Farms and
Land in Farms
 
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service
 
USDA
Washington, D.C.
 
 
Released February 26, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of
Agriculture. For information on "Farms and Land in Farms" call Brad
Parks at 202-690-3229, office hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
 
 
 
    Farm Numbers Up Slightly and Land in Farms Down Slightly
 
The number of farms in the United States in 1998 is estimated at 2.19
million, up fractionally from 1997. Total land in farms is 953.8 million
acres, down 2.2 million acres from last year. The decline in land in
farms continues to follow historical trends. The average farm size
decreased 1 acre from 1997 to 435 acres.
 
The U.S. number of farms in the economic sales class between
$1,000-$9,999 increased 1,150 farms during 1998 to 1,192,200. Those with
sales in the $10,000-$99,999 class decreased 3,760 farms from 1997 to
642,200 in 1998. The $100,000 and over sales class increased 3,610 farms
from 1997 to 357,110 farms in 1998. These changes in the sales class mix
of farms continues the trend of losing farms in the $10,000-$99,999
sales class, while gaining farms in both the $1,000-$9,999 and the
$100,000 and over sales classes.
 
The West Region showed the largest increase in number of farms, up 4,500
farms or 1.5 percent. The largest decrease was in the North Central
Region with a loss of 3,500 farms or 0.4 percent.
 
Eleven States increased in farm numbers while 10 States decreased from a
year ago. California showed the largest increase with 2,000 farms while
Texas, Georgia, Washington, and Ohio showed increases of 1,000 farms
from last year. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, Iowa, and
North Carolina had decreases of 1,000 farms each.
 
Texas remained the State with the most farms at 226,000, up 1,000 from a
year earlier. Missouri was second with 110,000 farms, the same as last
year, followed by Iowa with 97,000 farms, down 1,000 from 1997.
 
Texas continued to lead the nation in land in farms and ranches with
131.5 million acres, unchanged from 1997. Oregon, Montana, and Colorado
tied for the largest decrease in agricultural land from a year ago, each
decreasing 300,000 acres. There were 13 States with decreases of 100,000
acres or more in agricultural land from a year ago.
 
 
 
Sp Sy 3 (2-99)
 
 
             Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm:
                          United States, 1988-98 1/ 2/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :        Number        :          Land           :     Average
     Year    :       of Farms       :        in Farms         :    Farm Size
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                              1,000 Acres              Acres
             :
1988         :      2,200,940                 994,423                 452
1989         :      2,174,520                 990,723                 456
1990         :      2,145,820                 986,850                 460
1991         :      2,116,760                 981,736                 464
1992         :      2,107,840                 978,503                 464
1993         :      2,201,590                 968,845                 440
1994         :      2,197,690                 965,935                 440
1995         :      2,196,400                 962,515                 438
1996         :      2,190,500                 958,675                 438
1997         :      2,190,510                 956,010                 436
1998         :      2,191,510                 953,765                 435
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.  See the
    Survey Procedures, page 13, that denote changes to the definition of a
    farm.
2/  1988-1992 estimates are for a June 1 reference date.  1993-1998 estimates
    are for the entire calendar year.
 
 
 
 
            Number of Farms:  By State and United States, 1996-98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :        1996        :         1997          :         1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                               Number
           :
AL         :        49,000                 49,000                  49,000
AK         :           550                    560                     560
AZ         :         7,900                  7,900                   7,900
AR         :        49,500                 49,000                  49,500
CA         :        86,000                 87,000                  89,000
CO         :        29,500                 29,500                  29,500
CT         :         4,100                  4,100                   4,100
DE         :         2,800                  2,800                   2,700
FL         :        45,000                 45,000                  45,000
GA         :        49,000                 49,000                  50,000
HI         :         5,400                  5,500                   5,500
ID         :        24,000                 24,500                  24,500
IL         :        79,000                 79,000                  79,000
IN         :        66,000                 66,000                  66,000
IA         :        99,000                 98,000                  97,000
KS         :        65,000                 65,000                  65,000
KY         :        92,000                 91,000                  90,000
LA         :        30,000                 30,000                  30,000
ME         :         7,200                  7,000                   6,900
MD         :        13,700                 13,000                  12,500
MA         :         6,000                  6,000                   6,000
MI         :        54,000                 53,000                  52,000
MN         :        82,000                 81,000                  80,000
MS         :        42,000                 42,000                  42,000
MO         :       110,000                110,000                 110,000
MT         :        26,500                 27,000                  27,500
NE         :        56,000                 55,000                  55,000
NV         :         3,000                  3,000                   3,000
NH         :         2,900                  3,000                   3,100
NJ         :         9,500                  9,600                   9,600
NM         :        15,500                 15,500                  16,000
NY         :        38,000                 38,000                  38,000
NC         :        59,000                 59,000                  58,000
ND         :        32,000                 31,500                  31,000
OH         :        78,000                 79,000                  80,000
OK         :        82,000                 83,000                  83,000
OR         :        38,500                 39,000                  39,500
PA         :        59,000                 60,000                  60,000
RI         :           750                    750                     750
SC         :        25,000                 25,000                  25,000
SD         :        32,500                 32,500                  32,500
TN         :        91,000                 91,000                  91,000
TX         :       224,000                225,000                 226,000
UT         :        15,000                 15,000                  15,000
VT         :         6,500                  6,600                   6,700
VA         :        49,000                 49,000                  49,000
WA         :        39,000                 39,000                  40,000
WV         :        21,000                 21,000                  21,000
WI         :        79,000                 79,000                  78,000
WY         :         9,200                  9,200                   9,200
           :
US         :     2,190,500              2,190,510               2,191,510
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
 
             Land in Farms:  By State and United States, 1996-98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :        1996        :         1997          :         1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                            1,000 Acres
           :
AL         :        9,700                  9,600                   9,500
AK         :          920                    910                     910
AZ         :       28,300                 28,300                  28,300
AR         :       14,900                 14,800                  14,750
CA         :       29,000                 28,700                  28,500
CO         :       32,500                 32,500                  32,200
CT         :          380                    380                     380
DE         :          590                    585                     580
FL         :       10,700                 10,600                  10,600
GA         :       11,400                 11,300                  11,300
HI         :        1,440                  1,440                   1,440
ID         :       12,100                 12,000                  12,000
IL         :       27,900                 27,800                  27,800
IN         :       15,600                 15,600                  15,600
IA         :       33,000                 33,000                  33,000
KS         :       47,500                 47,500                  47,500
KY         :       14,000                 13,900                  13,900
LA         :        8,300                  8,200                   8,200
ME         :        1,310                  1,280                   1,280
MD         :        2,200                  2,200                   2,100
MA         :          570                    570                     570
MI         :       10,600                 10,400                  10,400
MN         :       29,200                 29,100                  28,900
MS         :       11,900                 11,700                  11,600
MO         :       30,100                 30,100                  30,100
MT         :       58,500                 57,800                  57,500
NE         :       46,400                 46,400                  46,400
NV         :        6,900                  6,900                   6,900
NH         :          420                    420                     420
NJ         :          840                    830                     830
NM         :       45,100                 45,300                  45,300
NY         :        7,800                  7,800                   7,800
NC         :        9,500                  9,500                   9,400
ND         :       39,900                 39,700                  39,500
OH         :       14,900                 14,900                  14,900
OK         :       34,000                 34,000                  34,000
OR         :       17,500                 17,500                  17,200
PA         :        7,600                  7,700                   7,700
RI         :           65                     65                      65
SC         :        5,000                  5,000                   4,900
SD         :       44,000                 44,000                  44,000
TN         :       12,000                 12,000                  11,900
TX         :      132,000                131,500                 131,500
UT         :       11,400                 11,600                  11,600
VT         :        1,340                  1,330                   1,340
VA         :        8,800                  8,800                   8,800
WA         :       15,700                 15,700                  15,700
WV         :        3,700                  3,700                   3,700
WI         :       16,600                 16,500                  16,400
WY         :       34,600                 34,600                  34,600
           :
US         :      958,675                956,010                 953,765
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
                Number of Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,
                         Region, and United States, 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :
          State          :--------------------------------------:
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                        Number
                         :
Northeast                :
  NY                     :    18,400      11,000        8,600          38,000
  PA                     :    33,300      17,200        9,500          60,000
  Other States 1/        :    24,700       8,800        3,650          37,150
  Total                  :    76,400      37,000       21,750         135,150
                         :
North Central            :
  IL                     :    27,700      27,800       23,500          79,000
  IN                     :    31,000      22,500       12,500          66,000
  IA                     :    26,500      38,500       32,000          97,000
  KS                     :    24,200      27,300       13,500          65,000
  MI                     :    27,000      17,000        8,000          52,000
  MN                     :    29,500      29,500       21,000          80,000
  MO                     :    62,700      36,700       10,600         110,000
  NE                     :    14,000      22,600       18,400          55,000
  ND                     :     8,200      14,000        8,800          31,000
  OH                     :    41,500      27,300       11,200          80,000
  SD                     :     7,000      15,300       10,200          32,500
  WI                     :    34,000      25,500       18,500          78,000
  Total                  :   333,300     304,000      188,200         825,500
                         :
South                    :
  AL 2/                  :    35,000                                   49,000
  AR                     :    27,500      11,500       10,500          49,500
  FL 2/                  :    29,500                                   45,000
  GA                     :    32,500       9,700        7,800          50,000
  KY 2/                  :    51,000                                   90,000
  LA 2/                  :    19,000                                   30,000
  MS 2/                  :    30,000                                   42,000
  NC                     :    34,000      14,000       10,000          58,000
  OK                     :    52,000      25,000        6,000          83,000
  TN 2/                  :    69,000                                   91,000
  TX                     :   153,000      56,000       17,000         226,000
  VA 2/                  :    32,000                                   49,000
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    51,000                                   61,200
  Total                  :   615,500     216,200       92,000         923,700
                         :
West                     :
  CA                     :    42,600      24,400       22,000          89,000
  OR 2/                  :    26,500                                   39,500
  WA                     :    25,700       7,500        6,800          40,000
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    72,200                                  138,660
  Total                  :   167,000      85,000       55,160         307,160
                         :
US                       : 1,192,200     642,200      357,110       2,191,510
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT.
2/  Estimates not available for all sales classes.
3/  DE, MD, SC, and WV.
4/  AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
 
