HDR1012000170150730961500FARMS AND LAND IN FARMS                                
Farms and                                                                       
Land in Farms                                                                   
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
United States                                                                   
Department of                                                                   
Agriculture                                                                     
                                                                                
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released July 30, 1996, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 
Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For information 
on "Farms and Land in Farms" call (202) 720-3570, office hours 8:00 a.m. to     
4:30 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general agricultural statistics, information 
about NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS Information Hotline at   
1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.  The "Farms and Land in Farms" is 
available on AutoFax, (202) 720-2000, report 7450.  See page 15.                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Farm Numbers and Land in Farms Down Slightly                         
                                                                                
The number of farms in the United States in 1996 is estimated at 2.06 million,  
down less than one percent from 1995.  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 
was unchanged from 1995 at 469 acres.                                           
                                                                                
The North Central Region was the only region to drop in farm numbers with a     
total decrease from 1995 of 11,500 farms, a 1.4 percent decline.  The Northeast 
Region was up 0.2 percent or 300 farms.  Farms in the South were up only        
0.1 percent or 900 farms.  The largest increase was in the West with a gain of  
1,790 farms or 0.7 percent higher than 1995.                                    
                                                                                
Texas remained the State with the most farms at 205,000, 3,000 more than a year 
earlier.  Missouri was second with 104,000 farms, down 1,000 from last year,    
followed by Iowa with 98,000 farms, down 2,000 from 1995.                       
                                                                                
Eleven States increased in farm numbers while 20 states decreased from a year   
ago.  Texas showed the largest increase with 3,000 farms while California and   
Mississippi showed increases of 2,000 farms from last year.  Five  States that  
showed the largest decreases of 2,000 farms each were Alabama, Georgia, Indiana,
Iowa, and Ohio.                                                                 
                                                                                
Texas continued to lead the nation in land in farms and ranches with            
127.0 million acres, down 2 million acres from 1995. Two States with decreases  
of 400,000 acres in agricultural land from a year ago were Alabama and          
Mississippi, while New Mexico was off 300,000 acres.  The largest increase in   
land in farms was in Louisiana with an increase of 200,000 from 1995.           
                                                                                
The number of U.S. farms in the economic sales class between $1,000 and $9,999  
increased from 1,012,920 in 1995 to 1,019,310 in 1996.  Those with sales in the 
$10,000-$99,999 group decreased from 725,400 to 705,600.  The $100,000 and over 
sales group increased from 333,200 to 338,100 farms.                            
                                                                                
Estimates for the number of farms and land in farms refer to June 1.  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."                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Sp Sy 3 (7-96)                                                                  
             Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Farm Size:             
                        United States, June 1, 1986-96 1/                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :        Number        :          Land           :     Average     
     Year    :       of Farms       :        in Farms         :    Farm Size    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :        1,000                 1,000 Acres              Acres      
             :                                                                  
1986         :        2,250                  1,005,333                447       
1987         :        2,213                    998,923                451       
1988         :        2,201                    994,423                452       
1989         :        2,175                    990,723                456       
1990         :        2,146                    986,850                460       
1991         :        2,117                    981,736                464       
1992         :        2,108                    978,503                464       
1993         :        2,083                    976,463                469       
1994         :        2,065                    973,403                471       
1995         :        2,072                    972,253                469       
1996         :        2,063                    968,048                469       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.               
                                                                                
