The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has unveiled the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about Minnesota and the nation’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them down to the county level.
The information collected directly from producers shows a continued decline in the total number of U.S. farms. However, the data also show a rise in the number of new and beginning (operating 10 or fewer years on any farm) as well as young (under the age of 35) producers. The full Census of Agriculture report as well as publication dates for additional ag census data products can be found at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.
Ag census data can also be found in NASS’s searchable online database, Quick Stats.
“We are pleased to provide updated Census of Agriculture data to all those who serve U.S. agriculture, especially the producers who gave their time to complete the questionnaire. Census of Agriculture data tell a story. This comprehensive snapshot every five years helps data users to see trends and shifts in the industry over time and helps producers do business,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “Overall, though there are always changes across U.S. agriculture, the data remain largely consistent with the previous ag census. Data users will also notice some new data on the topics of hemp, precision agriculture, and internet access.”
In Minnesota, totals farms numbered 65,531, a decrease of more than 3,000 farms since the 2017 Census. The state’s number of soybeans dropped from nearly 28,000 in 2017 to 25,337 in 2022. Land valued averaged more than $6,000 per acre, while the average age of a Minnesota farm crept up to 57.1 years old.
“This survey is a wake-up call,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “As a country, are we okay with losing this many farms? Are we okay with losing that much farmland? Or is there a better way?”
Ag census data provide valuable insights into demographics, economics, land use and activities on U.S. farms and ranches such as:
- There were 1.9 million farms and ranches (down 7% from 2017) with an average size of 463 acres (up 5%) on 880 million acres of farmland (down 2%). That is 39% of all U.S. land.
- Family-owned and operated farms accounted for 95% of all U.S. farms and operated 84% of land in farms.
- U.S. farms and ranches produced $543 billion in agricultural products, up from $389 billion in 2017. With farm production expenses of $424 billion, U.S. farms had net cash income of $152 billion. Average farm income rose to $79,790. A total of 43% of farms had positive net cash farm income in 2022.
- Farms with internet access continued to rise from 75% in 2017 to 79% in 2022.
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Categories: Minnesota, Government & Policy