 
 
 
                 Land in Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,
                         Region, and United States, 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :
          State          :--------------------------------------:
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                     1,000 Acres
                         :
Northeast                :
  NY                     :    1,800        2,200        3,800          7,800
  PA                     :    2,100        2,500        3,100          7,700
  Other States 1/        :    1,575        1,310        2,000          4,885
  Total                  :    5,475        6,010        8,900         20,385
                         :
North Central            :
  IL                     :    1,700        6,000       20,100         27,800
  IN                     :    1,500        4,000       10,100         15,600
  IA                     :    1,700        9,200       22,100         33,000
  KS                     :    3,500       16,000       28,000         47,500
  MI                     :    1,900        2,800        5,700         10,400
  MN                     :    3,100        8,500       17,300         28,900
  MO                     :    7,300       11,600       11,200         30,100
  NE                     :    2,100       12,500       31,800         46,400
  ND                     :    3,400       14,000       22,100         39,500
  OH                     :    2,800        4,600        7,500         14,900
  SD                     :    2,000       14,400       27,600         44,000
  WI                     :    2,800        4,800        8,800         16,400
  Total                  :   33,800      108,400      212,300        354,500
                         :
South                    :
  AL 2/                  :    4,000                                    9,500
  AR                     :    2,250        3,300        9,200         14,750
  FL 2/                  :    1,800                                   10,600
  GA                     :    3,000        2,400        5,900         11,300
  KY 2/                  :    3,900                                   13,900
  LA 2/                  :    1,800                                    8,200
  MS 2/                  :    3,800                                   11,600
  NC                     :    2,300        1,900        5,200          9,400
  OK                     :    6,900       14,100       13,000         34,000
  TN 2/                  :    4,800                                   11,900
  TX                     :   22,000       45,500       64,000        131,500
  VA 2/                  :    2,800                                    8,800
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    5,350                                   11,280
  Total                  :   64,700       93,730      128,300        286,730
                         :
West                     :
  CA                     :    3,000        7,300       18,200         28,500
  OR 2/                  :    1,700                                   17,200
  WA                     :    2,600        2,800       10,300         15,700
  Other States 2/ 4/     :   23,700                                  230,750
  Total                  :   31,000       77,500      183,650        292,150
                         :
US                       :  134,975      285,640      533,150        953,765
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
 
