Farms Becoming More Diverse

Farm Numbers Increase Says Census

CLEWISTON, FL. -- The number of farms in the United States has grown 4% and the operators of those farms have become more diverse in the past five years.

The 2007 Census counted 2,204,792 farms in the United States, a net increase of 75,810 farms. Nearly 300,000 new farms have begun operation since the last census in 2002. Compared to all farms nationwide, these new farms tend to have more diversified production, fewer acres, lower sales and younger operators who also work off-farm.

In the past five years, U.S. farm operators have become more demographically diverse. The 2007 Census counted nearly 30% more women as principal farm operators. The count of Hispanic operators grew by 10%, and the counts of American Indian, Asian and Black farm operators increased as well.

Florida's $7.8 billion in total farm sales in 2007 were dominated by crops, from citrus and vegetables to nursery and greenhouse production, with a combined value of $6.2 billion. Livestock, poultry and related products contributed more than $1.5 billion to the total.

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov