what percent of the us population is a farmer

What is the average income of American farmers?

American Farm Bureau Federation pays an average salary of $745,309 and salaries range from a low of $653,494 to a high of $863,536. Individual salaries will, of course, vary depending on the job, department, location, as well as the individual skills and education of each employee.

What percent of farm workers are Hispanic?

Most migrant farmworkers are immigrants--85 percent--and another 10 percent are US-born Hispanics. Their mean age was 30, they had an average seven years US farm work experience, they had an average 6.5 years of schooling, and they averaged fewer than three US farm employers per year.

What caused the decline of farmers in America?

The supply of workers available to U.S. farmers has been rapidly declining. Between 2002 and 2014, the number of full-time equivalent field and crop workers has dropped by at least 146,000 people, or by more than 20 percent. Wage patterns indicate that this caused a major labor shortage on U.S. farms.

What is the average age of a farmer?

Age of the Farmer. 65 is the average age of farmers, and there are not enough young farmers to replace them.

What percent of Americans are farmers 2020?

In 2020, 19.7 million full- and part-time jobs were related to the agricultural and food sectors—10.3 percent of total U.S. employment. Direct on-farm employment accounted for about 2.6 million of these jobs, or 1.4 percent of U.S. employment.

How many people are farmers us?

The number of farmers counted in the 2017 agricultural census increased 7% from the 3.2 million counted in 2012. About 64% of farmers in 2017 were male.

Who is the biggest farmer in the United States?

Bill Gates is America's biggest farmer, his 269000 acres farmland grows potatoes and carrotsGates has farmlands in Louisiana, Nebraska, Georgia and other areas.The report states that Gates has 70,000 acres of land in North Louisiana where they grow soybeans, corn, cotton.More items...•

What is the cause of 90% of crop losses?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 90% of crop losses are related to extreme weather – but it's not just the direct impact of summer drought, floods and severe storms.

What percentage of the world is farmers?

(2016) make this estimate based on the latest agricultural census data from 167 countries which represent 96% of the world's population, 97% of the population active in agriculture, and 90% of agricultural land.

What percent of Americans were farmers in 1800?

90 percentIn the 1800s, 90 percent of the population lived on farms; today it is around one percent.

What percent of the population is involved in agriculture?

Globally, about 1 billion people* work in the agricultural sector, about 28% of the population employed in 2018. This is down from 44% in 1991.

How many independent farmers are in the US?

In 2021, there were just over two million farms in the United States. However, the number of farms has been steadily dropping since the year 2007, when there were about 2.2 million farms in the United States. In 2007, the average size of farms in the United States was the smallest it had been since the year 2000.

What State Has the Most Farmers?

How many movies have you seen depicting Texas as vast farmland? Quite a lot, right? It should come as no surprise therefore that Texas is by far the leading state in terms of the number of farmers.

Are Farmers Rich in the USA?

Farming is generally considered a humble occupation. Farming has been portrayed as a down to earth occupation that doesn’t pay well and farmers are viewed as some among the poorest people in the US. This however is very far from the truth.

What was the USDA's 2017 agricultural census?

In 2017, the USDA conducted an Agricultural Census. The results that were obtained were a huge point of concern. The findings of the census showed that the number of young farmers in the industry was not at pace with the number of farmers who were aging out of the industry.

Why are there so few farmers in Alaska?

Most of these farms are clustered in the North East of Anchorage. The main reason why there are so few farmers in Alaska can be attributed to the climate and the generally poor soil fertility.

Why are farmers aging?

But what exactly is the reason for the aging of today’s farmers? The answer is increased costs. From taxes to insurance to loans to fuels and supplies , it has become hard for gray farmers to put their tools down and let the younger generation take their place.

How many farms are there in the US?

Currently, in the US there are about 2 million farms. These farmlands stretch far and wide across all states. Farmers make up about 1.3% of the labor force in the US. Like we mentioned earlier, there are about 2.6 million farmers in the US which makes up less than 1% of the total US population (which is around 300 million people).

How much does farming contribute to the US economy?

One of the major industries in the US is farming. It contributes more than $100 billion to the economy. With such a huge figure in mind, it’s only natural to wonder the number of farmers in the industry who contribute to this figure,

What is net farm income?

Net farm income (NFI) reflects income after expenses from production in the current year and is calculated by subtracting farm expenses from gross farm income. NFI considers both cash and noncash income and expenses. Inflation-adjusted net farm income is forecast to increase by 15.3 percent in 2021 to $113.0 billion—the highest since 2013. Inflation-adjusted farm production expenses are projected to increase by 3.5 percent in 2021.

What is gross cash farm income?

