Farm Producers

Highlights Nearly one-third of all U.S. producers have farmed for 10 or fewer years

United States Department of Agriculture

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

Total Producers

In 2022, 3.4 million producers operated 

1.9 million farms covering 880.1 million 

acres that generated food, fuel and 

fiber for Americans and people around 

the world. The number of producers 

did not significantly change, while 

the number of farms decreased 6.9% 

since 2017 when the last ag census 

was conducted. The share of farms 

reporting more than one decision 

maker changed from 54% in 2017 to 

60% in 2022.

While the number of producers 

between the ages of 35-64 declined 

9%, the number of producers 65 and 

over increased 12%, continuing the 

trend of an aging producer population. 

The number of young producers, those 

under 35, also increased slightly. 

2017 2022

 %

change

(millions)

Total Number

of Producers

3.40 3.37 -0.8

Age <35 0.29 0.30 3.9

Age 35-64 1.96 1.78 -9.0

Age 65+ 1.15 1.29 12.1

Between 2017 and 2022, the number of U.S. producers held steady at 

3.4 million, while the number of farms continued to decline. While the 

average age of farmers continued to rise, the number of beginning 

farmers - those who have farmed for 10 or fewer years - increased 

as well, with over 1 million beginning producers counted in the 2022 

Census of Agriculture. 

Male producers had higher 

rates of involvement in land 

use and/or crop, livestock, 

and marketing decisions than 

female producers. 

Female producers were 

most involved in day-to-day, 

record keeping and financial 

management decisions.

The total number of producers decreased slightly between 2017 and 2022, from 3.4 million to

3.37 million. The number of farms with only one or two producers declined, with the sharpest drop 

in farms reporting a single producer. All categories of farms with three or more producers increased. 

Farms by Number of Producers, 2017 and 2022 (thousands)

2017 2022

1producer

932

767

2producers

931 897

3producers

112 132

4producers

48 71

5 + producers

20 34

Farm Decision Making by Type of Decision and Sex of Producer, 2022

(percent of category)

90

78 Day-to-day

80

59

Land use

and/or crop

58

53 Livestock

61

50 Marketing

70

71

Record keeping and

nancial management

53

53

Estate or

succession planning

Male

Female

3.4 million 

producers

58.1 years 

average age 

1.9 million 

farms

2022

ACH22-2/February 2024
Snapshot of U.S. Producers, 2022

U.S. total = 3,374,044 

% of 

total

Male 64

Female 36

Age <35 9

Age 35-64 53

Age 65+ 38

10 years or less farming 30

11 years or more farming 70

Lived on their farm 70

Did not work off farm 38

Worked off farm 1 to 199 days 22

Worked off farm 200+ days 40

Primary occupation farming 42

Primary occupation other than farming 58

With military service 9

Hispanic 3

American Indian 1.7

Asian 0.7

Black 1.2

Native Hawaiian 0.1

White 95.4

More than one race 0.9

Producers by Ethnicity and Race

Consistent with Office of Management and Budget specifications for federal statistical 

agencies, the Census of Agriculture asked separate questions for ethnicity and race.

Average Age Continues to Rise 

The average age of all U.S. farm producers in 2022 was 58.1 years, up 0.6 years from 2017, 

continuing a long-term trend of aging in the U.S. producer population. Producers also tend to 

be experienced; they have been farming an average of 23.4 years. 

Average Age of Producers by County, 2022

< 56.0

56.0 - 56.9

57.0 - 57.9

58.0 - 58.9

59.0 - 59.9

60 +

U.S. = 58.1

On average, 

producers are older 

in southern states 

and younger in 

Midwestern states.

3.2 million producers 

are white, 95% of the 

U.S. total.

Source: USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture.

Demographics in the 

Census of Agriculture

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. 

Demographic information is available 

at national, state, and county levels, 

as well as for classes of farm and 

congressional districts. 

Results from the 2022 Census, as well 

as previous censuses, are available 

online. See the searchable database 

Quick Stats, downloadable PDF reports, 

maps, and a variety of topic-specific 

products. 

Highlights featuring demographic 

groups and profiles by race, ethnicity, 

and gender will become available 

throughout 2024. 

www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Military Service 

Accounting for 9% of the U.S. total, 305,753 

producers had served or were serving in 

the U.S. military in 2022. Producers with 

military service are largely male (94%) and 

their average age is a full decade older than 

producers as a whole. 

They are experienced farmers, with 77% 

having farmed 11 years or more. For more 

than half of these producers (51%), farming 

is their primary occupation.

At the county level, the share of producers 

with military service was highest in the 

southeastern United States.

Beginning Producers 

Beginning farmers have 10 or fewer years 

of farming experience. New and beginning 

producers increased in both the number 

of producers and share of all producers. 

Slightly over 1 million of the 3.4 million 

producers in 2022 were beginning farmers. 

Their average age was 47.1, and their farms 

were smaller than average in both acres and 

sales.

Top States % 

Rhode Island 41.4

Alaska 38.7

Maine 35.9

Colorado 35.6

New Hampshire 35.3

Hawaii 35.2

Georgia 34.4

Idaho 34.1

Nevada 33.9

Florida 33.9

68.2 Average age of producers 

with military service.

As a percent 

of producers 

in the state, 

Rhode Island 

ranks first in 

beginning 

farmers. 

More than one race 30,564

Native Hawaiian/Pacic Islander 3,419

Black 41,807

Asian 22,788

American Indian/Alaska Native 56,203

Hispanic (anyrace) 112,379