Top States: Producers with 

Military Service, 2017

(as percent of total state producers)

South Carolina 14

Alaska 14

West Virginia 14

Florida 14

New Mexico 13

Virginia 13

Georgia 13

Hawaii 13

Washington 13

Texas 13

Alabama 13

Tennessee 13

Producers with Military Service

ACH17-22/November 2020

Highlights More than 1 in 10 producers has served or is currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces

United States Department of Agriculture

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

370,619

producers

129,144,965

acres

$41 billion 

agriculture sales 

In 2017, the United States had 370,619 producers who have served or are serving 

in the military, accounting for 11% of the country’s 3.4 million producers. By 

comparison, individuals with military service make up 6.9% of the overall U.S. 

population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey. 

Seventeen percent of all farms have a producer who has served or is currently serving 

in the U.S. Armed Forces. On average, farmers with military service are older than 

U.S. farmers. Farms with a producer with military service are smaller than average, in 

terms of both acres and sales. 

Number and Location

The 2017 Census of Agriculture collected 

demographic data differently from 

previous censuses 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. For the first time, the 2017 

Census of Agriculture also collected data 

on producers who have served or are 

serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

As a result of the new approach to 

counting producers, the total number 

of U.S. producers increased 7% between 

2012 and 2017. 

No. of Producers 

on Farm

With Military

Service All U.S.

(% of farms)

One 38 46

Two 50 46

Three or Four 10 7

Five + 2 1

Most producers with military service operate 

farms that have more than one producer. 

Producers with Military Service Compared with All Producers

With Military Service All U.S.

Producers

Number 370,619 3,339,834

Farms

Number 355,393 2,042,220

Average farm size (acres) 363 441

Average total value of 

agricultural production

$114,876 $190,245

11 

The percent of U.S. producers with military 

service. Seventeen percent of all farms have a 

producer who has served or is serving in the U.S. 

Armed Forces.

The share of farms 

with producers who 

have served or are 

serving in the military 

is highest in the 

Southeast.

Farms Operated by Producers with Military Service as Percent of All Farms, by County, 2017

< 10

10 - 14

15 - 19

20 - 24

25 - 29

30 +

U.S. = 17.4
SNAPSHOT

Producers with Military Service,

2017

Number = 370,619*

Military All U.S.

(percent)

Sex

Male 95 64

Female 5 36

Age

<35 2 8

35 - 64 28 58

65+ 70 34

Years farming

10 or less 19 27

11 or more 81 73

Primary occupation

Farming 52 42

Other 48 58

Hispanic 3.2 3.3

Race

American Indian/Alaska 

Native

1.6 1.7

Asian 0.3 0.6

Black/African American 2.4 1.3

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Isl 0.1 0.1

White 94.7 95.5

More than one race 0.9 0.8

Average age (years) 67.9 57.5

*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

In 2017, 70% of producers with military service were 65 years of age or older. The average age 

of a producer with military service is 67.9, versus 57.5 for U.S. producers overall. In terms of 

ethnicity and race, producers with military service are very similar to all U.S producers, with a 

few exceptions. For example, while 11% of all U.S. producers have served or are serving in the 

military, that share is higher among Black producers (20%), producers reporting more than 

one race (14%), and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders (13%).

Farm Characteristics

Farms operated by producers with military service sold $41 billion in agricultural products in 

2017, with 53% ($22 billion) in crop sales and 47% ($19 billion) in sales of livestock and livestock 

products. These farms accounted for 11% of total U.S. agriculture sales. They received $1.1 

billion in government payments in 2017.

Farm Specializationa

One-third (34%) of farms operated by 

producers with military service specialized 

in production of cattle and dairy, followed 

by farms specializing in other crops (26%).

% of 

Farms

Oilseeds and grains 12

Specialty crops 9

Vegetables and melons 2

Fruit and tree nuts 5

Greenhouse, nursery, floriculture 2

Other crops 26

Cattle and dairy 34

Hogs and pigs 1

Poultry and eggs 2

Sheep and goats 4

Other animals 12

a Refers to the North American Industry Classification 

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

the commodity.

Farms and Land

Farms operated by producers with military 

service accounted for more than 129 million 

acres of farmland. The majority of these 

farms (74%) were less than 180 acres in size.

Farm Size

in Acres

Producers with 

Military Service

All

U.S.

(percent of total)

1 to 9 13 13

10 to 49 31 29

50 to 179 30 28

180 to 499 15 15

500 + 11 15

Seventy-eight percent of farms operated 

by a producer with military service were 

operated by farmers who own all the land 

they farm, while 4% were operated by 

farmers who rent all the land. The other 

18% of farms owned some of the land they 

operate, and rent additional land.

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, downloadable PDF reports, maps, 

and a variety of topic-specific products, 

including profiles by race, ethnicity, and 

sex.

www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus

Farms Operated by Producers with Military Service and U.S. by Economic Class, 2017 (percent)

(sales and government payments combined)

< $1,000

$1,000 to $4,999

$5,000 to $9,999

$10,000 to $49,999

$50,000 +

Producers with Military Service All U.S.

26

24

13

20

17

23

21

11

20

25

73 The percent of farms 

operated by producers 

with military service with 

internet access.