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Briefing Rooms

Farm Structure: Questions and Answers


The size distribution of U.S. farms, 1989-2002   
Item, by sales class of farm 1989 1995 2002
Number of farms 2,148,740 2,068,000 2,152,412
Farms
  Percent
Family farms, by sales class      
   Less than $10,000 51.2 50.6 55.2
   $10,000-$99,999 33.8 33 27.5
   $100,000-$249,999 8.9 9.8 8.5
   $250,000-$499,999 3.4 3.1 4
   $500,000 or more 1.5 1.9 3
Nonfamily farms 1.2 1.6 1.8
Value of production
  Percent
Family farms, by sales class      
   Less than $10,000 2.4 2.2 1.9
   $10,000-$99,999 21.3 17 11.9
   $100,000-$249,999 22.2 20.7 17
   $250,000-$499,999 19 14.6 16.8
   $500,000 or more 28.9 31 43.9
Non-family farms 6.2 14.5 8.5
Source: Data derived from USDA 2002 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), and 1989 and 1995 Farm Costs and Returns Survey (FCRS).   

 

For more information, contact: Doris Newton

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Updated date: April 6, 2005