Farm Compliance

Washington, DC - Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts an intensive census of U.S. agriculture, and 2007’s census data, released today, demonstrate the strength of the traditional family farm, according to the National Corn Growers Association.

“Many of us are family farmers going back several generations,” said NCGA President Bob Dickey, a grower from Laurel, Neb. “So while this is no surprise to us, it would be a surprise to people who assume most farms are owned by global corporations without family management.”

According to the census, more than 57 percent of U.S. farms are smaller lifestyle or retirement farms with sales of less than $250,000 per year. Large family farms (sales between $250,000 and $500,000) and very large family farms (sales over $500,000) made up only 9 percent of all farms. However, these larger family farms accounted for 63 percent of the value of all agricultural products sold.

The 2007 census counted 2,204,792 farms in the United States, a net increase of 75,810 farms since 2002. Nearly 300,000 new farms have begun operation since the last census in 2002. In 2007, U.S. farms sold $297 billion in agricultural products while incurring $241 billion in production expenses. Income from sales increased 48 percent between 2002 and 2007, while production expenses increased 39 percent.

The Census of Agriculture, conducted every five years, is a complete count of the nation's farms and ranches and the people who operate them. It provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation.