United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

2012 Census of Agriculture 

Final Data Release

Released May 2, 2014 at noon
CENSUS HISTORY

• The first Census of Agriculture was conducted in 

1840. 
170 YEARS LATER

• This is the 28th in the series and the 4th Census of Agriculture 

conducted by NASS since 1997 with the transfer of authority 

from the Census Bureau. 

•Data will be available for: 

• National, State and County levels

• Congressional Districts

• Watersheds

• American Indians, Organic Production, Irrigation, Horticulture, Specialty 

Crops, Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Profiles, and Aquaculture
FARM DEFINITION

• Any place from which $1,000 of agricultural products 

were produced and sold, or normally, would have been 

sold, during the Census year. 

• This definition is unchanged since 1974.
OUTREACH EFFORTS

• NASS worked with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to 

assist in building the list of farm operations.

• NASS partnered with CBOs to provide hands-on assistance 

and support to producers in filling out census forms.

• NASS targeted media advertisements to encourage census 

response.
2012 DATA COLLECTION

• NASS mailed 3.0 million questionnaires for the 2012 Census of 

Agriculture to potential farm and ranch operators in late 

December 2012. 

• All paper forms were mailed from and returned by mail to the

Census Bureau’s National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, IN.

• Data collection was conducted through:

• Online responses

• Mail questionnaires

• Telephone Interviews

• Face-to-face Interviews
Distribution of Responses by Mode, 2012

2.3%

7.4%

4.0%

86.3%

1.1%

7.0%

13.3%

78.6%

0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0% 100.0%

Field

Phone

Internet

Mail

Percent of forms received

Mode

Forms by Mode of Data Collection

2012 Census

2007 Census
THANK YOU

Thank you to the producers who responded to our 

request for data, making a quality Census Of 

Agriculture possible.
Key Findings

• Farms

• Land In Farms

• Economics

• Demographics
SNAPSHOT OF 2012 AGRICULTURAL 

CONDITIONS
STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• In the slides that follow, you will see an asterisk (*) 

next to every item that is a statistically significant 

change from the 2007 Census to the 2012 Census.

• For this report, the measure of statistical 

significance is the difference between the two 

censuses of two or more standard errors.
NUMBER OF FARMS AND 

LAND IN FARMS

2007 2012 % Change 

2012 

Coefficient of 

Variation

(%)

Farms* 2,204,792 2,109,303 -4.3 1.6

Land in farms 922,095,840 914,527,657 -0.8 0.9

Average size of 

farms* 418 434 3.8 1.3

* Indicates significant change
2,109,303

2,204,792

2,128,982

2,215,876 2,180,655

2,337,393

2,484,452

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

Number of Farms, 1982 to 2012
TOP 10 STATES 

NUMBER OF FARMS

2007 State 2007 Farms 2012 State 2012 Farms

Texas 247,437 Texas 248,809

Missouri 107,825 Missouri 99,171

Iowa 92,856 Iowa 88,637

Oklahoma 86,565 Oklahoma 80,245

Kentucky 85,260 California 77,857

California 81,033 Kentucky 77,064

Minnesota 80,992 Ohio 75,462

Tennessee 79,280 Illinois 75,087

Wisconsin 78,463 Minnesota 74,542

Illinois 76,860 Wisconsin 69,754
986,796,579

964,470,625 945,531,506 954,752,502 938,279,056 922,095,840 914,527,657

0

100,000,000

200,000,000

300,000,000

400,000,000

500,000,000

600,000,000

700,000,000

800,000,000

900,000,000

1,000,000,000

1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

Land in Farms, 1982 to 2012
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

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

Percent of farms

Size in acres

Farms and Land in Farms as Percent of All Farms, 2012

Land in farms

Farms
0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000

Soybeans *

Wheat *

Corn

Vegetables

Fruits and treenuts

Greenhouse and Nursery

Hay

Other crops *

Beef cattle *

Cattle feedlots *

Dairy *

Hogs *

Poultry and eggs *

Sheep and goats

Horses

Other animals *

Number of farms

NAICS

Number of Farms by Commodity Specialization, 2012 and 2007

2012 Farms

2007 Farms

* Indicates significant change
Map of Percent of Land rented 

or leased from others

•
LAND USE PRACTICES 2012

Farms Acres (millions)

Conventional Tillage 405,692 105.7

No-Till 278,290 96.5

Conservation Tillage 195,738 76.6

Tiling 217,931 48.6

Drainage Ditches 216,314 42.2

Cover Crop 133,124 10.3

Conservation Easement 76,441 13.2
RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION

