agricultural

Statistics

Service

Sp Sy 3 (02)

Farms and

Land in Farms

February 2002

Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2002 1 NASS, USDA

Farms, Ranches and Land in Farms Declined in 2001

The number of farms and ranches in the United States in 2001 is estimated at 2.16 million, down 0.7 percent from

2000. The decline in farms and ranches occurred primarily in agricultural operations with sales in the $10,000-$99,999

economic class. This is the second largest decline in farms and ranches since the 1.4% drop in 1991. Total land in

farms, at 941.2 million acres, declined 0.2 percent or 1.9 million acres from last year. The average size of farm

increased 2 acres from 434 acres in 2000 to 436 acres in 2001.

The U.S. number of agricultural operations in the economic sales class $1,000-$9,999 declined 0.6 percent to

1,166,590 in 2001. Farms and ranches with sales in the $10,000-$99,999 economic class decreased 1.2% from 2000

to 642,010 operations. The number of farms and ranches with sales over $100,000 remained unchanged at 349,180. 

Adverse weather, lower commodity prices, and competition for land continued to contributed to the overall reduction

and consolidation of farms and ranches during 2001. 

The North Central Region’s loss of farms was the largest with a decline of 9,500 operations, 1.2% less than was

estimated in 2000. The West Region lost 2,600 farms and ranches, 0.9% fewer than the previous year. The number of

farms and ranches declined 1,600 or 0.2% in the South Region and 800 or 0.6% in the Northeast Region. 

The number of farms and ranches during 2001 declined in 23 States, remained unchanged in 22 States, and increased in

five States. States losing 2,000 farms during the year were Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio. Iowa farms declined by

1,500 while Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Washington lost 1,000

farms and ranches. Of the five states showing increases in the number of farms and ranches, Oklahoma, Tennessee,

and Texas gained 1,000 operations during the year. 

Texas, which leads the Nation in acres in farms and ranches with 130 million acres, remained unchanged from 2000. 

Colorado’s agricultural acreage dropped by 300,000 acres and Montana’s land in farms and ranches declined 200,000

acres during the year. States losing 100,000 acres were: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana,

Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, and Ohio. Only Tennessee increased in

farm and ranch acreage, gaining 100,000 acres. Overall, farm and ranch acreage declined in 20 states, remained

unchanged in 29 states, and increased in one state.

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

United States, 1991-2001 1

Year Number

of Farms

Land

in Farms

Average

Farm Size

Number 1,000 Acres Acres

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2,116,760

2,107,840

2,201,590

2,197,690

2,196,400

2,190,500

2,190,510

2,191,360

2,192,070

2,172,280

2,157,780

981,736

978,503

968,845

965,935

962,515

958,675

956,010

953,500

947,440

943,090

941,210

464

464

440

440

438

438

436

435

432

434

436

 1 A farm is any establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were sold or would normally be sold

during the year.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 20022 NASS, USDA
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2002 3 NASS, USDA

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

Reported Sales, but with Sufficient Crops and Livestock to Normally

Have Sales of at least $1,000, United States, 1999-2001 

Year

Percent of Total

Farms Land

1999 15.5 2.0

2000 15.0 2.0

2001 16.0 2.0
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2002 4 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: by State and United States, 1999-2001

