Top States

AI/AN Producers, 2017

Arizona 19,481

Oklahoma 17,102

New Mexico 8,812

Texas 5,663

California 2,537

Montana 2,130

Missouri 1,544

Utah 1,467

Arkansas 1,326

Alabama 1,326

Oregon 1,255

South Dakota 1,242

American Indian/Alaska Native Producers

ACH17-7/October 2019

Highlights Three-fourths of farms specialize in livestock production

United States Department of Agriculture

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

79,198 

producers

59 million 

acres

$3.5 billion 

agriculture sales 

In 2017, the United States had 79,198 producers who identified as American 

Indian or Alaska Native, either alone or in combination with another race. 

They accounted for 2.3 percent of the country’s 3.4 million producers, with the 

majority in the western and Plains states. American Indian or Alaska Native 

producers were younger and more likely to be female than U.S. producers 

overall. Their farms accounted for less than 1 percent of U.S. agriculture sales 

and more than 6 percent of U.S. farmland.

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 number 

of American Indian or Alaska Native 

producers increased 10 percent. 

The number of farms they operated 

increased 7 percent to 60,083. 

With more American Indian/Alaska 

Native producers than any other state, 

Arizona also ranked first in the share 

they represent of the state’s total 

producers (59 percent). In New Mexico 

it was 22 percent, and Oklahoma 13 

percent. These three states account 

for more than half of U.S. farms with 

America Indian or Alaska Native 

producers. 

Number of Producers and Farms, AI/AN and All U.S.

2012 2017 % change

Producers

AI/AN 71,947 79,198 +10

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

Farms

AI/AN-operated 56,092 60,083 +7

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

68 The percent of American Indian/Alaska Native 

producers who live in the top five states.

Five counties had 

more than 1,000 

farms operated by 

American Indian/

Alaska Native 

producers. Three 

in Arizona: Apache 

(5,258 farms), 

Navajo (3,795), and 

Coconino (1,947). 

Two in New Mexico: 

McKinley (2,285) and 

San Juan (2,091).

American Indian/Alaska Native–operated Farms as Percent of Total Farms, by County, 2017

< 1

1 - 9

10 - 19

20 - 44

45 + U.S. = 2.1

Note: Based on 42,705 farms with producers who identified 

themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native alone.
SNAPSHOT

American Indian/Alaska Native 

Producers, 2017

Number = 79,198*

AI/AN All U.S.

(percent)

Sex

Male 56 64

Female 44 36

Age

<35 9 8

35 - 64 59 58

65+ 32 34

Years farming

10 or less 28 27

11 or more 72 73

Lived on their farm 80 74

Worked off farm

No days 37 39

1 to 199 days 24 21

200+ days 39 40

Primary occupation

Farming 47 42

Other 53 58

Hispanic 5 3

With military service 11 11

Average age (years) 56.6 57.5

*Of the total, 58,199 identified themselves as American 

Indian or Alaska Native alone; and 20,999 as that race 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

American Indian/Alaska Native producers are more likely to be female 

than producers overall (44 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native 

producers are female compared with 36 percent of all U.S. producers). 

They are also slightly younger on average (56.6 years 

versus 57.5 years), more likely to live on their farm 

or ranch, and more likely to report farming/ranching 

as their primary occupation. 

Farm Characteristics

American Indian/Alaska Native–operated farms sold $3.5 billion in agricultural products 

in 2017, with 40 percent ($1.4 billion) in crop sales and 60 percent ($2.1 billion) in sales 

of livestock and livestock products. These farms accounted for 0.9 percent of total U.S. 

agriculture sales. They received $103 million in government payments.

Farm Specializationa

Three-fourths (75 percent) of American 

Indian/Alaska Native–operated farms 

specialized in livestock production, 

compared with about half (53 percent) of 

U.S. farms overall.

% of 

farms

Oilseeds and grains 3

Specialty crops 8

(fruits, vegetables, nursery)

Other crops 14

Cattle and dairy 42

Hogs and pigs 1

Poultry and eggs 2

Sheep and goats 15

Other animals 15

Farms and Land

American Indian/Alaska Native–operated 

farms accounted for 59 million acres of land, 

6.5 percent of the U.S. total. The majority (73 

percent) of these farms were less than 180 

acres in size, like U.S. farms overall. 

Farm Size

in Acres

 AI/ANoperatedAll

U.S.

(percent of total)

1 to 9 25 13

10 to 49 26 29

50 to 179 22 28

180 to 499 12 15

500 + 15 15

The average size of American Indian/Alaska 

Native-operated farms was 978 acres in 

2017.

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

80

The percent of American Indian/

Alaska Native producers who live 

on their farm or ranch.

More than half (63 

percent) of American 

Indian/Alaska Nativeoperated farms had 

sales and government 

payments of less 

than $5,000 per year, 

compared with 44 

percent of all farms.

American Indian/Alaska Native–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.

AI/AN-operated

41

22

11

16

10

23

21

11

20

25

24,744 

The number of AI/AN-operated farms 66 specializing in beef cattle.

The percent of American Indian/ 

Alaska Native–operated farms with 

internet access.