 
 
 
                Number of Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,
                     Region, and United States, 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :
          State          :--------------------------------------:
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                        Number
                         :
Northeast                :
  NY                     :    18,700      11,000        8,300          38,000
  PA                     :    33,300      17,200        9,500          60,000
  Other States 1/        :    24,050       9,100        3,900          37,050
  Total                  :    76,050      37,300       21,700         135,050
                         :
North Central            :
  IL                     :    27,700      27,800       23,500          79,000
  IN                     :    31,500      22,000       12,500          66,000
  IA                     :    27,500      38,500       32,000          98,000
  KS                     :    24,200      27,300       13,500          65,000
  MI                     :    28,500      17,000        7,500          53,000
  MN                     :    29,500      30,500       21,000          81,000
  MO                     :    62,700      36,500       10,800         110,000
  NE                     :    13,500      23,300       18,200          55,000
  ND                     :     8,500      14,000        9,000          31,500
  OH                     :    40,600      27,500       10,900          79,000
  SD                     :     7,000      15,500       10,000          32,500
  WI                     :    33,600      26,700       18,700          79,000
  Total                  :   334,800     306,600      187,600         829,000
                         :
South                    :
  AL 2/                  :    35,000                                   49,000
  AR                     :    26,500      12,000       10,500          49,000
  FL 2/                  :    29,500                                   45,000
  GA                     :    31,900       9,600        7,500          49,000
  KY 2/                  :    53,000                                   91,000
  LA 2/                  :    19,500                                   30,000
  MS 2/                  :    30,000                                   42,000
  NC                     :    35,000      14,000       10,000          59,000
  OK                     :    52,700      24,000        6,300          83,000
  TN 2/                  :    69,000                                   91,000
  TX                     :   154,000      54,000       17,000         225,000
  VA 2/                  :    32,000                                   49,000
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    49,900                                   61,800
  Total                  :   618,000     216,000       89,800         923,800
                         :
West                     :
  CA                     :    42,000      25,000       20,000          87,000
  OR 2/                  :    26,000                                   39,000
  WA                     :    24,300       7,800        6,900          39,000
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    69,900                                  137,660
  Total                  :   162,200      86,060       54,400         302,660
                         :
US                       : 1,191,050     645,960      353,500       2,190,510
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT.
2/  Estimates not available for all sales classes.
3/  DE, MD, SC, and WV.
4/  AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
 
 
 
 
                 Land in Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,
                     Region, and United States, 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :
          State          :--------------------------------------:
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                     1,000 Acres
                         :
Northeast                :
  NY                     :    1,900        2,200        3,700          7,800
  PA                     :    2,100        2,500        3,100          7,700
  Other States 1/        :    1,475        1,400        2,000          4,875
  Total                  :    5,475        6,100        8,800         20,375
                         :
North Central            :
  IL                     :    1,700        6,000       20,100         27,800
  IN                     :    1,500        4,100       10,000         15,600
  IA                     :    1,800        9,500       21,700         33,000
  KS                     :    3,800       16,000       27,700         47,500
  MI                     :    2,000        2,900        5,500         10,400
  MN                     :    3,100        8,700       17,300         29,100
  MO                     :    7,300       11,500       11,300         30,100
  NE                     :    2,100       12,700       31,600         46,400
  ND                     :    3,500       14,000       22,200         39,700
  OH                     :    2,800        4,800        7,300         14,900
  SD                     :    2,100       14,800       27,100         44,000
  WI                     :    2,800        4,900        8,800         16,500
  Total                  :   34,500      109,900      210,600        355,000
                         :
South                    :
  AL 2/                  :    4,000                                    9,600
  AR                     :    2,200        3,300        9,300         14,800
  FL 2/                  :    1,800                                   10,600
  GA                     :    3,000        2,500        5,800         11,300
  KY 2/                  :    4,000                                   13,900
  LA 2/                  :    1,800                                    8,200
  MS 2/                  :    3,700                                   11,700
  NC                     :    2,400        2,000        5,100          9,500
  OK                     :    7,000       14,000       13,000         34,000
  TN 2/                  :    4,800                                   12,000
  TX                     :   22,000       45,500       64,000        131,500
  VA 2/                  :    2,800                                    8,800
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    5,400                                   11,485
  Total                  :   64,900       93,985      128,500        287,385
                         :
West                     :
  CA                     :    3,000        7,300       18,400         28,700
  OR 2/                  :    1,700                                   17,500
  WA                     :    2,500        2,900       10,300         15,700
  Other States 2/ 4/     :   23,300                                  231,350
  Total                  :   30,500       78,500      184,250        293,250
                         :
US                       :  135,375      288,485      532,150        956,010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, RI, and VT.
2/  Estimates not available for all sales classes.
3/  DE, MD, SC, and WV.
4/  AK, AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, and WY.
 
