Top States, Young Producers, 

2017 (as % of total state producers)

Pennsylvania 14

North Dakota 12

Indiana 12

Nebraska 12

South Dakota 12

New York 12

Ohio 12

Vermont 11

Kentucky 11

Connecticut 11

Maryland 11

Alaska 11

Maine 11

Young Producers

ACH17-20/October 2020

Highlights Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. producers are ages 35 or younger, up 11% since 2012

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus

321,261 

producers

115 million 

acres

$66 billion 

agriculture sales 

In 2017, the United States had 321,261 producers who identified as a young 

producer (ages 35 or younger), accounting for 9% of the country’s 3.4 million 

producers. Eighty percent of young producers have started farming in the last 

10 years, and 65% report having a primary occupation other than farming. 

Young producer-operated farms accounted for 17% of U.S. agriculture sales 

and 13% of U.S. farmland.

Number and Location

The 2017 Census of Agriculture revised 

the demographic data collected to 

better capture the contributions of 

all persons involved in agricultural 

production. In response to detailed 

questions about farm decision 

making, more farms reported multiple 

individuals involved in farm operations.

As a result of the new approach to 

counting producers, the total number 

of U.S. producers increased 7% between 

2012 and 2017. There was an 11% 

increase in young producers, compared 

to a 26% increase in producers 65 years 

of age and older, and a 2% decrease in 

producers 35-64 years of age. 

The share of young producers is higher 

in the Northern states. States with the 

highest percentage of young producers 

as a share of total producers include 

Pennsylvania (14%), and North Dakota, 

Indiana, Nebraska, South Dakota, New 

York, and Ohio (all 12%). 

Counties with the highest proportion of 

young producer-operated farms were 

largely in the Great Lakes, Northern 

Great Plains, and Northeast regions; 

counties with the lowest proportion 

were in the Mississippi Delta and 

Southeast regions.

Number of Producers, By Age and All U.S. 

2012 2017 % change

<35 257,454 285,439 +11

35-64 2,006,846 1,960,353 -2

65+ 915,774 1,154,042 +26

All U.S. 3,180,074 3,399,834 +7

Two counties had 

more than 1,000 

young producers: 

Lancaster County, 

Pennsylvania, (2,432 

producers) and 

LaGrange County, 

Indiana (1,117 

producers).

Young Producer-Operated Farms as Percent of Total Farms, by County, 2017

< 10

10 - 14

15 - 19

20 - 24

25 + U.S. = 11.8

7

The percent of young producers in Texas, 

representing 21,817 young producers, which is the 

highest number of young producers in any state. 
Producer Characteristics

Young producers are much more likely to be a beginning farmer (80% of young producers 

had farmed 10 years or fewer, compared with 27% of all producers). Young producers are 

more likely to work off the farm – more than half report working off the farm 200 days 

per year or more, and are less likely to report farming is their primary occupation (35% 

compared to 42% of all U.S. producers). In terms of gender, ethnicity, and race, young 

farmer demographics are very similar to those of all U.S. producers. 

SNAPSHOT

Young Producers, 2017

Number = 321,261*

Young All U.S.

(percent)

Sex

Male 64 64

Female 36 36

Years farming

10 or less 80 27

11 or more 20 73

Lived on their farm 67 74

Worked off farm

No days 21 39

1 to 199 days 27 21

200+ days 52 40

Primary occupation

Farming 35 42

Other 65 58

Race

American Ind/Alaska Native 1.9 1.7

Asian 0.6 0.6

Black/African American 0.7 1.3

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Isl 0.1 0.1

White 95.6 95.5

More than one race 1.1 0.8

Hispanic 4 3

With military service 2 11

Average age (years) 29.4 57.5

*Data collected for up to four producers per farm.

Source: USDA NASS, 2017 Census of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Farm Characteristics

Young producer-operated farms sold $66 billion in agricultural production in 2017, with 46% 

($30 billion) in crop sales and 54% ($36 billion) in the sales of livestock, poultry, and livestock 

and poultry products. These farms accounted for 17% of total U.S. agriculture sales. They 

received $1 billion in government payments.

Farm Decision Making

The 2017 Census of Agriculture collected data for the first time on producer decisions. Young 

producers were most involved in day-to-day decisions and land use/crop decisions. 

Types of Decisions Made, Young and All U.S. (percent)

All U.S.

Young

Day-to-day decisions

Estate planning/succession planning

Record keeping/financial management

Livestock decisions

Land use/crop decisions 74

62

75

56

87

71

65

68

42

83

Thirty-two 

percent of young 

producer-operated 

farms had sales 

and government 

payments of more 

than $50,000 per 

year compared 

to 25% of farms 

overall. Just under 

half (48%) of young 

producer-operated 

farms had sales 

and government 

payments of less 

than $10,000 in 2017 

compared to 55% 

of all farms.

Young Producer-Operated and U.S. Farms by Economic Class, 2017 (percent)

(sales and government payments combined)

All Farms

Young

< $1,000

$1,000 to $4,999

$5,000 to $9,999

$10,000 to $49,999

$50,000 +

19

19

10

32

23

21

11

20

20

25

About the Census

The Census of Agriculture, conducted 

once every five years, is a complete 

count of U.S. farms and ranches and 

the people who operate them. Results 

from the 2017 and earlier censuses 

are available at national, state, and 

county levels. 

See the searchable database Quick 

Stats, the new Census Data Query Tool, 

downloadable PDF reports, maps, and 

a variety of topic-specific products, 

including profiles by race, ethnicity, 

and sex.

www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus

23

The percent of young produceroperated farms that have only 

one producer on the farm, versus 

46% of all U.S. farms.

No. of Producers 

on Farm

Young ProducerOperated FarmsAll 

U.S.

(percent of total)

One 23 46

Two 45 46

Three 19 5

Four 9 2

Five + 4 1