2007 Farms 2012 Farms

Renewable energy

systems* 23,451 57,299

Wind rights leased 

to others N/A 10,181

* Indicates significant change
RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION 2012

Farms

Solar Panels 36,331

Geoexchange Systems 9,403

Wind Turbines 9,054

Biodiesel 4,099

Ethanol 2,364

Small Hydro Systems 1,323

Methane Digesters 537
INTERNET ACCESS

2007 Percent of all farms 2012 Percent of all farms

Farms with Internet access* 56.5 69.6

2012 Number of farms 2012 Percent of farms

DSL service 584,384 39.8%

Satellite service 282,776 19.3%

Mobile broadband plan 267,804 18.2%

Cable modem service 225,917 15.4%

Dial-up service 139,677 9.5%

Fiber-optic service 75,982 5.2%

Broadband over power lines 37,580 2.6%

* Indicates significant change
ECONOMICS

• Market value of agricultural products sold 

represents the gross market value before 

taxes and production expenses of all 

agricultural products sold or removed 

from the farm or ranch in 2012 regardless 

of who received the payment. 
MARKET VALUE OF 

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS SOLD

2007 2012 % Change 

2012 Coefficient 

of Variation (%)

Total Value of Agricultural 

Products Sold *

(billions $) $297.2 $394.6 32.8 2.1

Value of Crops sold* 

(billions $) $143.6 $212.4 47.8 1.6

Value of Livestock sold* 

(billions $) $153.6 $182.2 18.7 3.0

Average Sales per Farm* 

(dollars)

$134,807 $187,097 38.8 2.0

* Indicates significant change
Map of 2012 TVP by County(Dot 

Density)
TOP 10 STATES 

VALUE OF PRODUCTION
2012 TOP 10 COUNTIES

2007 Value of 

Sales (in $000s)

2012 Value of 

Sales (in $000s)

Fresno County, CA 3,730,546 Fresno County, CA 4,973,041

Tulare County, CA 3,335,014 Tulare County, CA 4,017,073

Kern County, CA 3,204,147 Kern County, CA 3,998,990

Merced County, CA 2,330,408 Monterey County, CA 2,979,735

Monterey County, CA 2,178,470 Merced County, CA 2,967,523

Stanislaus, CA 1,820,564 San Joaquin, CA 2,250,158

San Joaquin, CA 1,564,354 Stanislaus, CA 2,228,135

Weld, CO 1,539,072 Imperial, CA 1,888,639

Kings, CA 1,358,410 Weld, CO 1,860,718

Ventura, CA 1,316,315 Kings, CA 1,829,236
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0

Less than $1,000

$1,000 to $9,999

$10,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $249,999

$250,000 to $499,999

$500,000 to $999,999

$1,000,000 to $2,499,999

$2,499,999 to $4,999,999

$5,000,000 or more

Percent

Sales Class

Percent of Total Farms and Sales 2012

2012 Sales

2012 Farms
 - 20,000,000 40,000,000 60,000,000 80,000,000

Tobacco*

Sorghum*

Rice*

Other grains and oilseeds*

Cotton*

Nursery/greenhouse*

Wheat*

Other crops and hay*

Vegetables, melons and potatoes*

Fruits, tree nuts, and berries*

Soybeans*

Corn*

Thousands of dollars

Value of Sales by Crop Commodity

Census 2012

Census 2007

 - 20,000,000 40,000,000 60,000,000 80,000,000 100,000,000

Sheep and goats

Other animals

Aquaculture

Hogs and pigs*

Milk*

Poultry and eggs*

Cattle and calves*

Thousands of dollars

Value of Sales by Livestock Commodity

Census 2012

Census 2007

INCOME AND EXPENSES

2007

(billions $)

2012

(billions $)

% 

Change 

2012 Coefficient 

of Variation (%)

Total Value of Agricultural 

Products Sold * $297.2 $394.6 32.8 2.1

Government Payments 

Received 8.0 8.1 0.9 1.0

Farm Related Income* 10.5 18.5 76.6 1.1

Production Expenses* 241.1 328.9 36.4 1.9

Net Cash Farm Income* 74.6 92.3 23.7 2.8

* Indicates significant change
TOP 10 PRODUCTION EXPENSES

2007 

($billions)

2012 

($billions)

% 

Change 

2012 Coefficient 

of Variation (%)