 
 
 
                Number of Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,
                     Region, and United States, 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :
          State          :--------------------------------------:
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                        Number
                         :
Northeast                :
  NY                     :    18,600      11,200        8,200          38,000
  PA                     :    32,600      17,200        9,200          59,000
  Other States 1/        :    24,650       8,500        3,800          36,950
  Total                  :    75,850      36,900       21,200         133,950
                         :
North Central            :
  IL                     :    27,000      28,500       23,500          79,000
  IN                     :    30,000      23,000       13,000          66,000
  IA                     :    27,000      41,000       31,000          99,000
  KS                     :    23,500      28,500       13,000          65,000
  MI                     :    29,800      17,000        7,200          54,000
  MN                     :    29,000      31,500       21,500          82,000
  MO                     :    61,500      38,200       10,300         110,000
  NE                     :    12,800      25,000       18,200          56,000
  ND                     :     7,400      15,100        9,500          32,000
  OH                     :    39,000      28,600       10,400          78,000
  SD                     :     6,000      17,000        9,500          32,500
  WI                     :    32,900      27,400       18,700          79,000
  Total                  :   325,900     320,800      185,800         832,500
                         :
South                    :
  AL 2/                  :    35,000                                   49,000
  AR                     :    26,500      12,500       10,500          49,500
  FL 2/                  :    29,500                                   45,000
  GA                     :    32,000       9,700        7,300          49,000
  KY 2/                  :    52,000                                   92,000
  LA 2/                  :    19,000                                   30,000
  MS 2/                  :    30,000                                   42,000
  NC                     :    34,000      15,000       10,000          59,000
  OK                     :    50,200      25,500        6,300          82,000
  TN 2/                  :    68,000                                   91,000
  TX                     :   151,000      56,000       17,000         224,000
  VA 2/                  :    32,000                                   49,000
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    49,300                                   62,500
  Total                  :   608,500     227,400       88,100         924,000
                         :
West                     :
  CA                     :    41,500      26,000       18,500          86,000
  OR 2/                  :    25,500                                   38,500
  WA                     :    24,200       7,700        7,100          39,000
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    66,350                                  136,550
  Total                  :   157,550      88,500       54,000         300,050
                         :
US                       : 1,167,800     673,600      349,100       2,190,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
 
 
 