          Number of Farms:  By State and United States, June 1, 1994-96         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :        1994        :         1995          :         1996          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                               Number                               
           :                                                                    
AL         :        46,000                 47,000                  45,000       
AK         :           520                    520                     510       
AZ         :         7,400                  7,400                   7,500       
AR         :        44,000                 43,000                  43,000       
CA         :        79,000                 80,000                  82,000       
CO         :        25,300                 25,000                  24,500       
CT         :         3,800                  3,800                   3,800       
DE         :         2,500                  2,500                   2,500       
FL         :        39,000                 39,000                  40,000       
GA         :        45,000                 45,000                  43,000       
HI         :         4,800                  4,800                   4,600       
ID         :        20,500                 21,500                  22,000       
IL         :        77,000                 77,000                  76,000       
IN         :        63,000                 62,000                  60,000       
IA         :       101,000                100,000                  98,000       
KS         :        65,000                 66,000                  66,000       
KY         :        89,000                 89,000                  88,000       
LA         :        28,000                 27,000                  27,000       
ME         :         7,600                  7,600                   7,400       
MD         :        14,500                 14,300                  13,700       
MA         :         6,000                  6,000                   6,200       
MI         :        52,000                 54,000                  53,000       
MN         :        85,000                 87,000                  87,000       
MS         :        39,000                 42,000                  44,000       
MO         :       105,000                105,000                 104,000       
MT         :        22,500                 22,000                  22,000       
NE         :        55,000                 56,000                  56,000       
NV         :         2,400                  2,500                   2,500       
NH         :         2,400                  2,300                   2,400       
NJ         :         8,900                  9,000                   9,200       
NM         :        13,500                 13,500                  13,500       
NY         :        36,000                 36,000                  36,000       
NC         :        58,000                 58,000                  58,000       
ND         :        32,000                 32,000                  31,000       
OH         :        75,000                 74,000                  72,000       
OK         :        70,000                 71,000                  72,000       
OR         :        38,000                 38,500                  38,500       
PA         :        51,000                 50,000                  50,000       
RI         :           700                    700                     700       
SC         :        23,000                 22,000                  21,500       
SD         :        34,000                 33,000                  32,500       
TN         :        83,000                 81,000                  80,000       
TX         :       200,000                202,000                 205,000       
UT         :        13,000                 13,400                  13,400       
VT         :         6,200                  6,000                   6,000       
VA         :        46,000                 47,000                  48,000       
WA         :        36,000                 36,000                  36,000       
WV         :        20,000                 20,000                  20,000       
WI         :        79,000                 80,000                  79,000       
WY         :         9,200                  9,200                   9,100       
           :                                                                    
US         :     2,064,720              2,071,520               2,063,010       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Land in Farms:  By State and United States, June 1, 1994-96          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :        1994        :         1995          :         1996          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :                            1,000 Acres                             
           :                                                                    
AL         :       10,200                 10,200                   9,800        
AK         :          930                    920                     920        
AZ         :       35,400                 35,400                  35,400        
AR         :       15,100                 15,000                  15,000        
CA         :       29,900                 30,000                  30,000        
CO         :       32,700                 32,700                  32,500        
CT         :          390                    380                     380        
DE         :          570                    570                     565        
FL         :       10,300                 10,300                  10,300        
GA         :       12,100                 12,000                  11,800        
HI         :        1,590                  1,590                   1,590        
ID         :       13,500                 13,500                  13,500        
IL         :       28,100                 28,100                  28,100        
IN         :       16,000                 15,900                  15,900        
IA         :       33,200                 33,200                  33,200        
KS         :       47,800                 47,800                  47,800        
KY         :       14,100                 14,000                  14,000        
LA         :        8,400                  8,500                   8,700        
ME         :        1,360                  1,350                   1,340        
MD         :        2,200                  2,200                   2,100        
MA         :          600                    570                     570        
MI         :       10,700                 10,700                  10,600        
MN         :       29,700                 29,800                  29,800        
MS         :       12,800                 13,000                  12,600        
MO         :       30,100                 30,000                  30,000        
MT         :       59,700                 59,700                  59,700        
NE         :       47,100                 47,000                  47,000        
NV         :        8,800                  8,800                   8,800        
NH         :          440                    440                     430        
NJ         :          860                    850                     840        
NM         :       44,200                 44,000                  43,700        
NY         :        7,900                  7,700                   7,700        
NC         :        9,300                  9,200                   9,200        
ND         :       40,400                 40,300                  40,300        
OH         :       15,200                 15,200                  15,100        
OK         :       34,000                 34,000                  34,000        
OR         :       17,500                 17,500                  17,500        
PA         :        7,800                  7,700                   7,700        
RI         :           63                     63                      63        
SC         :        5,100                  5,050                   5,000        
SD         :       44,200                 44,000                  44,000        
TN         :       12,000                 12,000                  11,800        
TX         :      129,000                129,000                 127,000        
UT         :       11,100                 11,100                  11,000        
VT         :        1,400                  1,370                   1,350        
VA         :        8,600                  8,600                   8,600        
WA         :       15,800                 15,800                  15,700        
