Top States

Asian Producers, 2017

California 7,038

Hawaii 4,259

Texas 1,908

Florida 1,489

Washington 1,008

Oregon 726

Arkansas 653

Oklahoma 589

Missouri 576

Wisconsin 544

Asian Producers

ACH17-8/October 2019

Highlights More than half of farms specialize in fruit, vegetable, and nursery products

United States Department of Agriculture

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

25,310 

producers

2.9 million 

acres

$7.5 billion 

agriculture sales 

In 2017, the United States had 25,310 producers who identified as Asian, 

either alone or in combination with another race. They accounted for 0.7 

percent of the country’s 3.4 million producers, and are highly concentrated in 

California and Hawaii. Asian producers were younger and more likely to have 

recently started farming than U.S. producers overall. Asian-operated farms 

accounted for less than 2 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales; more than 

half are specialized in production of specialty crops.

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 the number of Asian producers was 

5 percent. 

The top ten states accounted for 74 

percent of Asian producers and 72 

percent of Asian-operated farms. In 

California, Asian producers accounted 

for 6 percent of the state’s total 

producers. In Hawaii, 35 percent of all 

producers identified as Asian. Of the 

total number of Asian-operated farms 

(18,338), California had 4,649, followed 

by Hawaii, with 3,105 farms. 

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

2012 2017 % change

Producers

Asian 24,067 25,310 +5

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

Farms

Asian-operated 18,007 18,338 +2

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

45The percent of total Asian producers who 

live and farm in California and Hawaii.

The counties with 

more than 200 

Asian-operated 

farms were all 

in Hawaii or 

California. The 

top three: Hawaii 

County, Hawaii 

(1,370 farms), 

Fresno County, 

California (802 

farms), and 

Honolulu County, 

Hawaii (525 farms).

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

< 1

1 - 4

5 - 14

15 - 29

30 + U.S. = 0.8

Note: Based on 15,826 farms with producers 

who identified themselves as Asian alone.
SNAPSHOT

Asian Producers, 2017

Number = 25,310*

Asian All U.S.

(percent)

Sex

Male 55 64

Female 45 36

Age

<35 9 8

35 - 64 65 58

65+ 26 34

Years farming

10 or less 40 27

11 or more 60 73

Lived on their farm 61 74

Worked off farm

No days 32 39

1 to 199 days 30 21

200+ days 38 40

Primary occupation

Farming 48 42

Other 52 58

Hispanic 6 3

With military service 7 11

Average age (years) 54.9 57.5

*Of the total, 22,016 identified themselves as Asian alone, 

and 3,294 as Asian 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.

Farm Characteristics

Asian-operated farms sold $7.5 billion in agricultural products in 2017, with 58 percent ($4.3 

billion) in crop sales and 42 percent ($3.2 billion) in sales of livestock and livestock products. 

These farms accounted for 1.9 percent of total U.S. agriculture sales. They received $27 million 

in government payments. 

% of 

farms

Oilseeds and grains 3

Specialty crops 52

 Vegetables and melons 12

 Fruits, tree nuts, berries 30

 Greenhouse, nursery, floriculture 10

Other crops 11

Cattle and dairy 15

Poultry and eggs 8

Other animals 11

Farm Specializationa

More than half (52 percent ) of Asianoperated farms specialized in production of 

specialty crops, compared with 9 percent of 

U.S. farms overall.

Farms and Land

Asian-operated farms accounted for 2.9 

million acres of farmland, 0.3 percent of the 

U.S. total. Two-thirds (67 percent) were less 

than 50 acres in size. The average size of 

Asian-operated farms was 160 acres.

Farm Size

in Acres

 AsianoperatedAll 

U.S.

(percent of total)

1 to 9 33 13

10 to 49 34 29

50 to 179 21 28

180 to 499 7 15

500 + 5 15

More than three-fourths (78 percent) of 

Asian-operated farms were operated by 

farmers who own all the land they farm, 12 

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

Thirty-seven percent 

of Asian-operated 

farms had sales 

and government 

payments of less 

than $5,000; 31 

percent had sales 

and payments of 

$50,000 or more, 

compared with 25 

percent of all farms.

Asian-operated and U.S. Farms 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 +

All U.S.

Asian-operated

20

17

11

21

31

23

21

11

20

25

5,526 

The number of Asian-operated 

farms specializing in fruit, tree nut, 

and berry production. 

74 The percent of Asian-operated 

farms with internet access.

Producer Characteristics

A higher proportion of Asian producers than U.S. producers overall are 

female (45 percent of Asian producers, 36 percent of U.S. producers, 

in 2017). Asian producers were younger on average (54.9 years 

compared with 57.5), and more likely to be a beginning 

farmer. Forty percent had farmed 10 years or fewer, 

compared with 27 percent of U.S. producers overall.

61

The percent of Asian producers 

who live on their farm.