Number of farms declined in 2017

by | Feb 16, 2018 | 5 Ag Stories, News

The United States Department of Agriculture?s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Friday released its ?Farm and Land in Farms Summary.” The report indicates the number of farms has declined nationally and statewide.

* The following information was provided by USDA NASS.

The number of farms in the United States for 2017 is estimated at 2.05 million, down 12,000 farms from 2016. Total land in farms at 910 million acres, decreased 1 million acres from 2016. The average farm size for 2017 is 444 acres, up two acres from the previous year.

The total number of farms in Iowa in 2017 was 86,900, down 100 farms compared with a year ago. The largest decrease in number of farms came in the $500,000 – $999,999 range with a decrease of 300 farms from 10,000 in 2016 to 9,700 in 2017.

Total land in farms in Iowa in 2017 was 30.5 million acres, unchanged since 2014. However, total land in farms in the $100,000 – $249,999 range rose to three million acres, while total land in farms in the $1,000,000 and over range fell to nine-point-five million acres.

The average farm size in Iowa in 2017 was 351 acres, unchanged from last year. The average farm size in the $500,000 – $999,999 range increased 28 acres in 2016 to 918 acres in 2017.