State 1999 2000 2001

Number Number Number

AL

AK

AZ

AR

CA

CO

CT

DE

FL

GA

HI

ID

IL

IN

IA

KS

KY

LA

ME

MD

MA

MI

MN

MS

MO

MT

NE

NV

NH

NJ

NM

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

RI

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

WA

WV

WI

WY

US

48,000

570

7,700

48,500

89,000

29,000

4,000

2,600

45,000

50,000

5,500

24,500

79,000

65,000

96,000

65,000

91,000

30,000

6,900

12,400

6,100

53,000

80,000

43,000

110,000

28,000

55,000

3,000

3,100

9,600

15,500

39,000

58,000

30,500

80,000

84,000

40,500

59,000

700

25,000

32,500

91,000

227,000

15,500

6,700

49,000

40,000

20,500

78,000

9,200

2,192,070

47,000

580

7,500

48,000

87,500

29,500

3,900

2,600

44,000

50,000

5,500

24,500

78,000

64,000

95,000

64,000

90,000

29,500

6,800

12,400

6,100

52,000

79,000

43,000

109,000

27,600

54,000

3,000

3,100

9,600

15,200

38,000

57,000

30,300

80,000

85,000

40,000

59,000

700

24,000

32,500

90,000

226,000

15,500

6,700

49,000

40,000

20,500

77,000

9,200

2,172,280

47,000

580

7,300

48,000

88,000

30,000

3,900

2,500

44,000

50,000

5,300

24,000

76,000

63,000

93,500

63,000

88,000

29,000

6,700

12,400

6,000

52,000

79,000

42,000

108,000

26,600

53,000

3,000

3,100

9,600

15,000

37,500

56,000

30,300

78,000

86,000

40,000

59,000

700

24,000

32,500

91,000

227,000

15,000

6,600

49,000

39,000

20,500

77,000

9,200

2,157,780
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2002 5 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: by State and United States, 1999-2001

State 1999 2000 2001

1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres

AL

AK

AZ

AR

CA

CO

CT

DE

FL

GA

HI

ID

IL

IN

IA

KS

KY

LA

ME

MD

MA

MI

MN

MS

MO

MT

NE

NV

NH

NJ

NM

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

RI

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

WA

WV

WI

WY

US

9,200

910

27,500

14,650

27,800

31,800

370

580

10,400

11,200

1,440

11,900

27,700

15,500

33,000

47,500

13,600

8,150

1,270

2,100

570

10,400

28,800

11,400

30,100

57,000

46,400

6,800

420

830

44,700

7,800

9,300

39,400

14,900

34,000

17,200

7,700

60

4,850

44,000

11,900

130,500

11,600

1,340

8,700

15,700

3,600

16,300

34,600

947,440

9,000

920

26,700

14,600

27,800

31,600

360

580

10,300

11,100

1,440

11,900

27,700

15,500

32,800

47,500

13,600

8,100

1,270

2,100

570

10,400

28,600

11,100

30,000

56,700

46,400

6,800

420

830

44,000

7,700

9,200

39,400

14,900

34,000

17,200

7,700

60

4,800

44,000

11,700

130,000

11,600

1,340

8,700

15,700

3,600

16,200

34,600

943,090

8,900

920

26,600

14,600

27,700

31,300

360

570

10,200

11,000

1,440

11,900

27,700

15,400

32,700

47,400

13,600

8,050

1,260

2,100

560

10,400

28,500

11,000

29,900

56,500

46,400

6,800

420

830

44,000

7,600

9,100

39,400

14,800

34,000

17,200

7,700

60

4,800

44,000

11,800

130,000

11,600

1,340

8,700

15,700

3,600

16,200

34,600

941,210
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2002 6 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class

