Farms and                                                                       
Land in Farms                                                                   
     National                                                                   
     Agricultural                                                               
     Statistics                                                                 
     Service                                                                    
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released February 12, 1998, 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 202-690-3229, office   
hours 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
            Farm Numbers and Land in Farms Down Slightly                        
                                                                                
The number of farms in the United States in 1997 is estimated at 2.06 million,  
down less than one percent from 1996.  Total land in farms is 968 million       
acres, also down less than one percent from last year.  This decline in farm    
numbers and land in farms continues to follow historical trends.  The average   
farm size increased from 1996 to 471 acres.                                     
                                                                                
The West and Northeast Regions were both up in farm numbers from 1996.  The     
West Region showed the largest increase, up 2,000 farms or 0.7%, while the      
Northeast Region was up 300 farms or 0.2% from 1996.  The largest decrease was  
in the North Central Region with a loss of 5,500 farms or 0.7%.  The South      
Region was down 2,800 farms or 0.3%.                                            
                                                                                
Texas remained the State with the most farms at 205,000, the same as a year     
earlier. Missouri was second with 102,000 farms, down 2,000 from last year,     
followed by Iowa with 98,000 farms, the same as 1996.                           
                                                                                
Eight States increased in farm numbers while 13 states decreased from a year    
ago. California showed the largest increase with 2,000 farms while Indiana,     
Montana, Ohio, and Oklahoma showed increases of 1,000 farms from last year.     
Missouri, Michigan, and Kansas showed the largest decreases, of 2,000 farms.    
                                                                                
Texas continued to lead the nation in land in farms and ranches with 129.0      
million acres, the same as 1996.  Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina and New   
Mexico all showed the largest decrease in agricultural land from a year ago,    
each decreasing 200,000 acres.  There were nine states with decreases of        
100,000 acres in agricultural land from a year ago.  There were no states that  
increased acres in agricultural land in farms from a year ago.                  
                                                                                
The number of U.S. farms in the economic sales class between $1,000 and $9,999  
increased from 1,020,110 in 1996 to 1,030,510 in 1997.  Those with sales in     
the $10,000-$99,999 group decreased from 705,100 in 1996 to 678,500 in 1997.    
The $100,000 and over sales group increased from 338,700 in 1996 to 348,900     
farms in 1997.                                                                  
                                                                                
             Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm:             
                          United States, 1987-97 1/ 2/                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :        Number        :          Land           :     Average     
     Year    :       of Farms       :        in Farms         :    Size Farm    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :        Number                1,000 Acres              Acres      
             :                                                                  
1987         :      2,212,960                 998,923                 451       
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         :      2,083,430                 976,463                 469       
1994         :      2,064,720                 973,403                 471       
1995         :      2,071,520                 972,253                 469       
1996         :      2,063,910                 970,048                 470       
1997         :      2,057,910                 968,338                 471       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.               
2/  1987 - 1996 estimates are for a June 1 reference date.  1997 estimates are  
    for the entire year.                                                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
            Number of Farms:  By State and United States, 1995-97 1/            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :        1995        :         1996          :         1997          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                               Number                               
           :                                                                    
AL         :        47,000                 45,000                  45,000       
AK         :           520                    510                     510       
AZ         :         7,400                  7,500                   7,500       
AR         :        43,000                 43,000                  42,500       
CA         :        80,000                 82,000                  84,000       
CO         :        25,000                 24,500                  24,500       
CT         :         3,800                  3,800                   3,900       
DE         :         2,500                  2,500                   2,400       
FL         :        39,000                 40,000                  40,000       
GA         :        45,000                 43,000                  43,000       
HI         :         4,800                  4,600                   4,600       
ID         :        21,500                 22,000                  22,000       
IL         :        77,000                 76,000                  76,000       
IN         :        62,000                 61,000                  62,000       
IA         :       100,000                 98,000                  98,000       
KS         :        66,000                 66,000                  64,000       
KY         :        89,000                 88,000                  88,000       
LA         :        27,000                 27,000                  26,500       
ME         :         7,600                  7,400                   7,300       
MD         :        14,300                 13,700                  13,000       
MA         :         6,000                  6,100                   6,200       
MI         :        54,000                 53,000                  51,000       
MN         :        87,000                 87,000                  87,000       
MS         :        42,000                 44,000                  43,000       
MO         :       105,000                104,000                 102,000       
MT         :        22,000                 23,000                  24,000       
NE         :        56,000                 56,000                  55,000       
NV         :         2,500                  2,500                   2,500       
NH         :         2,300                  2,400                   2,400       
NJ         :         9,000                  9,200                   9,400       
NM         :        13,500                 13,500                  13,500       
NY         :        36,000                 36,000                  36,000       
NC         :        58,000                 58,000                  57,000       
ND         :        32,000                 31,000                  30,500       
OH         :        74,000                 72,000                  73,000       
OK         :        71,000                 72,000                  73,000       
OR         :        38,500                 38,500                  37,500       
PA         :        50,000                 50,000                  50,000       
RI         :           700                    700                     700       
SC         :        22,000                 21,500                  21,500       
SD         :        33,000                 32,500                  32,500       
TN         :        81,000                 80,000                  80,000       
TX         :       202,000                205,000                 205,000       
UT         :        13,400                 13,400                  13,400       
VT         :         6,000                  6,000                   6,000       
VA         :        47,000                 47,000                  47,000       
WA         :        36,000                 36,000                  36,000       
WV         :        20,000                 20,000                  20,000       
WI         :        80,000                 79,000                  79,000       
WY         :         9,200                  9,100                   9,100       
           :                                                                    
US         :     2,071,520              2,063,910               2,057,910       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1995-1996 farm numbers are for a June 1 reference date.  1997 farm numbers  
    are for the entire year.                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Land in Farms:  By State and United States, 1995-97 1/             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :        1995        :         1996          :         1997          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                            1,000 Acres                             
           :                                                                    
AL         :       10,200                  9,800                   9,700        
AK         :          920                    920                     920        
AZ         :       35,400                 35,400                  35,400        
AR         :       15,000                 15,000                  14,800        
CA         :       30,000                 30,000                  30,000        
CO         :       32,700                 32,500                  32,500        
CT         :          380                    380                     380        
DE         :          570                    565                     565        
FL         :       10,300                 10,300                  10,300        
GA         :       12,000                 11,800                  11,800        
HI         :        1,590                  1,590                   1,590        
ID         :       13,500                 13,500                  13,500        
IL         :       28,100                 28,100                  28,000        
IN         :       15,900                 15,900                  15,900        
IA         :       33,200                 33,200                  33,200        
KS         :       47,800                 47,800                  47,800        
KY         :       14,000                 14,000                  13,900        
LA         :        8,500                  8,700                   8,500        
ME         :        1,350                  1,340                   1,340        
MD         :        2,200                  2,100                   2,100        
MA         :          570                    570                     570        
MI         :       10,700                 10,600                  10,500        
MN         :       29,800                 29,800                  29,800        
MS         :       13,000                 12,600                  12,500        
MO         :       30,000                 30,000                  29,900        
MT         :       59,700                 59,700                  59,600        
NE         :       47,000                 47,000                  47,000        
NV         :        8,800                  8,800                   8,800        
NH         :          440                    430                     430        
NJ         :          850                    840                     830        
NM         :       44,000                 43,700                  43,500        
NY         :        7,700                  7,700                   7,700        
NC         :        9,200                  9,200                   9,000        
ND         :       40,300                 40,300                  40,200        
OH         :       15,200                 15,100                  15,100        
OK         :       34,000                 34,000                  34,000        
OR         :       17,500                 17,500                  17,500        
PA         :        7,700                  7,700                   7,700        
RI         :           63                     63                      63        
SC         :        5,050                  5,000                   5,000        
SD         :       44,000                 44,000                  44,000        
TN         :       12,000                 11,800                  11,800        
TX         :      129,000                129,000                 129,000        
UT         :       11,100                 11,000                  11,000        
VT         :        1,370                  1,350                   1,350        
VA         :        8,600                  8,600                   8,500        
WA         :       15,800                 15,700                  15,700        
WV         :        3,700                  3,700                   3,700        
WI         :       16,900                 16,800                  16,800        
WY         :       34,600                 34,600                  34,600        
           :                                                                    
US         :      972,253                970,048                 968,338        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1995-1996 land in farms are for a June 1 reference date.  1997 land in farms
                                                                                