Gross cash farm income (GCFI) includes income from commodity cash receipts, farm-related income, and Government payments. Family farms (where the majority of the business is owned by the operator and individuals related to the operator) of various types together accounted for nearly 98 percent of U.S. farms in 2019. Small family farms (less than $350,000 in GCFI) accounted for 90 percent of all U.S. farms. Large-scale family farms ($1 million or more in GCFI) make up about 3 percent of farms but 44 percent of the value of production.

How much will the farm income be in 2021?

Gross cash farm income is forecast at $451 billion in 2021, versus $341 billion (inflation-adjusted 2021 dollars) in 2001, with the increase across time largely because of higher cash receipts. If forecasts are realized, gross cash farm income would fall 1.8 percent in 2021, after increasing 4.6 percent in 2020.

What percentage of farms are small family farms?

Small family farms (less than $350,000 in GCFI) accounted for 90 percent of all U.S. farms. Large-scale family farms ($1 million or more in GCFI) make up about 3 percent of farms but 44 percent of the value of production.

How many farms were there in 1935?

The number of U.S. farms continues to decline slowly. After peaking at 6.8 million farms in 1935, the number of U.S. farms fell sharply until the early 1970s. Rapidly falling farm numbers during the earlier period reflected growing productivity in agriculture and increased nonfarm employment opportunities.

How much cash is used for animals in 2020?

Cash receipts for animals and animal products totaled $165.0 billion in 2020. Cattle/calves receipts made up 38.2 percent of that total, dairy receipts accounted for 24.6 percent, and poultry and eggs receipts came in at 21.5 percent.

What was the impact of agriculture on the 20th century?

American agriculture and rural life underwent a tremendous transformation in the 20th century. Early 20th century agriculture was labor intensive, and it took place on many small, diversified farms in rural areas where more than half the U.S. population lived.

How did the practices associated with keeping livestock contribute to the deterioration of the forests and fields?

The practices associated with keeping livestock also contributed to the deterioration of the forests and fields. Colonists would cut down the trees and then allow their cattle and livestock to graze freely in the forest and never plant more trees. The animals trampled and tore up the ground so much as to cause long-term destruction and damage.

What were the crops grown in the early colonial South?

Warmer regions saw plantings of cotton and herds of beef cattle. In the early colonial south, raising tobacco and cotton was common, especially through the use of slave labor until the Civil War. In the northeast, slaves were used in agriculture until the early 19th century.

How did European agriculture affect New England?

European agricultural practices greatly affected the New England landscape. Colonists brought livestock over from Europe which caused many changes to the land. Grazing animals required a lot of land and food and the act of grazing itself destroyed native grasses, which were being replaced by European species. New species of weeds were introduced and began to thrive as they were capable of withstanding the grazing of animals, whereas native species could not.

What are some of the agricultural products that were grown in the United States in 1921?

Main article: History of agriculture in the United States. Cotton farming on a Southern plantation in 1921. Corn, turkeys, tomatoes, potatoes, peanuts, and sunflower seeds constitute some of the major holdovers from the agricultural endowment of the Americas .

Why is agriculture dangerous?

Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries due to the use of chemicals and risk of injury. Farmers are at high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries (general traumatic injury and musculoskeletal injury ), work-related lung diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases, chemical-related illnesses, and certain cancers associated with chemical use and prolonged sun exposure. In an average year, 516 workers die doing farm work in the U.S. (1992–2005). Every day, about 243 agricultural workers suffer lost-work-time injuries, and about 5% of these result in permanent impairment. Tractor overturns are the leading cause of agriculture-related fatal injuries, and account for over 90 deaths every year. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends the use of roll over protection structures on tractors to reduce the risk of overturn-related fatal injuries.

How many farms are there in the US?

Agriculture is a major industry in the United States, which is a net exporter of food. As of the 2017 census of agriculture, there were 2.04 million farms, covering an area of 900 million acres (1,400,000 sq mi), an average of 441 acres (178 hectares) per farm.

What are some of the most important developments in agriculture?

The mechanization of farming and intensive farming have been major themes in U.S. history, including John Deere 's steel plow, Cyrus McCormick 's mechanical reaper, Eli Whitney 's cotton gin, and the widespread success of the Fordson tractor and the combine harvester. Modern agriculture in the U.S. ranges from hobby farms and small-scale producers to large commercial farms covering thousands of acres of cropland or rangeland .

How did the Great Depression affect farm labor?

The increased use of machines to perform work formerly done by humans and then by animals raised farm efficiency while reducing the need for farm labor. The Great Depression left many farm laborers unemployed until the economic boom during World War II created employment opportunities in urban centers and led to a large migration from rural areas. The change in emphasis from development of new agricultural land to more intensive farming on existing land also contributed to lower demand for agricultural labor.