 by State, Region, and United States, 2001

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

Number Number Number Number

Northeast

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY

 PA

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 1

 Total

North Central

 IL

 IN

 IA

 KS

 MI

 MN

 MO

 NE

 ND

 OH

 SD

 WI

 Total

South

 AL

 AR

 DE 2

 FL

 GA

 KY

 LA

 MD 2

 MS

 NC

 OK

 SC

 TN

 TX

 VA

 WV 2

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,450

4,200

3,200

2,100

6,400

17,800

32,800

350

3,500

72,800

26,000

29,000

27,500

21,500

28,500

30,500

61,500

13,000

8,300

41,500

7,000

35,000

329,300

33,000

26,000

740

28,500

32,000

51,000

18,000

5,900

30,000

34,000

54,000

17,700

69,000

154,000

31,900

17,000

602,740

350

4,400

42,000

14,600

3,000

12,500

11,000

1,600

9,300

26,500

8,500

24,600

3,400

161,750

1,166,590

11,000

16,500

10,600

38,100

25,000

22,000

37,000

28,500

15,500

28,500

36,000

21,000

13,000

25,500

14,500

23,800

290,300

9,000

12,000

10,500

10,500

31,000

6,700

7,500

13,000

26,000

4,100

18,000

56,000

14,000

7,280

225,580

28,000

10,500

6,600

9,200

4,100

9,000

5,000

7,500

8,130

88,030

642,010

8,700

9,700

3,800

22,200

25,000

12,000

29,000

13,000

8,000

20,000

10,500

19,000

9,000

11,000

11,000

18,200

185,700

5,000

10,000

5,000

7,500

6,000

4,300

4,500

9,000

6,000

2,200

4,000

17,000

3,100

4,480

88,080

18,000

4,900

4,900

6,400

1,600

4,500

1,500

6,900

4,500

53,200

349,180

3,900

6,700

6,000

3,100

9,600

37,500

59,000

700

6,600

133,100

76,000

63,000

93,500

63,000

52,000

79,000

108,000

53,000

30,300

78,000

32,500

77,000

805,300

47,000

48,000

2,500

44,000

50,000

88,000

29,000

12,400

42,000

56,000

86,000

24,000

91,000

227,000

49,000

20,500

916,400

580

7,300

88,000

30,000

5,300

24,000

26,600

3,000

15,000

40,000

15,000

39,000

9,200

302,980

2,157,780

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

February 2002 7 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class 

by State, Region, and United States, 2001

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres

Northeast

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY

 PA

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 1

 Total

North Central

 IL

 IN

 IA

 KS

 MI

 MN

 MO

 NE

 ND

 OH

 SD

 WI

 Total

South

 AL

 AR

 DE 2

 FL

 GA

 KY

 LA

 MD 2

 MS

 NC

 OK

 SC

 TN

 TX

 VA

 WV 2

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

130

440

220

200

190

1,600

2,000

20

350

5,150

1,500

1,200

1,700

2,500

1,800

3,000

7,100

1,700

3,500

2,700

2,000

2,900

31,600

3,500

2,100

30

1,700

2,600

3,800

1,650

400

3,400

2,000

6,600

2,500

4,500

22,000

2,400

2,300

61,480

210

1,800

2,500

3,900

105

1,500

3,900

1,000

4,500

1,700

1,100

2,500

3,100

27,815

126,045

2,200

2,500

1,150

5,850

5,200

3,800

9,400

15,900

2,700

8,400

11,300

10,900

13,300

4,500

13,500

4,400

103,300

2,500

3,400

2,500

2,700

5,500

1,900

2,500

1,800

13,700

1,200

4,000

45,000

3,900

1,585

92,185

6,500

9,400

3,200

14,000

11,500

4,500

2,500

2,700

18,145

72,445

273,780

3,800

3,200

2,130

9,130

21,000

10,400

21,600

29,000

5,900

17,100

11,500

33,800

22,600

7,600

28,500

8,900

217,900

2,900

9,100

6,000

5,700

4,300

4,500

5,100

5,300

13,700

1,100

3,300

63,000

2,400

1,955

128,355

18,700

18,000

7,200

38,600

28,000

11,000

8,000

10,500

46,000

186,000

541,385

360

1,260

560

420

830

7,600

7,700

60

1,340

20,130

27,700

15,400

32,700

47,400

10,400

28,500

29,900

46,400

39,400

14,800

44,000

16,200

352,800

8,900

14,600

570

10,200

11,000

13,600

8,050