    is the entire year.                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                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                     :    16,900      11,000        8,100          36,000   
  PA                     :    24,000      17,700        8,300          50,000   
  Other States 1/        :    22,400       7,100        6,400          35,900   
  Total                  :    63,300      35,800       22,800         121,900   
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :    21,000      31,500       23,500          76,000   
  IN                     :    25,000      23,800       13,200          62,000   
  IA                     :    25,000      39,500       33,500          98,000   
  KS                     :    23,000      29,000       12,000          64,000   
  MI                     :    27,000      16,000        8,000          51,000   
  MN                     :    33,000      31,000       23,000          87,000   
  MO                     :    53,900      37,500       10,600         102,000   
  NE                     :    11,000      26,000       18,000          55,000   
  ND                     :     5,800      13,000       11,700          30,500   
  OH                     :    36,500      26,000       10,500          73,000   
  SD                     :     6,500      16,000       10,000          32,500   
  WI                     :    32,400      27,400       19,200          79,000   
  Total                  :   300,100     316,700      193,200         810,000   
                         :                                                      
South                    :                                                      
  AL 2/                  :    30,000                                   45,000   
  AR                     :    20,500      12,100        9,900          42,500   
  FL 2/                  :    25,000                                   40,000   
  GA                     :    24,500      12,000        6,500          43,000   
  KY 2/                  :    48,000                                   88,000   
  LA 2/                  :    15,500                                   26,500   
  MS 2/                  :    29,500                                   43,000   
  NC                     :    32,000      16,000        9,000          57,000   
  OK                     :    42,200      25,500        5,300          73,000   
  TN 2/                  :    57,000                                   80,000   
  TX                     :   133,000      54,000       18,000         205,000   
  VA 2/                  :    31,000                                   47,000   
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    43,800                                   56,900   
  Total                  :   532,000     233,900       81,000         846,900   
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    35,500      28,500       20,000          84,000   
  OR 2/                  :    27,000                                   37,500   
  WA                     :    20,500       8,100        7,400          36,000   
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    52,110                                  121,610   
  Total                  :   135,110      92,100       51,900         279,110   
                         :                                                      
US                       : 1,030,510     678,500      348,900       2,057,910   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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                     :    1,500        2,100        4,100          7,700    
  PA                     :    1,800        3,000        2,900          7,700    
  Other States 1/        :    1,595        1,318        2,050          4,963    
  Total                  :    4,895        6,418        9,050         20,363    
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :      800        6,550       20,650         28,000    
  IN                     :    1,300        4,600       10,000         15,900    
  IA                     :    1,600        8,900       22,700         33,200    
  KS                     :    3,000       18,800       26,000         47,800    
  MI                     :    1,400        2,900        6,200         10,500    
  MN                     :    3,200        8,900       17,700         29,800    
  MO                     :    5,300       13,300       11,300         29,900    
  NE                     :    1,000       15,700       30,300         47,000    
  ND                     :    1,500       12,100       26,600         40,200    
  OH                     :    2,600        5,200        7,300         15,100    
  SD                     :    1,200       17,800       25,000         44,000    
  WI                     :    2,700        5,100        9,000         16,800    
  Total                  :   25,600      119,850      212,750        358,200    
                         :                                                      
South                    :                                                      
  AL 2/                  :    3,400                                    9,700    
  AR                     :    1,700        2,200       10,900         14,800    
  FL 2/                  :    1,800                                   10,300    
  GA                     :    2,500        3,400        5,900         11,800    
  KY 2/                  :    3,800                                   13,900    
  LA 2/                  :    1,700                                    8,500    
  MS 2/                  :    3,000                                   12,500    
  NC                     :    1,600        2,500        4,900          9,000    
  OK                     :    5,500       16,500       12,000         34,000    
  TN 2/                  :    4,300                                   11,800    
  TX                     :   22,000       55,000       52,000        129,000    
  VA 2/                  :    2,100                                    8,500    
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    4,900                                   11,365    
  Total                  :   58,300      112,253      114,612        285,165    
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    2,500        7,000       20,500         30,000    
  OR 2/                  :    1,700                                   17,500    
  WA                     :      950        3,700       11,050         15,700    
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    9,540                                  241,410    
  Total                  :   14,690       98,620      191,300        304,610    
                         :                                                      
US                       :  103,485      337,141      527,712        968,338    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, June 1, 1996                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :               
          State          :--------------------------------------:               
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total     
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                        Number                        
                         :                                                      
Northeast                :                                                      
  NY                     :    16,800      11,200        8,000          36,000   
  PA                     :    24,000      17,700        8,300          50,000   
  Other States 1/        :    22,100       7,200        6,300          35,600   
  Total                  :    62,900      36,100       22,600         121,600   
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :    21,000      32,000       23,000          76,000   
  IN                     :    24,000      24,000       13,000          61,000   
  IA                     :    26,000      41,000       31,000          98,000   
