Family Farms

ACH17-26/January 2021 

Highlights Ninety-six percent of U.S. farms are family-owned

United States Department of Agriculture

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

1,798,439

small family farms

108,304 

mid-size family farms

52,592

large and very large 

family farms

In 2017, 96% of U.S. farms were family-owned. Small family farms account 

for 88% of all U.S. farms, 46% of land in farms, and 19% of the value of all 

agricultural products sold. Large-scale family farms made up less than 3% of 

all U.S. farms, but produced 43% of the value of all agricultural products. Midsize family farms accounted for 5% of U.S. farms, and produced 20% of the 

value of all agricultural products. 

Number and Location

The 2017 Census of Agriculture 

questions for demographic data 

were revised 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. 

Because of the changes, the small farm 

typology categories were changed 

to eliminate classification based on 

occupation. Data is comparable for 

the combined all small farms category 

between census cycles as well as the 

other typology groups.

Family Farm Counts by Size

2017

Percent Change 

Since 2012

Small 1,798,439 -3%

Mid-Size 108,304 -8%

Large 47,056 -13%

Very Large 5,536 -3%

All Family Farms 1,959,335 -4%

The number of family farms decreased from 

2012 to 2017, down almost 80,000 farms or 

4%. Larger decreases occurred for mid-size 

and large family farms, down 8% and 13%, 

respectively. There were 82,885 non-family 

farms in the U.S. in 2017, up 18% from 2012.

The share of small family farms, particularly those with low sales, is lowest in the Midwest and 

Northern Plains states, and highest in the South and New England states. The share of mid-size and 

large-scale farms is highest in the Midwest and Northern Plains states. 

Small Family Farms as Percent of Total Farms, 

2017 

U.S. = 88.1%

< 75

75 - 79.9

80 - 84.9

85 - 89.9

90 - 94.9

95 +

Mid-Size Family Farms as Percent of Total Farms, 

2017

U.S. = 5.3%

< 2

2 - 3.9

4 - 5.9

6 -7.9

8 - 9.9

10 +

Farm Types

The 2017 Census of Agriculture farm typology report classifies all farms into unique 

categories based on two criteria – who owns the operation and gross cash farm 

income (GCFI). GCFI includes the producer’s sales of crops and livestock, fees for 

delivering commodities under production contracts, government payments, and 

farm-related income. 

Small family farms – GCFI less than $350,000 

Low-sales farms – GCFI less than $150,000. 

Moderate-sales farms – GCFI between $150,000 and $349,999. 

Mid-size family farms – GCFI between $350,000 and $999,999. 

Large-scale family farms – GCFI of $1,000,000 or more. 

Large family farms – Farms with GCFI between $1,000,000 and $4,999,999. 

Very large family farms – Farms with GCFI of $5,000,000 or more. 

Non-family farms – Any farm where the producer and persons related to the 

producer do not own a majority of the business.
SNAPSHOT

Family Farm Producers, 2017

Number=3,235,214*

Small 

Farm 

Producers

Mid-Size 

Farm 

Producers

LargeScale 

Farm 

Producers

(percent)

Sex

Male 62 74 78

Female 38 26 22

Age

<35 8 11 10

35 - 64 57 65 68

65+ 35 24 22

Years farming

10 or less 28 15 13

11 or more 72 85 87

Lived on their farm 76 77 68

Worked off farm

No days 36 62 70

1 to 199 days 22 18 13

200+ days 42 20 17

Primary occupation

Farming 37 79 85

Other 63 21 15

Race

American Ind/Alaska 

Native

1.9 0.4 0.2

Asian 0.6 0.9 1.0

Black/African American 1.5 0.2 0.1

Nat Hawaiian/Pacific Isl 0.1 0.0 0.0

White 95.1 98.2 98.3

More than one race 0.8 0.3 0.3

Hispanic 3 2 2

With military service 12 5 5

*Total number of all family farm producers. 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 specialization varies between the farm size groups. The majority of lower sales 

small family farms specialize in cattle (35%) or other crops (24%); the largest share (43%) 

of moderate sales small family farms specialize in grains and oilseeds. Over half (53%) 

of mid-size farms specialize in grains and oilseeds, while large-scale farms are more 

varied in production specialization. Almost half (47%) of large family farms specialize in 

grains and oilseeds. Very large farms are more likely to specialize in dairy production or 

specialty crops (vegetables, fruits and horticulture); 29% of very large farms specialize in 

specialty crops and 28% specialize in dairy production.

Small 

Family Farms 

(lower sales)

Small

Family Farms 

(moderate sales)

Mid-Size

Family Farms

Large

Family Farms

Very Large 

Family Farms

(percent)

Grains and oilseeds 10 43 53 47 8

Specialty crops 9 8 8 14 29

Other crops 24 9 8 9 5

Cattle 35 19 14 12 14

Dairy 1 9 9 10 28

Hogs and pigs 1 2 2 4 8

Poultry and eggs 2 7 4 2 6

Other animals 18 3 2 2 2

Profile of U.S. Farms, by Type, 2017

U.S. Total

Family Farms

Small Mid-Size Large* Non-Family

(percent of U.S. total)

Number of farms 2.0 million 88 5 3 4

Land in farms 900 mil. acres 46 21 20 13

Value of land and 

buildings

$2.7 trillion 46 20 24 10

Agricultural sales $389 billion 19 20 43 18

Direct sales to 

consumers

$2.8 billion 45 17 23 15

Government payments $8.9 billion 40 25 25 10

Production expenses $326 billion 23 18 41 18

Net cash farm income 

of producers

$66 billion 4 24 54 18

* Includes very large

Farm Specialization

Profile of U.S. Farms

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.

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 are available online.

www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus

Producer Characteristics

Small family farm producers are more likely than mid-size or large-scale producers to 

be female, age 65 or older, and report being of Hispanic origin or a race other than 

white or Asian. They are also more likely to report having served in the military, working 

off the farm, and to be a new/beginning farmer (farmed 10 years or less). Across many 

demographic categories, mid-size and large-scale family farm producers look similar. 

The majority of these producers report farming as their primary occupation, and no 

work off the farm. Fewer report having served in the military, and a low share are 

beginning farmers. 

While 92% of small family farms have two or fewer producers, mid-size and largescale family farms are more likely to report multiple persons involved in the farming 

operation. Eleven percent of mid-size farms report three or more producers; and 26% of 

large and very large farms report three or more producers.