2,100

11,000

9,100

34,000

4,800

11,800

130,000

8,700

3,600

282,020

920

26,600

27,700

31,300

1,440

11,900

56,500

6,800

44,000

17,200

11,600

15,700

34,600

286,260

941,210

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

February 2002 8 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class 

by State, Region, and United States, 2000

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

Number Number Number Number

Northeast

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY

 PA

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 1

 Total

North Central

 IL

 IN

 IA

 KS

 MI

 MN

 MO

 NE

 ND

 OH

 SD

 WI

 Total

South

 AL

 AR

 DE 2

 FL

 GA

 KY

 LA

 MD 2

 MS

 NC

 OK

 SC

 TN

 TX

 VA

 WV 2

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,450

4,300

3,300

2,100

6,400

18,400

33,000

350

3,600

73,900

28,000

29,700

27,000

23,100

27,500

30,000

62,000

13,500

8,500

43,000

7,000

34,500

333,800

33,000

26,000

800

28,500

32,600

51,000

18,500

5,900

31,000

34,000

52,500

17,700

68,000

153,000

32,000

17,000

601,500

350

4,500

43,500

14,200

3,200

12,500

10,400

1,600

9,500

26,500

9,000

25,700

3,400

164,350

1,173,550

11,200

16,500

10,300

38,000

26,000

22,000

38,000

27,200

16,500

29,000

36,600

22,000

13,100

27,000

15,300

24,500

297,200

9,000

12,000

10,500

9,900

33,000

6,600

7,400

13,000

26,500

4,000

18,000

56,000

14,000

7,320

227,220

25,000

10,300

7,200

10,800

4,100

9,000

5,000

7,500

8,230

87,130

649,550

8,400

9,500

4,100

22,000

24,000

12,300

30,000

13,700

8,000

20,000

10,400

18,500

8,700

10,000

10,200

18,000

183,800

5,000

10,000

5,000

7,500

6,000

4,400

4,600

10,000

6,000

2,300

4,000

17,000

3,000

4,480

89,280

19,000

5,000

4,800

6,400

1,600

4,500

1,500

6,800

4,500

54,100

349,180

3,900

6,800

6,100

3,100

9,600

38,000

59,000

700

6,700

133,900

78,000

64,000

95,000

64,000

52,000

79,000

109,000

54,000

30,300

80,000

32,500

77,000

814,800

47,000

48,000

2,600

44,000

50,000

90,000

29,500

12,400

43,000

57,000

85,000

24,000

90,000

226,000

49,000

20,500

918,000

580

7,500

87,500

29,500

5,500

24,500

27,600

3,000

15,200

40,000

15,500

40,000

9,200

305,580

2,172,280

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

February 2002 9 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class 

by State, Region, and United States, 2000

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres

Northeast

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY

 PA

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 1

 Total

North Central

 IL

 IN

 IA

 KS

 MI

 MN

 MO

 NE

 ND

 OH

 SD

 WI

 Total

South

 AL

 AR

 DE 2

 FL

 GA

 KY

 LA

 MD 2

 MS

 NC

 OK

 SC

 TN

 TX

 VA

 WV 2

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

130

450

230

200

190

1,800

2,100

20

350

5,470

1,700

1,300

1,700

2,800

1,900

3,000

7,200

1,800

3,400

2,900

2,000

2,800

32,500

3,500

2,100

33

1,800

2,900

3,700

1,700

365

3,500

2,000

6,700

2,500

4,400

21,000

2,400

2,300

60,898

210

1,900

2,800

3,800

105

1,500

4,300

1,000

4,700

1,700

1,100

2,600

3,100

28,815

127,683

2,200

2,400

1,300

5,900

5,600

3,900

9,400

15,500

2,800

8,500

11,500

11,800

13,800

4,800

14,400

4,700

106,700

2,800

3,400

2,500

2,500

5,800

1,900

2,500

1,800

14,800

1,200

4,000

48,000

3,900

1,607

96,707

7,000

10,200

3,300

16,400

11,700

4,800

2,800

2,700

17,985

76,885

286,192

3,700

3,200

1,980

8,880

20,400

10,300

21,700

29,200

5,700

17,100

11,300

32,800

22,200

7,200

27,600

8,700

214,200

2,700

9,100

6,000

5,700

4,100

4,500

5,100

5,400

12,500

1,100

3,300

61,000

