In 2023, about 86% of all farms were small family farms. These farms—which have gross cash farm income (GCFI) below $350,000—operated on 41% of U.S. agricultural land, while producing 17% of the total value of agricultural production.
The number of small family farms and their operated acres fell slightly relative to 2022, when they represented 87% of all farms and operated 44% of agricultural land. Large-scale family farms (those with GCFI above $1 million), represented 4% of farms and accounted for 31% of agricultural land and 48% of the total value of agricultural production in 2023.
Midsize family farms (those with GCFI of between $350,000 and $999,999) represented 6% of farms and accounted for 18% of agricultural land and 18% of the total value of agricultural production. In total, family farms accounted for about 96% of total farms, 90% of agricultural land and 83% of total production value in 2023.
The remaining 4% of farms were classified as nonfamily farms, a category that varies in size, income and ownership structure and includes partnerships (of nonrelative partners), nonfamily corporations and farms with a hired manager not related to the owners. Nonfamily farms accounted for 17% of the total value of agricultural production. — USDA Economic Research Service