WV         :        3,700                  3,700                   3,700        
WI         :       16,900                 16,900                  16,800        
WY         :       34,600                 34,600                  34,600        
           :                                                                    
US         :      973,403                972,253                 968,048        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                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                     :    16,400      11,600        8,000          36,000   
  PA                     :    24,000      17,700        8,300          50,000   
  Other States 1/        :    22,100       7,200        6,400          35,700   
  Total                  :    62,500      36,500       22,700         121,700   
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :    21,000      32,000       23,000          76,000   
  IN                     :    23,000      24,000       13,000          60,000   
  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      39,500        9,900         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                  :   298,500     330,400      185,600         814,500   
                         :                                                      
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/                  :    32,000                                   48,000   
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    39,300                                   57,700   
  Total                  :   528,000     242,700       80,000         850,700   
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    33,500      30,000       18,500          82,000   
  OR 2/                  :    27,500                                   38,500   
  WA                     :    20,200       7,800        8,000          36,000   
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    49,110                                  119,610   
  Total                  :   130,310      96,000       49,800         276,110   
                         :                                                      
US                       : 1,019,310     705,600      338,100       2,063,010   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.                                 
                 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                     :    1,400        2,300        4,000          7,700    
  PA                     :    1,800        3,000        2,900          7,700    
  Other States 1/        :    1,673        1,200        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       14,000       10,700         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      129,950      203,050        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/                  :    3,300                                   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       55,000       50,000        127,000    
  VA 2/                  :    2,200                                    8,600    
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    4,100                                   11,365    
  Total                  :   58,000      115,000      111,165        284,165    
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    2,300        7,600       20,100         30,000    
  OR 2/                  :    1,700                                   17,500    
  WA                     :      950        3,650       11,100         15,700    
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    9,500                                  241,710    
  Total                  :   14,450       98,960      191,500        304,910    
                         :                                                      
US                       :  102,923      350,410      514,715        968,048    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.                                 
                Number of Farms:  Economic Sales Class by State,                
                     Region, and United States, June 1, 1994                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :               
          State          :--------------------------------------:               
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total     
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                        Number                        
                         :                                                      
Northeast                :                                                      
  NY                     :   16,600       11,200        8,200          36,000   
  PA                     :   24,300       18,300        8,400          51,000   
  Other States 1/        :   21,600        8,000        6,000          35,600   
  Total                  :   62,500       37,500       22,600         122,600   
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :   21,000       33,000       23,000          77,000   
  IN                     :   25,500       24,500       13,000          63,000   
  IA                     :   25,000       45,000       31,000         101,000   
  KS                     :   24,000       30,000       11,000          65,000   
  MI                     :   27,000       17,000        8,000          52,000   
  MN                     :   30,000       34,000       21,000          85,000   
  MO                     :   53,500       41,700        9,800         105,000   
  NE                     :    9,000       28,500       17,500          55,000   
  ND                     :    6,000       15,400       10,600          32,000   
  OH                     :   38,000       27,000       10,000          75,000   
  SD                     :    6,000       18,000       10,000          34,000   
  WI                     :   28,000       32,400       18,600          79,000   
  Total                  :  293,000      346,500      183,500         823,000   
                         :                                                      
South                    :                                                      
  AL 2/                  :   31,000                                    46,000   
  AR                     :   21,000       13,000       10,000          44,000   
  FL 2/                  :   24,000                                    39,000   
  GA                     :   25,300       12,800        6,900          45,000   
  KY 2/                  :   48,000                                    89,000   
  LA 2/                  :   17,000                                    28,000   
  MS 2/                  :   26,100                                    39,000   
  NC                     :   32,000       17,000        9,000          58,000   
  OK                     :   37,400       27,000        5,600          70,000   
  TN 2/                  :   58,000                                    83,000   
  TX                     :  119,000       61,000       20,000         200,000   
  VA 2/                  :   30,000                                    46,000   
  Other States 2/ 3/     :   38,500                                    60,000   
  Total                  :  507,300      256,700       83,000         847,000   
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :   32,500       27,800       18,700          79,000   
  OR 2/                  :   27,000                                    38,000   
  WA                     :   20,100        8,300        7,600          36,000   
  Other States 2/ 4/     :   43,020                                   119,120   
  Total                  :  122,620      101,000       48,500         272,120   
                         :                                                      
US                       :  985,420      741,700      337,600       2,064,720   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, 1994                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :         Economic Sales Class         :               
          State          :--------------------------------------:               
           and           :  $1,000-   :  $10,000-  :  $100,000  :     Total     
          Region         :   $9,999   :  $99,999   :   & Over   :               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                     1,000 Acres                      
                         :                                                      
Northeast                :                                                      
  NY                     :    1,400        2,300        4,200          7,900    
  PA                     :    1,800        3,200        2,800          7,800    
