USDA Census Shows 95 Percent of Farms Are Family Run

Small farms dominate counts while large farms deliver most sales value across US

Family farms continue to anchor U.S. agriculture, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report classifies every farm by who owns the operation and by gross cash farm income, or GCFI. A family farm is any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the producer and relatives of the producer. GCFI includes crop and livestock sales, production contract fees, government payments, and other farm-related income. 

“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.” 

Family operations account for 95% of all U.S. farms. Small family farms, those with annual GCFI below $350,000, make up 85% of all farms, operate 39% of total farmland, and generate 14% of the value of agricultural products sold. Large-scale family farms with GCFI of $1 million or more represent under 4% of farms but produce 51% of total sales value. 

Change since 2017 shows consolidation at higher income levels. The total number of family farms declined 8%—nearly 159,000 fewer farms. Mid-size farms increased by 2%, large farms by 40%, and very large farms by 65%. Among small family farms, low-sales farms fell 10% and moderate-sales farms fell 7%. 

Specialization patterns also vary by size. A majority of small farms specialize in cattle or other crops such as hay and forage. More than half of mid-size farms focus on grains and oilseeds, while large-scale farms are more diverse in what they produce. Direct marketing also differs: small family farms account for 44% of all direct sales to consumers, compared with 18% for mid-size farms and 19% for large-scale farms. 

The report highlights demographic differences across farm sizes. Producers on small family farms are more likely to be women, age 65 or older, live on their farms, have served in the military, work off the farm, and be new or beginning farmers with ten years or less of experience. 

These typology details help policymakers, educators, and industry understand who is farming and how farm businesses contribute to rural economies. Users can explore maps, data highlights, and complete tables in the Farm Typology report and in the NASS Quick Stats database for further insight. 

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