Family farms continue to dominate U.S. agriculture, making up 95% of the nation’s 1.9 million farms, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology Report released Aug. 19 from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The typology report defines a family farm as one where the producer and their relatives own the majority of the business, and it classifies operations based on ownership and gross cash farm income (GCFI).
“Classifying America’s 1.9 million farms to better reflect their variety is critical to evaluating and reporting on U.S. agriculture,” said NASS Administrator Joseph Parsons. “Typology allows us to more meaningfully explore the demographics of who is farming and ranching today as well as their impact on the economy and communities around the country.”
Understand farm typology
The typology report divides farms into family and non-family operations, then groups family farms into four broad categories:
• Small family farms (less than $350,000 GCFI), further split into low sales (under $150,000) and moderate sales ($150,000-349,999).
• Midsize family farms ($350,000-999,999 GCFI).
• Large family farms ($1 million-4.9 million GCFI).
• Very large family farms ($5 million or more GCFI).
In 2022, small family farms represented 85% of all U.S. farms, but only 14% of the value of agricultural products sold. Midsize operations accounted for 6% of farms and 16% of product value. Large and very large farms—though only 4% of all farms—produced 51% of the nation’s agricultural output.
Since 2017, the total number of family farms has dropped by 8%, or nearly 159,000 operations. The steepest declines came from the small farm sector, where low-sales farms fell by 10% and moderate-sales farms by 7%. By contrast, larger farms are expanding: midsize farms grew by 2%, large farms by 40% and very large farms by 65%.
Snapshot of producers
The census not only counts farms but also profiles the people who own and operate them. Across the U.S., there are about 3.16 million family farm producers, and their characteristics differ notably by farm size:
• Gender: Women make up 38% of small farm producers, compared to 28% in midsize and 24% in large-scale operations.
• Age: Nearly 39% of small farm producers are 65 or older, higher than the 34% in midsize farms and 30% in large farms.
• Beginning farmers: One-third (32%) of small farm producers are beginning farmers with 10 years or less of experience, compared to 19% of midsize and 14% of large-scale producers.
• Off-farm work: A majority of small farm producers (62%) report another occupation besides farming. Among large-scale operators, farming is the primary occupation for 78%.
• Military service: About 10% of small farm producers have served in the military, double the share of midsize (5%) and large-scale (4%) producers.
Economic picture
Farm specialization varies significantly depending on farm size.
• Small farms often focus on cattle (31%) or other crops like hay and forage (25%).
• More than half (55%) of midsize farms specialize in grains and oilseeds.
• Large and very large farms diversify more broadly, with significant shares in dairy (23% of very large farms) and specialty crops (26%).
Small farms also stand out for their significant role in local food systems, accounting for 44% of all direct sales to consumers, compared with 18% from midsize farms and 19% from large-scale operations.
U.S. family farms collectively manage 880 million acres, but land and output are distributed unevenly. Small farms hold the largest share of farmland (39%), yet their contribution to sales remains modest. Large-scale farms, on the other hand, control 26% of farmland but account for more than half of all agricultural sales.
Government payments, production expenses and net cash farm income also vary across sizes. Large-scale farms capture 35% of government payments and 55% of all net cash farm income. Small farms, by comparison, receive 30% of government payments but generate just 7% of total net cash income.
The Census of Agriculture, conducted every five years, offers a critical window into farm dynamics. Despite consolidation and changing demographics, family farms continue to be the cornerstone of American agriculture. As Parsons noted, typology is more than numbers—it provides a window into “who is farming and ranching today as well as their impact on the economy and communities around the country.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