2,400

1,975

124,875

18,000

17,600

7,100

36,000

27,600

10,700

7,700

10,400

46,160

181,260

529,215

360

1,270

570

420

830

7,700

7,700

60

1,340

20,250

27,700

15,500

32,800

47,500

10,400

28,600

30,000

46,400

39,400

14,900

44,000

16,200

353,400

9,000

14,600

580

10,300

11,100

13,600

8,100

2,100

11,100

9,200

34,000

4,800

11,700

130,000

8,700

3,600

282,480

920

26,700

27,800

31,600

1,440

11,900

56,700

6,800

44,000

17,200

11,600

15,700

34,600

286,960

943,090

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

February 2002 10 NASS, USDA

Number of Farms: Economic Sales Class 

by State, Region, and United States, 1999

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

Number Number Number Number

Northeast

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY

 PA

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 1

 Total

North Central

 IL

 IN

 IA

 KS

 MI

 MN

 MO

 NE

 ND

 OH

 SD

 WI

 Total

South

 AL

 AR

 DE 2

 FL

 GA

 KY

 LA

 MD 2

 MS

 NC

 OK

 SC

 TN

 TX

 VA

 WV 2

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

2,550

4,400

3,300

2,100

6,400

19,400

33,000

350

3,600

75,100

28,500

30,200

28,000

24,400

28,500

30,500

63,100

14,000

8,400

43,000

7,000

35,000

340,600

34,000

26,500

800

29,500

32,600

52,000

19,000

6,200

31,000

35,000

52,600

18,700

69,000

155,000

33,000

17,000

611,900

340

4,700

44,500

13,700

3,200

12,500

11,500

1,600

9,600

27,000

9,000

25,700

3,400

166,740

1,194,340

10,900

16,500

9,700

37,100

26,500

22,000

38,100

27,200

16,500

29,500

36,700

22,600

13,500

27,000

15,300

25,000

299,900

9,000

11,500

10,500

9,700

33,000

6,600

7,500

13,000

25,500

4,000

18,000

55,500

13,000

7,320

224,120

25,500

10,400

7,200

10,700

4,200

9,000

5,000

7,500

8,230

87,730

648,850

8,700

9,500

4,700

22,900

24,000

12,800

29,900

13,400

8,000

20,000

10,200

18,400

8,600

10,000

10,200

18,000

183,500

5,000

10,500

5,000

7,700

6,000

4,400

4,500

10,000

5,900

2,300

4,000

16,500

3,000

4,180

88,980

19,000

4,900

4,800

5,800

1,700

4,500

1,500

6,800

4,500

53,500

348,880

4,000

6,900

6,100

3,100

9,600

39,000

59,000

700

6,700

135,100

79,000

65,000

96,000

65,000

53,000

80,000

110,000

55,000

30,500

80,000

32,500

78,000

824,000

48,000

48,500

2,600

45,000

50,000

91,000

30,000

12,400

43,000

58,000

84,000

25,000

91,000

227,000

49,000

20,500

925,000

570

7,700

89,000

29,000

5,500

24,500

28,000

3,000

15,500

40,500

15,500

40,000

9,200

307,970

2,192,070

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

February 2002 11 NASS, USDA

Land in Farms: Economic Sales Class 

by State, Region, and United States, 1999

State

and

Region

Economic Sales Class

Total $1,000-

$9,999

$10,000-

$99,999

$100,000

& Over

1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres 1,000 Acres

Northeast

 CT 2

 ME 2

 MA 2

 NH 2

 NJ 2

 NY

 PA

 RI 2

 VT 2

 Oth Sts 1

 Total

North Central

 IL

 IN

 IA

 KS

 MI

 MN

 MO

 NE

 ND

 OH

 SD

 WI

 Total

South

 AL

 AR

 DE 2

 FL

 GA

 KY

 LA

 MD 2

 MS

 NC

 OK

 SC

 TN

 TX

 VA

 WV 2

 Other States 3

 Total

West

 AK 2

 AZ 2

 CA

 CO

 HI 2

 ID

 MT

 NV 2

 NM

 OR

 UT

 WA

 WY 2

 Other States 4

 Total

US

140

450

230

200

190

1,900

2,100

20

350

5,580

1,700

1,300

1,800

3,400

1,900

3,100

7,300

2,000

3,500

3,000

2,000

2,900

33,900

3,700

2,150

33

1,800

3,000

4,000

1,750

360

3,700

2,200

6,800

2,550

4,800

22,500

2,700

2,300

64,343

200

2,000

2,800

3,800

105

1,500

4,100

1,000

5,200

1,700

1,100

2,600

3,100

29,205

133,028

2,100

2,400

1,300

5,800

5,800

3,900

9,700

16,100

2,800

8,600

