2017 Census of Agriculture

Data Release

April 11, 2019
Citation Request

The data and images in this presentation may be quoted, 

excerpted, or reproduced using the following citation when space 

allows:

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2017 Census of 

Agriculture. Complete data available at 

www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.

If space is limited, use:

USDA NASS, 2017 Census of Agriculture.

2
Agenda

• Census Data Collection

• Farms and Ranches

• Economics

• Demographics

• Future Census Products
History of the Census of Agriculture

• The first Census of Agriculture was conducted in 1840 in 26 

states and the District of Columbia

• 175 years later:

• The 2017 Census of Agriculture is the 29th in the series, and the 5th

conducted by NASS

• In 1997 the Census was transferred from the Census Bureau to NASS

• The Census encompasses 50 states, Puerto Rico, and outlying areas

• Data are available for:

• National, state, and county levels

• Congressional districts, watersheds, and zip codes

4
Census Data Collection

Response Rate by State, 2017 Return Rate by Mode, 2012 and 2017 

(percent of returns)

5

U.S. = 71.8%

0.8%

4.7%

23.8%

68.6%

1.1%

7.0%

13.3%

78.6%

Field

Phone

Internet

Mail

2012 2017
Farms and Land in Farms

Since 1974, the Census of Agriculture has defined a farm as 

“any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural 

products were produced and sold, or normally would have 

been sold, during the census year.” 
Number of Farms and Land in Farms, 1997-2017

7

2.22 2.13 2.20 2.11 2.04

955 938 922 915 900 

1997 2002 2007 2012 2017

2012 2017

% 

change

Number of farms

2,109,303 2,042,220 -3.2

Land in farms (acres)

914,527,657 900,217,576 -1.6

Average farm size (acres)

434 441 +1.6

Number of Farms (millions)

Land in Farms (million acres)
Number of Farms, 2017

By County Top 10 States 2017

Texas 248,416

Missouri 95,320

Iowa 86,104

Oklahoma 78,531

Ohio 77,805

Kentucky 75,966

Illinois 72,651

California 70,521

Tennessee 69,983

Minnesota 68,822

8

U.S. = 2,042,220

1 dot = 200 farms
Land in Farms, 2017

As a Percent of Total, by County

Type of Use Acres

(millions)

Total 900

Permanent Pasture 401

Cropland 396

Harvested Cropland 320

Woodland 73

Other* 30

9

U.S. = 39.8%

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
Land in Farms, 2017

Agricultural Land Use by Location Land Use as Percent of Land in Farms 

10

1 dot = 50,000 acres

3%

8%

Harvested 

36%

45%

44%

Other*

Woodland

Cropland

Permanent

pasture

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
Number of Farms, by Size Category, 2012 and 2017 (thousands) 

11

224

590

634

346

143

91 82

273

583 565

315

133

88 85

1 to 9 10 to 49 50 to 179* 180 to 499* 500 to 999* 1,000 to 1,999 2,000 or more

Size of Farm (acres)

2012 2017

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
273

583

565

315

133

88

85

1 to 9

acres

10 to 49

acres

50 to 179

acres*

180 to 499

acres*

500 to 999

acres*

1,000 to

1,999 acres

2,000 acres

or more

Number of Farms and Land in Farms, by Size Category, 2017

Number of Farms (thousands) Land in Farms (million acres)

12

U.S. Farms = 2,042

* Statistically significant difference from 2012

1.3

14.8

57.0

94.0

92.9

120.7

519.6

*

*

* Statistically significant difference from 2012

U.S. Land = 900.2
Economics

• Total Value of Agricultural Production

• Crop and Livestock Sales

• Farm Income
Number of Farms, by Sales Category, 2012 and 2017 (thousands)

14

788

406 398

268

170

71

8

792

393 372

250

158

68

9

Less than

$2,500

$2,500 to

$9,999

$10,000 to

$49,999

$50,000 to

$249,999

$250,000 to

$999,999

$1,000,000 to

$4,999,999

$5,000,000

or more

Sales Class

2012 2017
Farms and Value of Production, by Sales Category, 2017

Number of Farms (thousands) Value of Production ($ billions)

15

0.4

2.1

8.8

29.6

80.7

132.0

135.0

U.S. Value = 388.5

792

393

372

250

158

68

9

Less than

$2,500

$2,500 to

$9,999

$10,000 to

$49,999

$50,000 to

$249,999

$250,000 to

$999,999

$1,000,000 to

$4,999,999

$5,000,000

or more

U.S. Farms = 2,042
Total Value of Agricultural Production by Location, 2017

TVP by State as Percent of U.S. Total

16

Top 10 States TVP ($ billions)