Total Production Expenses* 241.1 328.9 36.4 1.9

Feed* 49.1 75.7 54.2 2.5

Non-breeding livestock 34.4 37.2 8.0 6.3

Fertilizer* 18.1 28.5 57.6 0.9

Hired labor* 21.9 27.0 23.4 1.5

Cash rent* 13.3 21.0 58.2 1.6

All other expenses* 17.1 20.5 19.8 1.6

Seeds* 11.7 19.5 66.0 0.7

Supplies and repairs* 15.9 18.9 18.7 0.8

Gasoline, fuels and oils* 12.9 16.6 28.4 0.8

Chemicals* 10.1 16.5 63.4 0.9

* Indicates significant change
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE 2012

Farms

Certified Organic or Exempt from Certification 16,525

USDA Certified Organic Production 12,771

USDA Organic Production Exempt from Certification 3,754

Had acreage transitioning into Organic Production 3,240

Total organic product sales $3.1 billion
DIRECT SALES TO CONSUMERS 

2007 2012 % Change

2012 

Coefficient 

of Variation

(%)

Direct Sales to 

Consumers – farms 136,817 144,530 5.6 3.3

Direct Sales to 

Consumers –

dollars* 1.2 billion 1.3 billion 8.1 2.0

Market products 

through community

supported 

agriculture (CSAs) 12,549 12,617 0.5 5.2

Market products

directly to retailers N/A 49,043 N/A 3.4

* Indicates significant change

DEMOGRAPHICS

• Age

• Primary occupation

• Years on present farm

• Sex

• Ethnicity

• Race
ALL OPERATORS, 2012 AND 2007

2007 2012 % Change

2012 

Coefficient 

of Variation

(%)

All operators 3,281,534 3,180,074 -3.1 1.7

All female operators 985,192 969,672 -1.6 2.3

Principal Operators* 2,204,792 2,109,303 -4.3 1.6

Second Operators 931,670 928,151 -0.4 1.9

Third Operators 145,072 142,620 -1.7 1.5

* Indicates significant change
58.3

57.1

55.3

54.3

53.3

52.0

50.5

40.0

42.0

44.0

46.0

48.0

50.0

52.0

54.0

56.0

58.0

60.0

1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012

Age

Average Age of Principal Operator, 1982 to 2012
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Male

Female

Occupation farming

200 days or more worked off farm

Percent of operators

Characteristics of Principal, Second and Third Operators, 2012

Principal operator

Second operator

Third operator
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Less than 10 years on present farm

10 years or more on present farm

Under 35 years old

35-54 years old

55 years old and over

Percent of operators

Characteristics of Principal, Second and Third Operators, 2012

Principal operator

Second operator

Third operator
0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 70,000 80,000

Spanish, Hispanic or Latino

origin*

American Indian or Alaska

Native

Asian

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or Other

Pacific Islander

Number of farms

Farms by Race and Ethnic Origin of Principal Operator, 

2007 and 2012

2012 Census

2007 Census

* Indicates significant change
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0%

All

Female

Hispanic

American Indian

Asian

Black

Percent of farms

Internet Access by Group, 2012 and 2007

2012 Census

2007 Census
BEGINNING FARMERS

2007 2012 % Change

2012 

Coefficient

of Variation 

(%)

All beginning

farmers*

(less than 10 years 

on present 

operation) 583,286 469,098 -19.6 2.3

On the present 

operation less than 

5 years* 223,741 171,550 -23.3 3.9

* Indicates significant change
PERCENT OF TOTAL YEARS ON FARM 

BY AGE OF PRINCIPAL OPERATOR

2007 Less than 10 

years on farm (%)

2012 Less than 10 

years on farm (%)

Less than 25 years old 2.0% 2.3%

25 to 34 13.5% 17.1%

35 to 44 21.6% 19.7%

45 to 54 29.0% 25.1%

55 to 64 22.0% 22.2%

65 and older 11.9% 13.5%
CENSUS DATA

• Census data are available:

• Online at www.agcensus.usda.gov

• Through your local NASS field office

• Toll-free hotline 800.727.9540
FUTURE CENSUS PRODUCTS

Other census products that will be released in 2014 

include: 

• State and County Profiles - May

• Puerto Rico Census of Agriculture - June

• Congressional Districts Profiles - July

• Congressional Districts Rankings - July

• Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Profiles - August

• American Indians - August

• Organic Production - September

• Watersheds - November

• Farm Typology - December

• Specialty Crops - December

• Specialty Crops for Puerto Rico - December
SUPPLEMENTAL SURVEYS

Other census products that will be released in 2014 

include: 