11,600

12,000

14,000

4,900

14,400

4,700

108,500

2,800

3,350

2,600

2,400

5,700

1,900

2,600

1,900

14,700

1,150

4,000

48,000

3,600

1,607

96,307

7,000

10,300

3,300

17,000

12,000

4,800

2,800

2,700

17,985

77,885

288,492

3,800

3,200

1,980

8,980

20,200

10,300

21,500

28,000

5,700

17,100

11,200

32,400

21,900

7,000

27,600

8,700

211,600

2,700

9,150

6,000

5,800

3,900

4,500

5,100

5,200

12,500

1,150

3,100

60,000

2,400

1,980

123,480

18,000

17,700

7,100

35,900

27,500

10,700

7,700

10,400

46,860

181,860

525,920

370

1,270

570

420

830

7,800

7,700

60

1,340

20,360

27,700

15,500

33,000

47,500

10,400

28,800

30,100

46,400

39,400

14,900

44,000

16,300

354,000

9,200

14,650

580

10,400

11,200

13,600

8,150

2,100

11,400

9,300

34,000

4,850

11,900

130,500

8,700

3,600

284,130

910

27,500

27,800

31,800

1,440

11,900

57,000

6,800

44,700

17,200

11,600

15,700

34,600

288,950

947,440

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

February 2002 12 NASS, USDA

Percent of Farms, Land in Farms and Average Size Farm

by Economic Sales Class, United States, 1999-2001 1

Economic

Sales

Class

Percent of Total Average Size Farm

(Acres) Farms Land

1999 1999 1999

 $1,000 - $2,499

 $2,500 - $4,999

 $5,000 - $9,999

 $10,000 - $19,999

 $20,000 - $39,999

 $40,000 - $99,999

$100,000 - $249,999

$250,000 - $499,999

$500,000 +

Total

27.2

15.0

12.3

10.2

8.5

10.9

9.2

3.7

3.0

100.0

4.5

4.4

5.1

6.0

7.5

16.9

23.3

13.3

19.0

100.0

72

127

179

254

381

670

1,095

1,552

2,737

432

2000 2000 2000

 $1,000 - $2,499

 $2,500 - $4,999

 $5,000 - $9,999

 $10,000 - $19,999

 $20,000 - $39,999

 $40,000 - $99,999

$100,000 - $249,999

$250,000 - $499,999

$500,000 +

Total

26.8

15.1

12.1

10.2

9.0

10.7

9.3

3.8

3.0

100.0

4.4

4.2

4.9

5.6

8.6

16.1

22.8

13.9

19.5

100.0

71

121

176

238

415

653

1,064

1,588

2,822

434

2001 2001 2001

 $1,000 - $2,499

 $2,500 - $4,999

 $5,000 - $9,999

 $10,000 - $24,999

 $25,000 - $49,999

 $50,000 - $99,999

$100,000 - $249,999

$250,000 - $499,999

$500,000 - $999,999

$1,000,000 +

Total

25.3

15.3

13.4

12.5

8.7

8.6

8.9

4.1

2.0

1.2

100.0

4.1

4.1

5.2

7.7

8.5

12.9

22.7

14.1

11.1

9.6

100.0

71

117

169

269

426

654

1,113

1,500

2,421

3,490

436

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

February 2002 13 NASS, USDA

Average Size Farm: by State and United States, 1999-2001

State 1999 2000 2001

Acres Acres Acres

AL

AK

AZ

AR

CA

CO

CT

DE

FL

GA

HI

ID

IL

IN

IA

KS

KY

LA

ME

MD

MA

MI

MN

MS

MO

MT

NE

NV

NH

NJ

NM

NY

NC

ND

OH

OK

OR

PA

RI

SC

SD

TN

TX

UT

VT

VA

WA

WV

WI

WY

US

192

1,596

3,571

302

312

1,097

93

223

231

224

262

486

351

238

344

731

149

272

184

169

93

196

360

265

274

2,036

844

2,267

135

86

2,884

200

160

1,292

186

405

425

131

86

194

1,354

131

575

748

200

178

393

176

209

3,761

432

191

1,586

3,560

304

318

1,071

92

223

234

222

262

486

355

242

345

742

151

275

187

169

93

200

362

258

275

2,054

859

2,267

135

86

2,895

203

161

1,300

186

400

430

131

86

200

1,354

130

575

748

200

178

393

176

210

3,761

434

189

1,586

3,644

304

315

1,043

92

228

232

220

272

496

364

244

350

752

155

278

188

169

93

200

361

262

277

2,124

875

2,267

135

86

2,933

203

163

1,300

190

395

430

131

86

200

1,354

130

573

773

203

178

403

176

210

3,761

436
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2002 14 NASS, USDA

Reliability of Data in this Report

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

the June Agricultural Survey using sampling procedures to ensure every farm and ranch operators had a