  Other States 1/        :    1,563        1,300        2,250          5,113    
  Total                  :    4,763        6,800        9,250         20,813    
                         :                                                      
North Central            :                                                      
  IL                     :      800        6,800       20,500         28,100    
  IN                     :    1,200        4,900        9,900         16,000    
  IA                     :    1,700       11,500       20,000         33,200    
  KS                     :    3,200       22,000       22,600         47,800    
  MI                     :    1,500        3,100        6,100         10,700    
  MN                     :    3,400        9,700       16,600         29,700    
  MO                     :    5,400       14,200       10,500         30,100    
  NE                     :      800       15,800       30,500         47,100    
  ND                     :    1,100       14,300       25,000         40,400    
  OH                     :    2,700        5,800        6,700         15,200    
  SD                     :    1,400       19,500       23,300         44,200    
  WI                     :    2,500        5,800        8,600         16,900    
  Total                  :   25,700      133,400      200,300        359,400    
                         :                                                      
South                    :                                                      
  AL 2/                  :    3,600                                   10,200    
  AR                     :    1,900        2,300       10,900         15,100    
  FL 2/                  :    1,800            0            0         10,300    
  GA                     :    2,600        3,500        6,000         12,100    
  KY 2/                  :    3,700            0            0         14,100    
  LA 2/                  :    1,800            0            0          8,400    
  MS 2/                  :    3,000            0            0         12,800    
  NC                     :    1,800        2,600        4,900          9,300    
  OK                     :    5,000       18,500       10,500         34,000    
  TN 2/                  :    4,300            0            0         12,000    
  TX                     :   14,000       54,000       61,000        129,000    
  VA 2/                  :    2,200            0            0          8,600    
  Other States 2/ 3/     :    3,800            0            0         11,570    
  Total                  :   49,500      119,000      118,970        287,470    
                         :                                                      
West                     :                                                      
  CA                     :    2,100        7,200       20,600         29,900    
  OR 2/                  :    1,700            0            0         17,500    
  WA                     :      900        3,900       11,000         15,800    
  Other States 2/ 4/     :    8,500            0            0        242,520    
  Total                  :   13,200       99,500      193,020        305,720    
                         :                                                      
US                       :   93,163      358,700      521,540        973,403    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 and Land in Farms:  By Economic Sales             
                      Class, United States, June 1, 1994-96                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     :              Economic Sales Class Estimates              
                     :----------------------------------------------------------
       Economic      :       Percent of Total        :                          
        Sales        :-------------------------------:    Average Size Farm     
        Class        :     Farms     :     Land      :         (Acres)          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     :                           1994                           
                     :                                                          
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      20.4             2.6                   60           
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      14.0             2.9                   98           
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      13.3             4.0                  142           
 $10,000 -  $19,999  :      11.9             6.7                  265           
 $20,000 -  $39,999  :      10.7             9.7                  427           
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :      13.3            20.5                  726           
$100,000 - $249,999  :      10.7            25.7                1,132           
$250,000 - $499,999  :       3.4            13.1                1,816           
$500,000 +           :       2.3            14.8                3,032           
                     :                                                          
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  471           
                     :                                                          
                     :                           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  :      22.5             3.0                   63           
  $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                  451           
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :      12.6            19.9                  741           
$100,000 - $249,999  :      10.2            25.2                1,159           
$250,000 - $499,999  :       3.8            12.9                1,593           
$500,000 +           :       2.4            15.1                2,952           
                     :                                                          
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  469           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Reliability of Data in this Report                              
                                                                                
                                                                                
Survey Procedures:  These data were collected by the National Agricultural      
                    Statistics Service during the first two weeks of June using 
sampling procedures to ensure every farm operator had a chance of being         
selected.  Two samples of farm operators are selected.  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 consists of segments of land scientifically selected from aerial         
photography.  Each June, highly trained interviewers locate each selected land  
segment and identify every farm operating land within the sample segment's      
boundaries.  The names of farms found in these 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 sales as horse farms.  This is a continuing effort to have NASS   
and Census collect comprable data.  Horses in boarding stables and racetracks   
and maple syrup only operations are excluded.  This is a continuing effort to   
have NASS and Census publish comparable 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 June 1 based 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 Department of Commerce's     
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 1 percent and just above 1 percent for land in     
farms.  The sampling error for total number of farms and total land in farms is 
less than the sampling error for each component of the total, such as number of 
farms by economic sales class.  Relative sampling errors by economic sales class
generally ranged from 1 to 4 percent for number of farms and 2 to 8 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 agricul-   
tural 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.  To be considered a farm, 
the place must be operating on June 1.  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 as of June 1.  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 (excluding      
pleasure 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 in July 1997.        
                                                                                
                                                                                
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     
Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD).     
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,
20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an equal
employment opportunity employer.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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