California 45.2

Iowa* 29.0

Texas 24.9

Nebraska 22.0

Kansas 18.8

Minnesota* 18.4

Illinois 17.0

North Carolina 12.9

Wisconsin 11.4

Indiana 11.1

U.S. = $389 billion

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
Total Value of Agricultural Production by Location, 2017

TVP by County

17

Top 10 Counties TVP ($ billions)

Fresno, CA 5.7

Tulare, CA 4.5

Monterey, CA* 4.1

Kern, CA 4.1

Merced, CA 2.9

Stanislaus, CA 2.5

San Joaquin, CA 2.2

Weld, CO 2.0

Yakima, WA 2.0

Grant, WA 1.9 U.S. = $389 billion

1 dot = $10 million

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
Value of Production, Crops and Livestock, 1997 - 2017 ($ billions)

18

50% 47%

48%

54% 50%

50% 53%

52%

46% 50%

201 201

297

395 389

1997 2002 2007 2012 2017
0.4

1.5

6.7

13.8

16.2

19.6

28.6

106.9

Christmas trees

and woody crops

Tobacco

Cotton

Other crops and hay*

Nursery, greenhouse,

floriculture, sod*

Vegetables

Fruits, tree nuts, berries

Grains and oilseeds*

Value of Crop Production by Category, 2017

Value ($ billions)

19

Top State % of U.S.

Grains and oilseeds Iowa* 13

Fruits, tree nuts, berries California 69

Vegetables California 42

Nursery, greenhouse, 

floriculture, sod California 18

Other crops and hay California* 7

Cotton Texas* 40

Tobacco North Carolina 50

Christmas trees and 

woody crops Oregon 31

U.S.* = 193.5

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
1.0

1.3

1.5

1.8

26.3

36.7

49.2

77.2

Sheep, goats,

wool, mohair, milk

Other animals and

animal products

Horses, ponies,

and mules

Aquaculture

Hogs and pigs*

Milk

Poultry and

eggs*

Cattle and calves

Value of Livestock Production by Category, 2017

Value ($ billions)

20

Top State % of U.S.

Cattle and calves Texas 16

Poultry and eggs Georgia 11

Milk California 18

Hogs and pigs Iowa* 30

Aquaculture Mississippi* 13

Horses, ponies, mules Kentucky* 31

Other animals and animal 

products Texas 10

Sheep, goats, wool, 

mohair, milk Colorado* 14

U.S. = 195.0

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
395

389

+0.8

+6.5 +1.6 +1.2

+2.7

+3.8

+2.7 +1.7

-16.0

-7.9

-3.1

2012 Cattle and

calves

Corn* Poultry and

eggs*

Soybeans Milk Fruits,

tree nuts,

berries

Hogs and

pigs*

Vegetables Nursery* Wheat* Other 2017

Value of Production, Top 10 Commodities, 2017 ($ billions)

Change in Value, 2012 to 2017 

21

Commodity TVP

Cattle and calves 77.2

Corn* 51.2

Poultry and eggs* 49.2

Soybeans 40.3

Milk 36.7

Fruits, tree nuts,

berries 28.6

Hogs and pigs* 26.3

Vegetables 19.6

Nursery, 

greenhouse, 

floriculture, sod* 16.2

Wheat* 7.9

Other 35.4

2012 Market Value → 2017 Market Value

-$6.1 billion (-1.5%)

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
329 326

+3.3

+4.6

+0.1 +1.5 +0.8 +1.1

+0.3

+6.9

-13.1

-5.0 -3.1

2012 Feed* Livestock

purchased

Hired

labor*

Fertilzer* Cash rents Seeds* Supplies,

repairs*

Chemicals* Fuels* Interest Other 2017

22

Farm Production Expenses, 2017 ($ billions)

Farm Expenses

Feed* 62.6

Livestock 

purchased 44.9

Hired labor* 31.6

Fertilizer* 23.5

Cash rents 21.1

Seeds* 21.0

Supplies and 

repairs* 19.7

Chemicals* 17.6

Fuels* 13.5

Interest 12.4

Other 58.5

Change in Value, 2012 to 2017

2012 Expenses → 2017 Expenses

-$2.5 billion (-0.8%)

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
Farm Income and Expenses, 2012 and 2017 ($ billions)

