farm facts

Farm Facts

Farming is still a Family affair

• Today, 99% of U.S. farms are owned by individuals, family partnerships or corporations with fewer than ten stockholders. Only .4% of farms are owned by non-family corporations

Farm Populations

• The farm population in the U.S. has declined from 22 million in 1880 to less than 5 million today

Farm Populations

• The farm population in the U.S. has declined from 22 million in 1880 to less than 5 million today

• The number of farms peaked at 6.8 million in 1935 and is down to 1.9 million farms today

What one acre of land can produce...

•Lettuce

What one acre of land can produce...

•Lettuce• 24,000 pounds per

acre, worth over $5900

What one acre of land can produce...

• Strawberries

What one acre of land can produce...

• Strawberries 45,500 pounds per

acre, worth over $21,000

What one acre of land can produce...

•Potatoes

What one acre of land can produce...

•Potatoes• 36,000 pounds per

acre, worth over $4,400

What one acre of land can produce...

• Navel Oranges

What one acre of land can produce...

• Navel Oranges• 28,800 pounds

per acre, worth over $2,400

What one acre of land can produce...

• Sweet Corn

What one acre of land can produce...

• Sweet Corn• 1,328 pounds per

acre, worth $872

How farming has changed...

• In 1850, about 90 hours of labor were required to raise 100 bushels of corn. Yields were about 40 bushels per acre.

How farming has changed...

• By 1900, the amount of labor to produce 100 bushels of corn was down to about 35 hours. The yield per acre had not changed.

How farming has changed...

• By 1950 commercial fertilizers and tractors pushed yields to about 50 bushels per acre. About 14 hours of labor were required to produce 100 bushels of corn.

How farming has changed...

• Today, only 2.5 hours of labor are needed to produce 100 bushels of corn. Yields are routinely over 200 bushels per acre.

Number of People fed by One Farmer

19

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1940

Number of People fed by One Farmer

1927

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1940 1950

Number of People fed by One Farmer

1927

46

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1940 1950 1960

Number of People fed by One Farmer

1927

46

73

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1940 1950 1960 1970

Number of People fed by One Farmer

1927

46

73

115

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980

Number of People fed by One Farmer

1927

46

73

115129

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 today

Farm Sales & Income

Meat Animals

$51 billion

Meat Animals

$51 billion

Feed Crops

$19 billion

Meat Animals

$51 billion

Feed Crops

$19 billionDairy

Products

$19 billion

Meat Animals

$51 billion

Feed Crops

$19 billionDairy

Products

$19 billion

Poultry & Eggs

$17 billion

Meat Animals

$51 billion

Feed Crops

$19 billionDairy

Products

$19 billion

Poultry & Eggs

$17 billion

Oil bearing crops

$13 billion

Meat Animals

$51 billion

Feed Crops

$19 billionDairy

Products

$19 billion

Poultry & Eggs

$17 billion

Oil bearing crops

$13 billionVegetables &

Melons

$12 billion

Meat Animals

$51 billion

Feed Crops

$19 billionDairy

Products

$19 billion

Poultry & Eggs

$17 billion

Oil bearing crops

$13 billionVegetables &

Melons

$12 billion

Cotton

$5 billion

Meat Animals

$51 billion

Feed Crops

$19 billionDairy

Products

$19 billion

Poultry & Eggs

$17 billion

Oil bearing crops

$13 billionVegetables &

Melons

$12 billion

Cotton

$5 billion

Tobacco

$3 billion

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Wheat - $4.7 billion

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Tobacco –

$1.3 billion

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Corn - $4.2 billion

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Hides & Skins - $1.3 billion

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Vegetables - #3.3 billion

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Soybeans - $4.6 billion

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Fruit & Nuts - $4.0 billion

Top U.S. Farm Exports

Meat & Poultry - $4.4 Billion

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Corn

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Corn• Plastic

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Corn• Plastic

• Cooking Oil

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Corn• Plastic

• Cooking Oil

• Diapers

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Corn• Plastic

• Cooking Oil

• Diapers

• Packing Material

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Soybeans

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Soybeans• Ink

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Soybeans• Ink

• Paint

Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities

Soybeans• Ink

• Paint

• feed

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Red Meat – 112 pounds

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Red Meat – 112 pounds

• Fresh vegetables – 113 pounds

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Red Meat – 112 pounds

• Fresh vegetables – 113 pounds

• Fresh fruits – 124 pounds

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Red Meat – 112 pounds

• Fresh vegetables – 113 pounds

• Fresh fruits – 124 pounds

• Cheese – 26 pounds

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Red Meat – 112 pounds

• Fresh vegetables – 113 pounds

• Fresh fruits – 124 pounds

• Cheese – 26 pounds• 234 eggs

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Beverage milk – 214 pounds

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Beverage milk – 214 pounds

• Rice – 18 pounds

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Beverage milk – 214 pounds

• Rice – 18 pounds• Fats & oils – 65

pounds

What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities

• Beverage milk – 214 pounds

• Rice – 18 pounds• Fats & oils – 65

pounds• Flour & cereal – 189

pounds