Top States

Black Producers, 2017

Texas 11,741

Mississippi 7,028

Alabama 4,208

Louisiana 3,222

Georgia 2,870

S. Carolina 2,634

Florida 2,448

N. Carolina 2,099

Oklahoma 2,074

Virginia 1,767

Arkansas 1,525

Tennessee 1,422

Black Producers

ACH17-9/October 2019

Highlights Up 5 percent since 2012; one-fifth serve or have served in the military

United States Department of Agriculture

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

48,697 

producers

4.7 million 

acres

$1.4 billion 

agriculture sales 

In 2017, the United States had 48,697 producers who identified as black, 

either alone or in combination with another race. They accounted for 

1.4 percent of the country’s 3.4 million producers, and they lived and farmed 

primarily in southeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Black producers were 

older and more likely to have served or to be serving in the military than 

U.S. producers overall. Their farms were smaller and the value of their 

agriculture sales was less than 1 percent of the U.S. total.

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 percent 

between 2012 and 2017. The increase 

in black producers was 5 percent. The 

number of black-operated farms, like 

the total number of U.S. farms, declined 

3 percent between 2012 and 2017, 

when black producers operated 35,470 

farms.

In Texas, with more black producers 

than any other state, black producers 

were 3 percent of the state’s total 

producers. Black producers made up 

a larger share of total producers in 

Mississippi (13 percent), Louisiana 

(7 percent), South Carolina (7 percent), 

Alabama (6 percent), and Georgia (4 

percent).

Number of Producers and Farms, Black and All U.S.

2012 2017 % change

Producers

Black 46,582 48,697 +5

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

Farms

Black-operated 36,382 35,470 -3

All U.S. 2,109,303 2,042,220 -3

88 The percent of black producers 

who live in the top twelve states.

Three counties had 

more than 300 

black-operated 

farms: Smith 

County, Texas, 

(335 farms), 

Freestone County, 

Texas (319 farms), 

and Marion County, 

Florida (309 farms). 

Black-operated Farms as Percent of Total Farms, by County, 2017

< 1

1 - 4

5 - 14

15 - 24

25 + U.S. = 1.6

Note: Based on 32,910 farms with producers who

identified themselves as black alone.
SNAPSHOT

Black Producers, 2017

Number = 48,697*

Black All U.S.

(percent)

Sex

Male 71 64

Female 29 36

Age

<35 6 8

35 - 64 51 58

65+ 43 34

Years farming

10 or less 29 27

11 or more 71 73

Lived on their farm 61 74

Worked off farm

No days 40 39

1 to 199 days 25 21

200+ days 35 40

Primary occupation

Farming 44 42

Other 56 58

Hispanic 3 3

With military service 19 11

Average age (years) 60.8 57.5

*Of the total, 45,508 identified themselves as black alone, 

and 3,189 as black in combination with another race. 

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.

Producer Characteristics

Black producers are on average older than U.S. producers overall (60.8 

versus 57.5 years in 2017) and more likely to have served or be 

serving in the U.S. military. A larger share are male 

(71 percent versus 64 percent for all U.S. producers). 

A smaller share lived on their farm (61 percent 

compared with 74 percent for all).

Farm Characteristics

Black-operated farms sold $1.4 billion in agricultural products in 2017, with 61 percent 

($858 million) in crop sales and 39 percent ($559 million) in sales of livestock and livestock 

products. These farms accounted for 0.4 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales. They received 

$59 million in government payments in 2017.

% of 

farms

Oilseeds and grains 7

Specialty crops 12

(fruits, vegetables, nursery)

Other crops 18

Cattle and dairy 48

Hogs and pigs 1

Poultry and eggs 1

Sheep and goats 4

Other animals 9

Farm Specializationa

Nearly half (48 percent) of black-operated 

farms specialized in cattle and dairy 

production in 2017, almost all in beef cattle 

production.

Farms and Land

Black-operated farms accounted 

for 4.7 million acres of farmland, 0.5 percent 

of the U.S. total. The majority of these farms 

(85 percent), like U.S. farms generally 

(70 percent), had fewer than 180 acres. 

The average size of black-operated farms 

was 132 acres.

Farm Size

in Acres

 BlackoperatedAll

U.S.

(percent of total)

1 to 9 16 13

10 to 49 36 29

50 to 179 33 28

180 to 499 11 15

500 + 4 15

Two thirds (67 percent) of black-operated 

farms were operated by farmers who own 

all the land they farm, 9 percent by farmers 

who rent all the land. 

a Refers to the North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS). More than half of a farm’s sales come from the 

commodity.

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

19

The percent of black producers 

with military service, compared with 

11 percent of all producers.

Fifty-seven percent 

of black-operated 

farms had sales 

and government 

payments of less 

than $5,000 per 

year; 7 percent had 

sales and payments 

of $50,000 or more, 

compared with 

25 percent of 

all farms.

Black-operated and U.S. Farms by Economic Class, 2017 (percent)

(sales and government payments combined)

All U.S.

Black-operated

< $1,000

$1,000 to $4,999

$5,000 to $9,999

$10,000 to $49,999

$50,000 + 25

20

11

21

23

7

21

15

27

30

16,934

The number of black-operated 

farms specializing in beef cattle. 

62 The percent of black-operated 

farms with internet access.