2012 2017 % change

Value of ag products sold 394.6 388.5 -2

Government payments* 8.1 8.9 +11

Farm-related income 18.5 16.8 -9

Production expenses 328.9 326.4 -1

Net income 92.3 87.9 -5

Per farm average net income

(dollars) $43,750 $43,053 -2

* Statistically significant difference from 2012 23
Farms with Internet Access

As a Percent of Total, by County, 2017 By Type, 2012 and 2017 (percent)

24

U.S. = 75%

3%

3%

10%

19%

19%

25%

39%

3%

10%

5%

19%

15%

40%

18%

Other

Internet

 Service

Dial-Up*

Fiber Optic*

Satellite

Cable

Modem*

DSL*

Mobile*

2012

2017

* Statistically significant difference from 2012
Demographics of Farm Producers

• Average Age of Producers

• Young Producers

• New and Beginning Producers

• Farm and Producer Characteristics by 

Sex/Race/Ethnicity

• Producers with Military Service
Average Age of Producers

All Producers, by County, 2017

26

All and Primary Producers,

2002 - 2017 

All Primary 

2002 53.2 55.3

2007 54.9 57.1

2012 56.3 58.3

2017 57.5 59.4

U.S. = 57.5
Young Producers (Age 35 years or less), 2017

As a Percent of All, by County

27

Producers 

Young All

Number 321,261 3,399,834

Average age 29.4 57.5

Farms

Number 240,121 2,042,220

Average farm 

size (acres) 477 441

Average TVP $273,522 $190,245

U.S. = 9.4%
New and Beginning Producers (10 years or less on any farm), 2017

As a Percent of All, by County

28

Producers 

New and 

Beginning All

Number 908,274 3,399,834

Average age 46.3 57.5

Farms

Number 597,377 2,042,220

Average farm 

size (acres) 324 441

Average TVP $147,408 $190,245 U.S. = 27%
1,181

786

111

21 10

932 931

112

48 20

1 producer 2 producers 3 producers 4 producers 5 or more producers

2012 2017

Farm Structure, 2012 and 2017

Farms by Number of Producers (thousands) Producers by Sex (millions)

2012 2017 % change

All producers 3.18 3.40 +6.9

Male producers 2.21 2.17 -1.7

Female producers 0.97 1.23 +26.6

29
Producers by Sex, 2017

Female Producers as a Percent of Total

Producers

Female Male

Number 1,227,461 2,172,373

Average age 57.1 57.7

Farms

Number 1,139,675 1,867,308

Average farm 

size (acres) 340 463

Average TVP $129,792 $204,513

30

U.S. = 36%
Producer Decision Making, by Sex and Age, 2017 (percent)

31

78

55

74

55

59

92

57

75

65

83

Day-to-day

Estate Planning or

succession planning

Record keeping and/or

financial management

Livestock

Land use and/or

crop decisions

Male Female

87

62

75

58

74

87

55

76

63

75

83

41

67

65

71

Day-to-day

Estate Planning or

succession planning

Record keeping and/or

financial management

Livestock

Land use and/or

crop decisions

Under 35 35 to 64 years 65 years and over
Producers with Military Service, 2017

As a Percent of All, by County

32

Producers

With Military 

Service All

Number 370,619 3,399,834

Average age 67.9 57.5

Farms

Number 355,393 2,042,220

Average farm 

size (acres) 363 441

Average TVP $114,876 $190,245

U.S. = 11%
Key Summary Points

• Farm numbers and land in farms both have ongoing small 

percentage declines. 

• There continue to be more of the largest and smallest operations 

and fewer middle-sized farms.

• Fewer farms account for the majority of ag products sold.

• New questions show that multiple people frequently have decisionmaking roles on farms.

• The average age of farmers and ranchers continues to rise

• There is an increase in internet access, especially via mobile and 

fiber optic. 

33
Upcoming Census Releases

34

Release Date Release Title

April 11 Market Value of Ag Products Sold Rankings 

May 30 State & County Profiles 

June 26 Congressional District Profiles 

June 26 Congressional District Rankings 

July 25 Watersheds 

August 26 American Indian Reservations 

September 18 Zip Code Tabulations 

October 1 Race, Ethnicity & Gender Profiles 

November 13 2018 Irrigation and Water Management Survey 

December 5 Specialty Crops 

December 19 2018 Census of Aquaculture 
35

All Reports Available At 

www.nass.usda.gov 

For Questions 

202-720-2127 

800-727-9540 

nass@nass.usda.gov