  KS                     :    25,000      30,500       10,500          66,000   
  MI                     :    28,000      17,000        8,000          53,000   
  MN                     :    31,000      33,000       23,000          87,000   
  MO                     :    54,600      39,200       10,200         104,000   
  NE                     :    11,500      26,500       18,000          56,000   
  ND                     :     5,000      15,000       11,000          31,000   
  OH                     :    35,000      27,000       10,000          72,000   
  SD                     :     6,000      17,500        9,000          32,500   
  WI                     :    32,400      27,400       19,200          79,000   
  Total                  :   299,500     330,100      185,900         815,500   
                         :                                                      
South                    :                                                      
  AL 2/                  :    31,000                                   45,000   
  AR                     :    20,500      12,500       10,000          43,000   
  FL 2/                  :    25,000                                   40,000   
  GA                     :    24,000      12,000        7,000          43,000   
  KY 2/                  :    47,000                                   88,000   
  LA 2/                  :    15,500                                   27,000   
  MS 2/                  :    31,500                                   44,000   
  NC                     :    32,000      17,000        9,000          58,000   
  OK                     :    40,200      26,500        5,300          72,000   
  TN 2/                  :    57,000                                   80,000   
  TX                     :   133,000      55,000       17,000         205,000   
  VA 2/                  :    31,000                                   47,000   
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    39,300                                   57,700   
  Total                  :   527,000     242,700       80,000         849,700   
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    33,500      30,000       18,500          82,000   
  OR 2/                  :    27,500                                   38,500   
  WA                     :    20,400       8,000        7,600          36,000   
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    49,310                                  120,610   
  Total                  :   130,710      96,200       50,200         277,110   
                         :                                                      
US                       : 1,020,110     705,100      338,700       2,063,910   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, June 1, 1996                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :               
          State          :--------------------------------------:               
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total     
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                     1,000 Acres                      
                         :                                                      
Northeast                :                                                      
  NY                     :    1,500        2,200        4,000          7,700    
  PA                     :    1,800        3,000        2,900          7,700    
  Other States 1/        :    1,573        1,300        2,100          4,973    
  Total                  :    4,873        6,500        9,000         20,373    
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :      800        6,950       20,350         28,100    
  IN                     :    1,300        4,700        9,900         15,900    
  IA                     :    1,700       10,700       20,800         33,200    
  KS                     :    3,400       21,300       23,100         47,800    
  MI                     :    1,400        3,100        6,100         10,600    
  MN                     :    3,400        9,300       17,100         29,800    
  MO                     :    5,300       13,800       10,900         30,000    
  NE                     :    1,100       15,700       30,200         47,000    
  ND                     :      900       13,500       25,900         40,300    
  OH                     :    2,700        5,500        6,900         15,100    
  SD                     :    1,000       20,000       23,000         44,000    
  WI                     :    2,600        5,200        9,000         16,800    
  Total                  :   25,600      129,750      203,250        358,600    
                         :                                                      
South                    :                                                      
  AL 2/                  :    3,600                                    9,800    
  AR                     :    1,800        2,300       10,900         15,000    
  FL 2/                  :    1,800                                   10,300    
  GA                     :    2,300        3,500        6,000         11,800    
  KY 2/                  :    3,700                                   14,000    
  LA 2/                  :    1,800                                    8,700    
  MS 2/                  :    3,100                                   12,600    
  NC                     :    1,700        2,600        4,900          9,200    
  OK                     :    5,400       18,100       10,500         34,000    
  TN 2/                  :    4,300                                   11,800    
  TX                     :   22,000       56,000       51,000        129,000    
  VA 2/                  :    2,200                                    8,600    
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    4,100                                   11,365    
  Total                  :   57,800      116,000      112,365        286,165    
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    2,300        7,600       20,100         30,000    
  OR 2/                  :    1,700                                   17,500    
  WA                     :      950        3,700       11,050         15,700    
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    9,500                                  241,710    
  Total                  :   14,450       98,960      191,500        304,910    
                         :                                                      
US                       :  102,723      351,210      516,115        970,048    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, June 1, 1995                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :               
          State          :--------------------------------------:               
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total     
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                        Number                        
                         :                                                      
Northeast                :                                                      
  NY                     :    16,800      11,400        7,800          36,000   
  PA                     :    24,000      17,700        8,300          50,000   
  Other States 1/        :    21,700       8,000        5,700          35,400   
  Total                  :    62,500      37,100       21,800         121,400   
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :    22,000      31,500       23,500          77,000   
  IN                     :    24,500      25,000       12,500          62,000   
  IA                     :    26,000      42,800       31,200         100,000   
  KS                     :    25,000      30,500       10,500          66,000   
  MI                     :    29,000      17,000        8,000          54,000   
  MN                     :    35,000      34,000       18,000          87,000   
  MO                     :    55,000      40,100        9,900         105,000   
