USDA Releases 2017 Census of Agriculture Data
On Apr. 11, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Taken once every five years, the Census of Agriculture includes a complete count of all U.S. farms and farmers. It covers everything from sprawling operations to small family farms and urban vegetable gardens, as long as the business sells at least $1,000 worth of agricultural products in the census year. This census provides the most comprehensive source of agricultural data in the U.S and reveals important information about where the future of farming is headed.
Scroll through the slideshow to learn some of the most interesting statistics taken from the latest Census of Agriculture.
Producer Demographics
Between 2012 and 2017, the number of producers in the U.S. climbed 6.9% to reach a total of 3.4 million.
Among the most notable statistics revealed in the latest census, however, is the increase in female farmers across the country. The number of female farmers rose from .97 million in 2012 to 1.23 million in 2017, a 26.6% increase. In 2017, female farmers made up 36% of total U.S. producers.
While male producers had higher overall rates of involvement in farm decisions about land use, crops and livestock, females were most involved in financial management and day-to-day decisions.
The average age of producers rose to 56.5 years, a 1.2-year increase since 2012, continuing the overall trend of aging in the population of U.S. farmers. The majority of producers fell within the age range of 35-64 years old. Geographically, older producers tended to live in southern states, while the Midwest was home to a higher number of young farmers.