AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY Census of Agriculture 2022 Number of U.S. Farms Drops 7% By Hernando Ramírez-Santos he number of farms in the United States has declined by “We are pleased to provide updated Census of Agriculture seven percent over 昀椀ve years, according to new 昀椀gures data to all those who serve U.S. agriculture, especially the from the 2022 Census of Agriculture. producers who gave their time to complete the questionnaire. 吀栀e results were announced by the U.S. Department Census of Agriculture data tell a story. 吀栀is comprehensive of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics snapshot every 昀椀ve years helps data users to see trends and TService (NASS) as it unveiled statistics from the 2022 shifts in the industry over time and helps producers do Census of Agriculture, which covers more than 6 million data business,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who “Overall, though there are always changes across U.S. operate them down to the county level. agriculture, the data remain largely consistent with the 吀栀e information collected directly from producers shows a previous ag census. Data users will also notice some new data continued decline in the total number of U.S. farms. on the topics of hemp, precision agriculture, and internet However, the data also show a rise in the number of new and access,” Hamer added. beginning (operating 10 or fewer years on any farm) as well as Ag census data provide valuable insights into demographics, young (under the age of 35) producers. economics, land use, and activities on U.S. farms and ranches. HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2022 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE: % mm 1.9 39 $543 million farms and of all U.S. land. billion in agricultural ranches products There were 1.9 million farms and ranches (down 7% from 2017) with an average size of 463 acres (up 5%) on 880 million acres of farmland (down 2%). 吀栀at is 39% of all U.S. land. Family-owned and operated farms accounted for 95% of all U.S. farms and operated 84% of land in farms. U.S. farms and ranches produced $543 billion in agricultural products, up from $389 billion in 2017. With farm production expenses of $424 billion, U.S. farms had a net cash income of $152 billion. Average farm income rose to $79,790. A total of 43% of farms had positive net cash farm income in 2022. 6666 MMAAYY//JJUUNNE 2E 200224 4 AABBAASSTOTO..CCOOMM