  NE                     :    10,500      27,500       18,000          56,000   
  ND                     :     5,600      15,600       10,800          32,000   
  OH                     :    37,500      26,500       10,000          74,000   
  SD                     :     6,000      17,000       10,000          33,000   
  WI                     :    32,600      28,100       19,300          80,000   
  Total                  :   308,700     335,600      181,700         826,000   
                         :                                                      
South                    :                                                      
  AL 2/                  :    32,000                                   47,000   
  AR                     :    20,500      12,500       10,000          43,000   
  FL 2/                  :    24,000                                   39,000   
  GA                     :    25,400      12,500        7,100          45,000   
  KY 2/                  :    48,000                                   89,000   
  LA 2/                  :    15,500                                   27,000   
  MS 2/                  :    29,000                                   42,000   
  NC                     :    32,000      17,000        9,000          58,000   
  OK                     :    39,200      26,500        5,300          71,000   
  TN 2/                  :    57,000                                   81,000   
  TX                     :   123,000      61,000       18,000         202,000   
  VA 2/                  :    31,000                                   47,000   
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    38,500                                   58,800   
  Total                  :   515,100     252,700       82,000         849,800   
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    33,000      28,800       18,200          80,000   
  OR 2/                  :    27,500                                   38,500   
  WA                     :    20,300       8,000        7,700          36,000   
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    45,820                                  119,820   
  Total                  :   126,620     100,000       47,700         274,320   
                         :                                                      
US                       : 1,012,920     725,400      333,200       2,071,520   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, June 1, 1995                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :               
          State          :--------------------------------------:               
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total     
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                     1,000 Acres                      
                         :                                                      
Northeast                :                                                      
  NY                     :    1,500        2,200        4,000          7,700    
  PA                     :    1,900        3,000        2,800          7,700    
  Other States 1/        :    1,523        1,300        2,200          5,023    
  Total                  :    4,923        6,500        9,000         20,423    
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :      800        6,800       20,500         28,100    
  IN                     :    1,300        5,100        9,500         15,900    
  IA                     :    1,800       11,200       20,200         33,200    
  KS                     :    3,400       21,300       23,100         47,800    
  MI                     :    1,500        3,100        6,100         10,700    
  MN                     :    3,600        9,600       16,600         29,800    
  MO                     :    5,400       14,000       10,600         30,000    
  NE                     :      900       15,700       30,400         47,000    
  ND                     :    1,200       13,600       25,500         40,300    
  OH                     :    2,800        5,600        6,800         15,200    
  SD                     :    1,300       19,400       23,300         44,000    
  WI                     :    2,700        5,200        9,000         16,900    
  Total                  :   26,700      130,600      201,600        358,900    
                         :                                                      
South                    :                                                      
  AL 2/                  :    3,800                                   10,200    
  AR                     :    1,800        2,300       10,900         15,000    
  FL 2/                  :    1,800                                   10,300    
  GA                     :    2,400        3,500        6,100         12,000    
  KY 2/                  :    3,700                                   14,000    
  LA 2/                  :    1,600                                    8,500    
  MS 2/                  :    3,100                                   13,000    
  NC                     :    1,600        2,700        4,900          9,200    
  OK                     :    5,300       18,400       10,300         34,000    
  TN 2/                  :    4,300                                   12,000    
  TX                     :   14,000       55,000       60,000        129,000    
  VA 2/                  :    2,200                                    8,600    
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    3,800                                   11,520    
  Total                  :   49,400      119,000      118,920        287,320    
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    2,300        7,500       20,200         30,000    
  OR 2/                  :    1,700                                   17,500    
  WA                     :      950        3,700       11,150         15,800    
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    8,500                                  242,310    
  Total                  :   13,450       99,300      192,860        305,610    
                         :                                                      
US                       :   94,473      355,400      522,380        972,253    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Size Farm:             
               By Economic Sales Class, United States, 1995-97 1/               
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Economic      :       Percent of Total        :                          
        Sales        :-------------------------------:    Average Size Farm     
        Class        :     Farms     :     Land      :         (Acres)          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     :                           1995                           
                     :                                                          
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      21.5             2.7                   59           
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      14.4             2.9                   94           
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      13.0             4.1                  148           
 $10,000 -  $19,999  :      11.7             6.6                  265           
 $20,000 -  $39,999  :      10.5             9.8                  438           
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :      12.8            20.2                  734           
$100,000 - $249,999  :      10.3            25.7                1,170           
$250,000 - $499,999  :       3.5            13.1                1,755           
$500,000 +           :       2.3            14.9                3,038           
                     :                                                          
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  469           
                     :                                                          