What was the change in the agricultural sector during the past century?

Another striking change occurring in the agricultural sector during the past century involves farm labor and population. Farm labor requirements declined steadily due to mechanization, economic conditions, and the western expansion of agriculture coming to an end.

How much food will the world's farmers have to grow by 2050?

The global population is expected to increase by 2.2 billion by 2050, which means the world’s farmers will have to grow about 70% more food than what is now produced. About 11% of U.S. farmers are serving or have served in the military. Cattle and calves, corn, and soybeans are the top three U.S. farm products.

How much milk does a cow need to produce?

The pounds of feed (grain, forage, etc.) a dairy cow needs to eat to produce 100 pounds of milk has decreased by more than 40% on average in the last 40 years.. One acre of land can grow a variety of crops, including 50,000 pounds of strawberries or 2,784 pounds (46.4 bushels) of wheat.

What are the animals that farmers provide habitat for?

More than half of America’s farmers intentionally provide habitat for wildlife. Deer, moose, birds and other species have shown significant population increases for decades. One day’s production for a high-producing dairy cow yields 4.8 pounds of butter, 8.7 gallons of ice cream or 10.5 pounds of cheese.

How many Americans eat pizza?

On any given day, one in eight Americans will eat pizza. Americans throw away about 25% of the food they purchase for at-home consumption. Farm and ranch families comprise less than 2% of the U.S. population. A whopping 40% of all food grown and produced in the U.S. is never eaten.

How much does farming account for?

Farming accounts for about 1% of the U.S. gross domestic product. After accounting for input costs, farmers and ranchers receive only 8 cents out of every dollar spent on food at home and away from home.

What is the average age of a farmer?

25% of all farmers are beginning farmers (in business less than 10 years); their average age is 46.

When will the Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture's Food and Farm Facts book be released?

Information on this page may be shared via social media, etc., and was published in the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture’s Food and Farm Facts book (2019 edition). An updated version of the book will be available in fall 2021. Visit AgFoundation.org for additional information and resources.

How many farms were there in 2012?

In 2012, 3.2 million farmers operated 2.1 million farms. Like the previous agriculture census, the 2012 Census of Agriculture collected data on up to three operators per farm. Whether counting only principal operators (the person primarily responsible for the day-to-day operation of the farm) or also second and third operators, the number of U.S. farmers declined between 2007 and 2012 going down 4.3 percent in the case of principal operators. (Table 1)

How many operators are there on a farm?

Fourty-four percent of all farms reported having two operators, and 7 percent reported three operators involved in day-to-day decision making. Principal operators differ from second and third operators in a number of ways. They are on average older, more likely to be male, and more likely to consider farming their primary occupation. They work fewer days off the farm than do second and third operators, and in 2012, 78 percent were on their current farm ten or more years. (Table 2)

What percentage of second operators are women?

Two thirds (67 percent ) of second operators are women, of whom 90 percent are the spouse of the principal farm operator. Most farm operations report that they are organized as a family or individual operation. Third operators are younger than principal operators and 45 percent were on their current farm less than ten years in 2012.

How many principal operators are women?

Of the 2.1 million principal operators in the United States, 288,264 were women (Table 3). This was a 6 percent decrease since 2007 larger than the decrease in male principal operators. But for all female operators (principal, second, and third), the decrease was only 1.6 percent. Women were 14 percent of principal operators but 30 percent of all operators.

What was the last time the agriculture census was conducted?

In 2012, U.S. farmers were older and more diverse than in 2007, the last time the agriculture census was conducted. The total number of farmers declined, with the percentage decline more for women than men. More minorities operated farms in 2012, and the number of beginning farmers declined.

What is the Census of Agriculture?

The Census of Agriculture is the leading source of facts and figures about American agriculture. The 2012 Census results provide information at national, state, and county levels about what agricultural products were raised in the United States in 2012, as well as where, how, and by whom.

Which states have the highest concentration of women farmers?

Some areas of the country have higher concentrations of women farmers than others. See particularly New England, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington (Fig. 1). In 16 states the number of female principal operators increased; in 34 states, they decreased.

What percentage of the country is rural?

Urban areas make up only 3 percent of the entire land area of the country but are home to more than 80 percent of the population. Conversely, 97 percent of the country’s land mass is rural but only 19.3 percent of the population lives there.

What does "rural" mean?

The term “rural” means different things to different people. For many, it evokes images of farmlands and pastoral landscapes. For our purposes, we define rural based on the official Census Bureau classification.

What is America count?

America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. We feature stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency management, health, population, income and poverty.

Overview

History

United States agriculture production in 2018

Major agricultural products

Farm type or majority enterprise type

Governance

Occupational safety and health

Demographics