chance of being selected. Two samples of farm and ranch operators are selected. First, NASS maintains a

list of farms and ranches which are classified and sampled by size and type. Larger farms and ranches are

selected with greater frequency but all farms are represented. A second sample consists of area segments of

land scientifically selected from aerial photography. Each June, highly trained interviewers locate each

selected land segment and identify every farm and ranch operating land within the boundaries of the sample

segments. The names associated with those farms and ranches found in the area segments are matched

against the list of farms. The names not found on the list represent all farms not on the NASS list. This

methodology is known as multiple frame sampling, with an area sample used to measure incompleteness of

the list. The area segments also provide independent indications of the number of farms and ranches and

their associated land.

Beginning in 1995, interviewers counted operaions having 5 or more horses or ponies and no other

agricultural sales as horse farms. An operation with 1 or more horses with agricultural sales of at least

$1,000, qualified as a farm. Two new 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. These

changes were efforts to have 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 and also provided users a consistent data series. 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.

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

consistency. Each State Statistical Office submits its analysis to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB)

which prepares the estimates for publication. Farm numbers and land in farm estimates are based on survey

results and the historical relationship of official estimates to the survey results.

Revision Policy: Farm and ranch numbers information is subject to revision the following year and

following review of the five-year Census of Agriculture. The basis for revision must be supported by

additional data that directly affect the level of the estimate. A historical publication with revisions for 1993-

1997 was published January 19, 1999.

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

sample survey. Both types affect the "precision" of the estimates.

Sampling error occurs because a complete census is not taken. The sampling error measures the variation in

estimates from the average of all possible samples. An estimate of 100 with a sampling error of 1 would

mean that chances are 19 out of 20 that the estimates from all possible samples averaged together would be

between 98 and 102; which is the survey estimate, plus or minus two times the sampling error. The

sampling error expressed as a percent of the estimate is called the relative sampling error. The relative

sampling error for the U.S. number of farms was just above 1 percent and just above 1 percent for land in

farms. The sampling error for total number of farms and total land in farms is less than the sampling error

for each component of the total, such as number of farms by economic sales class. Relative sampling errors

by economic sales class generally ranged from 1.8 to 3.2 percent for number of farms and 2.8 to 6.5 percent

for land in farms at the U.S. level.

Nonsampling errors can occur in complete censuses as well as sample surveys. They are caused by the

inability to obtain correct information from each person sampled, differences in interpreting questions or

definitions, and mistakes in coding or processing the data. Special efforts are taken at each step of the

survey to minimize nonsampling errors.
Farms and Land in Farms Agricultural Statistics Board

February 2002 15 NASS, USDA

Terms and Definition

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

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

and research farms, and Indian Reservations are included as farms. Places with their entire acreage enrolled in

the Conservation Reserve Program, set aside, or other government programs are considered operating.

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

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

and other set aside or commodity acreage programs. It excludes public, industrial, and grazing association land

and nonagricultural land. It excludes all land operated by establishments not qualifying as farms.

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

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

payments from the previous year are also included.

Farm Definition History

Minimum Criteria for "FARM" Definition, 1840-Present

and Enumeration of Apiaries and Fur Farms

Year Acres in Place

Value of

Agricultural

Products

(Produced)

Value of Sales of

Agricultural

Products

Required some

Agricultural

Operations

Apiaries and

Fur Farms

Enumerated

1974-Present -- -- $1,000 or more -- --

1959 Less than 10 -- $ 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

1910-1920 Less than 3 $250 or more -- -- Apiaries

3 or more -- -- X

1900 – -- -- -- Apiaries

– -- -- X

1870-1890 Less than 3 -- $ 500 or more -- Apiaries

3 or more -- -- X

1860 – -- -- -- --

1850 – $100 or more -- -- Apiaries

1840 – -- -- -- --
Released February 22, 2002, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics

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

Brinkman at 202-690-3226, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.

The next "Farms and Land in Farms" report will be released in February 2003.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

equal opportunity provider and employer.

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