2018 Census of Agriculture

Puerto Rico Data Release

June 9, 2020
Topics

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• Background – History, Hurricane Maria

• Census Data Collection

• Farms 

• Economics

• Demographics

• Summary 
History of the Census of Agriculture in Puerto Rico

• 1910 – 1

st Puerto Rico Census of Agriculture

• 2018 Puerto Rico Census of Agriculture:

• This is Puerto Rico’s 18th Census of Agriculture and the 5

th conducted 

by NASS

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

• Data are available for:

• Island and regional levels

• Municipio level data is not available for 2018

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4

Hurricane Maria - September 20, 2017 
Census Data Collection

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Area Coverage Evaluation Survey 

(ACES)

300 Segments

Puerto Rico Census of Agriculture

21,378 List

Response Rate

29.1 %
Puerto Rico Census of Agriculture Regions

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Farm Definition

Puerto Rico:

“Any place from which $500 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: 1998-2018

8

2012 2018

Percent 

change

Number of farms

13,159 8,230 -37.5

Land in farms (cuerdas)

584,988 487,775 -16.6

Average farm size (cuerdas)

44.5 59.3 +33.3

19,951

17,659

15,745

13,159

8,230

Number of Farms

865,478 

690,687 

557,530 584,988 

487,775 

Land in Farms (cuerdas)

1998 2002 2007 2012 2018
Number of Farms by Size Class: 2012 and 2018 

9

5,129 

2,859 2,872 

940 

563 401 395 

2,213 

1,853 1,950 

952 

579 

330 353 

1 to 9 10 to 19 20 to 49 50 to 99 100 to 174 175 to 259 260 or more

Farm Size (cuerdas)

2012 2018
2,213 

1,853 

1,950 

952 

579 

330

353 

1 to 9

10 to 19

20 to 49

50 to 99

100 to 174

175 to 259

260 or more

Number of Farms and Land in Farms by Size Class (cuerdas): 2018

Number of Farms Land in Farms

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Total Farms = 8,230

9,915 

25,747 

59,363 

64,475 

75,996 

69,677 

182,603 

Total Land = 487,775
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679 

751 

840 

933 

955 

1,157 

1,362 

1,553 

 - 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800

Ponce

Mayagüez

Naranjito

Arecibo

San Germán

Caguas

Lares

Utuado

Number of Farms by Region

Number of Farms

Regions
Economics

• Total Value of Agricultural Production

• Crops and Livestock Value of Production

• Farm Income and Expenses
Number of Farms by Sales Class: 2012 and 2018

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2,973

2,015 1,986

1,209

771

1,521

968

394

1,322

2,885

814 778

621

403

781

648

303

997

Less than

$1,000

$1,000 to

$2,499

$2,500 to

$4,999

$5,000 to

$7,499

$7,500 to

$9,999

$10,000 to

$19,999

$20,000 to

$39,999

$40,000 to

$59,999

$60,000 or

more

Sales Class

2012 2018
Total Value of Agricultural Production by Region: 2018

Total Value of Production by Region as Percent of Island Total

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Region TVP ($ millions)

Arecibo 139.1

Ponce 120.0

Caguas 53.3

Naranjito 45.3

Mayagüez 39.4

San Germán 39.1

Lares 34.2

Utuado 14.6

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Total = $485 million
Crops and Livestock Value of Production: 1998 - 2018 ($ millions)

15

38% 47% 42%

50% 50%

62% 53%

58%

50%

50%

$593 $582 

$516 

$548 

$485 

1998 2002 2007 2012 2018
Value of Production by Crop Category: 2018

Value ($ millions)

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Crops Categories Top Region

Percent of

Puerto Rico

Grains or field crops Ponce (D)

Plantains Naranjito 24.3

Nursery and 

greenhouse crops Arecibo 35.1

Vegetables and 

melons Ponce 48.7

Fruits and coconuts Ponce 48.5

Grasses San Germán (D)

Bananas Ponce (D)

Root crops or tubers Naranjito 41.5

Coffee Utuado 42.8

Pineapples Arecibo (D)

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.