 
                 Land in Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,
                     Region, and United States, 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :
          State          :--------------------------------------:
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                     1,000 Acres
                         :
Northeast                :
  NY                     :    1,900        2,200        3,700          7,800
  PA                     :    2,100        2,500        3,000          7,600
  Other States 1/        :    1,490        1,400        2,035          4,925
  Total                  :    5,490        6,100        8,735         20,325
                         :
North Central            :
  IL                     :    1,700        6,400       19,800         27,900
  IN                     :    1,400        4,300        9,900         15,600
  IA                     :    1,800       10,600       20,600         33,000
  KS                     :    3,800       16,800       26,900         47,500
  MI                     :    2,200        3,100        5,300         10,600
  MN                     :    3,100        9,000       17,100         29,200
  MO                     :    7,300       11,900       10,900         30,100
  NE                     :    2,100       13,300       31,000         46,400
  ND                     :    3,400       14,500       22,000         39,900
  OH                     :    2,800        5,200        6,900         14,900
  SD                     :    2,100       15,700       26,200         44,000
  WI                     :    2,700        5,100        8,800         16,600
  Total                  :   34,400      115,900      205,400        355,700
                         :
South                    :
  AL 2/                  :    4,100                                    9,700
  AR                     :    2,200        3,500        9,200         14,900
  FL 2/                  :    1,800                                   10,700
  GA                     :    2,900        2,700        5,800         11,400
  KY 2/                  :    4,000                                   14,000
  LA 2/                  :    1,800                                    8,300
  MS 2/                  :    3,600                                   11,900
  NC                     :    2,400        2,100        5,000          9,500
  OK                     :    7,300       14,000       12,700         34,000
  TN 2/                  :    4,800                                   12,000
  TX                     :   22,000       46,000       64,000        132,000
  VA 2/                  :    2,800                                    8,800
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    5,990                                   11,490
  Total                  :   65,690       95,500      127,500        288,690
                         :
West                     :
  CA                     :    3,100        7,600       18,300         29,000
  OR 2/                  :    1,700                                   17,500
  WA                     :    2,500        3,100       10,100         15,700
  Other States 2/ 4/     :   20,910                                  231,760
  Total                  :   28,210       79,700      186,050        293,960
                         :
US                       :  133,790      297,200      527,685        958,675
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
 
 
 
 
    Percent of Farms, Land in Farms and Average Farm Size:  By Economic Sales
                        Class, United States, 1996-98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Economic      :       Percent of Total        :
        Sales        :-------------------------------:    Average Size Farm
        Class        :     Farms     :     Land      :         (Acres)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     :                           1996
                     :
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      26.2             4.3                   72
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      14.5             4.4                  133
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      12.6             5.3                  184
 $10,000 -  $19,999  :      10.5             6.0                  250
 $20,000 -  $39,999  :       9.4             7.5                  349
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :      10.9            17.5                  703
$100,000 - $249,999  :       9.5            25.3                1,166
$250,000 - $499,999  :       3.8            13.8                1,589
$500,000 +           :       2.6            15.9                2,676
                     :
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  438
                     :
                     :
                     :                           1997
                     :
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      27.4             4.4                   70
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      14.6             4.4                  132
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      12.4             5.4                  190
 $10,000 -  $19,999  :       9.9             5.8                  256
 $20,000 -  $39,999  :       9.0             7.4                  359
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :      10.6            17.0                  700
$100,000 - $249,999  :       9.0            24.0                1,164
$250,000 - $499,999  :       4.1            14.2                1,512
$500,000 +           :       3.0            17.4                2,531
                     :
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  436
                     :
                     :
                     :                           1998
                     :
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      27.6             4.3                   68
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      14.7             4.4                  130
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      12.1             5.5                  198
 $10,000 -  $19,999  :       9.9             5.8                  255
 $20,000 -  $39,999  :       8.9             7.3                  357
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :      10.5            16.8                  696
$100,000 - $249,999  :       8.9            23.5                1,149
$250,000 - $499,999  :       4.3            14.8                1,498
$500,000 +           :       3.1            17.6                2,471
                     :
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  435
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
           Average Farm Size:  By State and United States, 1996-98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :        1996        :         1997          :         1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                               Number
           :
AL         :         198                    196                     194
AK         :       1,673                  1,625                   1,625
AZ         :       3,582                  3,582                   3,582
AR         :         301                    302                     298
CA         :         337                    330                     320
CO         :       1,102                  1,102                   1,092
CT         :          93                     93                      93
DE         :         211                    209                     215
FL         :         238                    236                     236
GA         :         233                    231                     226
HI         :         267                    262                     262
ID         :         504                    490                     490
IL         :         353                    352                     352
IN         :         236                    236                     236
IA         :         333                    337                     340
KS         :         731                    731                     731
KY         :         152                    153                     154
LA         :         277                    273                     273
ME         :         182                    183                     186
MD         :         161                    169                     168
MA         :          95                     95                      95
MI         :         196                    196                     200
MN         :         356                    359                     361
MS         :         283                    279                     276
MO         :         274                    274                     274
MT         :       2,208                  2,141                   2,091
NE         :         829                    844                     844
NV         :       2,300                  2,300                   2,300
NH         :         145                    140                     135
NJ         :          88                     86                      86
NM         :       2,910                  2,923                   2,831
NY         :         205                    205                     205
NC         :         161                    161                     162
ND         :       1,247                  1,260                   1,274
OH         :         191                    189                     186
OK         :         415                    410                     410
OR         :         455                    449                     435
PA         :         129                    128                     128
RI         :          87                     87                      87
SC         :         200                    200                     196
SD         :       1,354                  1,354                   1,354
TN         :         132                    132                     131
TX         :         589                    584                     582
UT         :         760                    773                     773
VT         :         206                    202                     200
VA         :         180                    180                     180
WA         :         403                    403                     393
WV         :         176                    176                     176
WI         :         210                    209                     210
WY         :       3,761                  3,761                   3,761
           :
US         :         438                    436                     435
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
                  Reliability of Data in this Report
 