                     :                                                          
                     :                           1996                           
                     :                                                          
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      22.6             3.0                   62           
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      14.3             3.1                  102           
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      12.6             4.5                  168           
 $10,000 -  $19,999  :      11.4             6.5                  268           
 $20,000 -  $39,999  :      10.2             9.8                  452           
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :      12.6            19.9                  742           
$100,000 - $249,999  :      10.1            25.2                1,173           
$250,000 - $499,999  :       3.8            12.9                1,596           
$500,000 +           :       2.4            15.1                2,957           
                     :                                                          
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  470           
                     :                                                          
                     :                                                          
                     :                           1997                           
                     :                                                          
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      23.6             3.2                   64           
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      14.2             3.2                  106           
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      12.3             4.3                  164           
 $10,000 -  $19,999  :      11.0             6.2                  265           
 $20,000 -  $39,999  :       9.9             9.6                  456           
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :      12.1            19.0                  739           
$100,000 - $249,999  :      10.0            24.0                1,129           
$250,000 - $499,999  :       4.1            14.0                1,607           
$500,000 +           :       2.8            16.5                2,773           
                     :                                                          
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  471           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1995-1996 estimates are for a June 1 reference date.  1997 estimates are for
    the entire year.                                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Average Size Farms:  By State and United States, 1995-97 1/          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :        1995        :         1996          :         1997          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                               Number                               
           :                                                                    
AL         :         217                    218                     216         
AK         :       1,769                  1,804                   1,804         
AZ         :       4,784                  4,720                   4,720         
AR         :         349                    349                     348         
CA         :         375                    366                     357         
CO         :       1,308                  1,327                   1,327         
CT         :         100                    100                      97         
DE         :         228                    226                     235         
FL         :         264                    258                     258         
GA         :         267                    274                     274         
HI         :         331                    346                     346         
ID         :         628                    614                     614         
IL         :         365                    370                     368         
IN         :         256                    261                     256         
IA         :         332                    339                     339         
KS         :         724                    724                     747         
KY         :         157                    159                     158         
LA         :         315                    322                     321         
ME         :         178                    181                     184         
MD         :         154                    153                     162         
MA         :          95                     93                      92         
MI         :         198                    200                     206         
MN         :         343                    343                     343         
MS         :         310                    286                     291         
MO         :         286                    288                     293         
MT         :       2,714                  2,596                   2,483         
NE         :         839                    839                     855         
NV         :       3,520                  3,520                   3,520         
NH         :         191                    179                     179         
NJ         :          94                     91                      88         
NM         :       3,259                  3,237                   3,222         
NY         :         214                    214                     214         
NC         :         159                    159                     158         
ND         :       1,259                  1,300                   1,318         
OH         :         205                    210                     207         
OK         :         479                    472                     466         
OR         :         455                    455                     467         
PA         :         154                    154                     154         
RI         :          90                     90                      90         
SC         :         230                    233                     233         
SD         :       1,333                  1,354                   1,354         
TN         :         148                    148                     148         
TX         :         639                    629                     629         
UT         :         828                    821                     821         
VT         :         228                    225                     225         
VA         :         183                    183                     181         
WA         :         439                    436                     436         
WV         :         185                    185                     185         
WI         :         211                    213                     213         
WY         :       3,761                  3,802                   3,802         
           :                                                                    
US         :         469                    470                     471         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  1995-1996 average size farm are for a June 1 reference date.  1997 average  
    size farm are for the entire year.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                  Reliability of Data in this Report                            
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  These data were collected by the National Agricultural      
                    Statistics Service duringthe 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.  These changes are a continuing
effort to have comparability with agricultural census data.                     
                                                                                