Total Crops = $242.4

3.0

4.8

8.7

10.8

11.5

18.6

33.5

34.9

42.3

74.4

Pineapples

Coffee

Root crops

or tubers

Bananas

Grasses

Fruits and

coconuts

Vegetables

and melons

Nursery and

greenhouse

Plantains

Grain or field

crops
Value of Production by Livestock Category: 2018

Value ($ millions)

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Livestock 

Categories Top Region

Percent of 

Puerto Rico

Milk Arecibo 61.0

Cattle and calves Arecibo 25.6

Poultry and poultry 

products Naranjito (D)

Hogs and pigs Mayagüez 20.3

Horses, ponies, mules Ponce 79.8

Other livestock and 

products Ponce 55.7

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual farms.

$0 Total Livestock = $242.6

20.1

37.7

172.2

Other livestock

and products

Horses, ponies,

and mules

Hogs and pigs

Poultry and

poultry products

Cattle and

calves

Milk

6.2

4.3

2.1
Selected Crops Value of Production: 2012 and 2018 ($ millions)

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Crops 2012 2018

Percent 

change

Crops Value of Production: 271.3 242.4 -10.7

Grains or field crops 8.5 74.4 +771.3

Plantains 80.5 42.3 -47.5

Nursery and greenhouse crops 37.5 34.9 -6.9

Vegetables and melons 47.1 33.5 -28.9

Fruits and coconuts 31.5 18.6 -41.0

Grasses 14.6 11.5 -21.3

Coffee 29.3 4.8 -83.7
Livestock Value of Production: 2012 and 2018 ($ millions)

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Livestock 2012 2018

Percent 

change

Livestock Value of Production: 276.3 242.6 -12.2

Milk 189.4 172.2 -9.1

Cattle and calves 33.6 37.7 +12.2

Poultry and poultry products 40.4 20.1 -50.2

Hogs 8.0 6.2 -22.5

Horses, ponies and mules 2.6 4.3 +64.3

Other livestock and products 2.3 2.1 -8.7
Farm Income and Expenses: 2012 and 2018 ($ millions)

Economic item 2012 2018

Percent 

change

Value of agricultural products sold 547.6 485.1 -11.4

Government payments 35.4 85.7 +142.1

Income from agriculture-related 

sources* 17.1 14.2 -16.4

Production expenses 496.5 457.6 -7.9

Depreciation NA 42.2 NA

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* Excluding Government and insurance payments.
Demographics

Military Service is a new category surveyed in the Census 

of Agriculture

Has this person ever served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, 

Reserves, or National Guard?

• Never served in the military

• Only on active duty for training in the Reserves or National Guard

• Now on active duty

• On active duty in the past but not now 
Characteristics of Farm Operators in Puerto Rico: 2012 and 2018

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2012 2018

Percent

change

Total Farm Operators 13,159 8,230 -37.5

Hispanic Origin 98% 99% +1

Percent Male 91.7% 88.5% - 3.2

Percent Female 8.3% 11.5% +3.2

Male 12,066 7,286 -39.6

Female 1,093 944 -13.6

Average Age 59 60 +1.7

Military Service NA 866 NA
New and Beginning Farmers: 2012 and 2018

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Started Farming 2012 2018 Percent change

Less than 2 years 773 339 -56.1

Primary occupation in agriculture 223 178 -20.2

Between 2 and 4 years 1,339 794 -40.7

Primary occupation in agriculture 613 413 -32.6

By Age Group:

Under 25 years old 20 32 +60.0

Primary occupation in agriculture 18 23 +27.8

Between 25 and 34 years old 487 294 -39.6

Primary occupation in agriculture 233 222 -4.7
Key Summary Points

• Farm numbers and land in farms both have ongoing 

percentage declines. 

• Fewer farms account for the majority of agricultural products 

sold.

• Hurricane Maria resulted in significant losses across the island.

• Grains now represent a large portion of Puerto Rico’s Total 

Value of Production.

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Puerto Rico Census of Agriculture Products

• Island Profile

• Regional Profiles

• Highlights

• Data in Quick Stats at quickstats.nass.usda.gov

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Upcoming Census Releases

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Release Date Release Title

July 21, 2020 Outlying Areas

August 28, 2020 Specialty Crops for Outlying Areas*

October 22, 2020 Organic Survey

December 8, 2020 Census of Horticultural Specialties

January 22, 2021 Typology 

November 18, 2021 Local Food Marketing Practices Survey

January 27, 2022 History of the Census of Agriculture

* Outlying Areas include American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana and U.S. Virgin Islands.
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All Reports Available At 

www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/index.php

For Questions

• Customer Service 1(800)727-9540

• Southern Region 1(800)253-4419

• Zulma Riberas 1(202)720-0655

Email: nass@usda.gov