Survey Procedures:  These data were collected by the National Agricultural
                    Statistics Service during the June Agricultural Survey and
the Fall Agricultural Survey using sampling procedures to ensure every farm
operator had a chance of being selected.  Two samples of farm operators are
selected for June, while only the area sample is surveyed in the Fall.  First,
NASS maintains a list of farms which are classified and sampled by size
and type. Larger farms are selected with greater frequency but all farms
are represented. A second sample, used in June and the Fall consists of
area segments of land scientifically selected from aerial photography.
Each June and December, highly trained interviewers locate each selected
land segment and identify every farm operating land within the sample
segment's boundaries. The names associated with those farms found in the
area segments are matched against the list of farms; those not found on
the list represent all farms not on the NASS list. This methodology is
known as multiple frame sampling, with an area sample used to measure
incompleteness of the list. The area segments also provide independent
indications of number of farms and land in farms.
 
Beginning in 1995, interviewers counted operations 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. Beginning in 1997 the Fall Agricultural
Survey was added to estimate all operations qualifying as a farm during
the year. 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 are a continuing effort 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 1993-98 estimates. This change ensured
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 numbers information is subject to revision the
                  following year and following review of the five-year
Census of Agriculture. The basis for revision must be supported by additional
data that directly affect the level of the estimate. A historical publication
with revisions for 1993-97 was published January 19, 1999.
 
Reliability:  Two types of errors, sampling and nonsampling, are possible
              in an estimate based on a sample survey.  Both types affect the
"precision" of the estimates.
 
Sampling error occurs because a complete census is not taken. The
sampling error measures the variation in estimates from the average of
all possible samples. An estimate of 100 with a sampling error of 1
would mean that chances are 19 out of 20 that the estimates from all
possible samples averaged together would be between 98 and 102; which is
the survey estimate, plus or minus two times the sampling error. The
sampling error expressed as a percent of the estimate is called the
relative sampling error. The relative sampling error for the U.S. number
of farms was just above 1 percent and just above 1 percent for land in
farms. The sampling error for total number of farms and total land in
farms is less than the sampling error for each component of the total,
such as number of farms by economic sales class. Relative sampling
errors by economic sales class generally ranged from 2.2 to 3.5 percent
for number of farms and 2.6 to 7.9 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.
 
 
                         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 farms.
 
 
Land in farms is all land operated by farms during the year. It includes
crop and livestock acreage, wasteland, woodland, pasture, land in summer
fallow, idle cropland, and land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve
Program and other set aside or commodity acreage programs. It excludes
public, industrial, and grazing association land and nonagricultural
land. It excludes all land operated by establishments not qualifying as
farms.
 
 
Economic sales classes are based on the gross value of sales, which
includes sales of agricultural products such as crops, livestock,
horses, honey, furs, fish, nursery and greenhouse products, rabbits,
etc. Government program payments from the previous year are also
included.
 
 
 
 
The next "Farms and Land in Farms" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET
on February 18, 2000.
 
 
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national
origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at
202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
 
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
 
 
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For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data
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Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject.
 
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