•Census of Aquaculture 

• Released September

•Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey

• Released October
TOP LAND IN ORCHARDS COUNTIES

2012 acres

Fresno County, CA 529,516

Kern County, CA 450,716

Tulare County, CA 294,735

San Joaquin County, CA 238,036

Madera County, CA 222,444
TOP LAND IN 

VEGETABLES COUNTIES

2012 acres

Monterey County, CA 261,546

Fresno County, CA 176,589

Imperial County, CA 126,153

Yuma County, AZ 100,294

Grant County, WA 97,142
TOP PEANUT COUNTIES

2012 pounds

Decatur County, GA 181,981,174

Worth County, GA 176,867,725

Gaines County, TX 163,255,105

Mitchell County, GA 149,442,759

Baldwin County, AL 147,517,122
TOP RICE COUNTIES

2012 cwt

Colusa County, CA 12,787,320

Sutter County, CA 9,666,540

Arkansas County, AR 8,507,197

Butte County, CA 8,282,242

Glenn County, CA 8,155,826
TOP WHEAT COUNTIES

2012 bushels

Whitman County, WA 32,943,471

Lincoln County, WA 19,744,297

Chouteau County, MT 19,486,328

Ward County, ND 17,041,630

Cavalier County, ND 17,032,116
TOP COTTON COUNTIES

2012 bales

Fresno County, CA 372,116

Mississippi County, AR 324,918

Kings County, CA 317,609

Gaines County, TX 252,417

Lubbock County, TX 242,039
TOP SOYBEAN COUNTIES

2012 bushels

Cass County, ND 16,085,426

McLean County, IL 14,239,599

Stutsman County, ND 13,692,268

Champaign County, IL 12,202,955

Richland County, ND 11,933,594
TOP CORN COUNTIES

2012 bushels

Kossuth County, IA 52,626,166

Brown County, SD 47,899,190

Renville County, MN 47,029,840

La Salle County, IL 45,464,941

Richland County, ND 45,168,872
TOP LAYER COUNTIES

2012 inventory

Lancaster County, PA 10,651,369

Darke County, OH 8,800,904

Mercer County, OH 7,498,740

Wright County, IA 6,589,779

Sioux County, IA 6,223,301
TOP HOG COUNTIES

2012 number sold

Duplin County, NC 6,691,317

Sampson County, NC 6,669,960

Sioux County, IA 3,201,339

Texas County, Oklahoma 2,546,376

Washington County, Iowa 2,355,836
TOP BEEF COW COUNTIES

2012 inventory

Cherry County, NE 135,852

Okeechobee County, FL 88,046

Holt County, NE 87,142

Custer County, NE 86,057

Beaverhead County, MT 77,087
TOP MILK COW COUNTIES

2012 inventory

Tulare County, CA 489,436

Merced County, CA 285,235

Stanislaus County, CA 179,617

Gooding County, ID 178,661

Kings County, CA 168,494
TOP BROILER COUNTIES

2012 number sold

Sussex County, DE 174,042,650

Shelby County, TX 124,937,005

Benton County, AR 121,900,380

Franklin County, GA 102,145,628

DeKalb County, AL 96,289,355
TOP GOAT COUNTIES

2012 inventory

Sutton County, TX 55,139

Edwards County, TX 45,699

Tom Green County, TX 32,660

Val Verde County, TX 31,273

Gillespie County, TX 27,857
TOP SHEEP COUNTIES

2012 inventory

Weld County, CO 204,694

Kern County, CA 114,571

Tulare County, CA 93,479

Fresno County, CA 67,212

Apache County, AZ 63,942
TOP BLUEBERRY COUNTIES

2012 acres

Van Buren County, MI 8,497

Atlantic County, NJ 7,594

Ottawa County, MI 6,221

Bladen County, NC 3,667

Whatcom County, WA 3,611
TOP SWEET CORN COUNTIES

2012 acres

Grant County, WA 25,856

Benton County, WA 25,392

Renville County, MN 24,186

Portage County, WI 23,829

Palm Beach County, FL 22,918
TOP APPLE COUNTIES

2012 acres

Yakima County, WA 50,270

Grant County, WA 43,471

Okanogan County, WA 20,774

Wayne County, NY 20,387

Benton County, WA 16,380
TOP PECAN COUNTIES

2012 acres

Doña Ana County, NM 28,729

Mitchell County, GA 13,836

Comanche County, TX 13,039

Carter County, OK 7,818

San Saba County, TX 7,571
TOP MUSHROOM COUNTIES

2012 square feet

Chester County, PA 11,574,610

Berks County, PA 3,655,132

Santa Clara County, CA 1,846,040

San Diego County, CA 569,240

Worcester County, MA 331,056