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 1988-92 was published July 28, 1995.                              
                                                                                
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 
all their acreage enrolled in 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.                              
                                                                                
The next "Farms and Land in Farms" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on      
February 26, 1999.                                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  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, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,      
D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an  
equal employment opportunity employer.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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nass@nass.usda.gov.                                                             
                                                                                
          USDA Announces Agricultural Outlook Forum  98                         
                     February 23 and 24, 1998                                   
                         Washington, D.C.                                       
         Presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture                        
                                                                                
Survey the New Frontiers.                                                       
Survey the frontiers of agriculture at USDA's seventy-fourth                    
outlook forum.  Catch the latest commodity prospects for 1998                   
and beyond and receive new long-term projections to the year                    
2007.  Hear noted experts and farm leaders tackle front line                    
issues: managing risk, selling bio-engineered products,                         
ensuring food safety, marketing organic foods, honing export                    
strategies, and more.                                                           
                                                                                
Act Now To Attend. For program and registration details check the Forum home    
page, call (202) 720-3050, or dial (202) 694-5700 from your fax machine handset 
and retrieve document 66666.  Call (202) 401-9421 to register.                  
                                                                                
  Ag Forum home page:  http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm                 
                   e-mail: agforum@oce.usda.gov                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                           Agricultural                                         
                             Outlook                                            
                            Forum  98