US Loses Staggering 141,000 Farms In 5 Years, Equivalent To The Size Of Maine

Tens of thousands of farms have been forced to close just within the last five years, according to a recent analysis by Farm Bureau.

Citing the recently published United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census of Agriculture for 2022, Farm Bureau reports the number of farms in the U.S. declined by 141,733 (7%); and acres operated by farm operations during this same five years decreased by 20.1 million (2.2%), which is roughly the size of the state of Maine.

The group said in summary:

The 2022 Census of Agriculture provides an in-depth look at the U.S. farm landscape over the past five years. With a loss of 141,733 farm operations, representing a 7% decline, and reduction of 20.1 million acres under cultivation, equivalent to the size of Maine, the agriculture sector has faced significant shifts.

Though the data shows an ongoing consolidation of farms into fewer, larger operations, it also highlights the adaptability of farmers and ranchers. Despite fewer farms and reduced acreage, the value of agricultural production has increased by 40% (17% in inflation-adjusted dollars), reaching $543 billion in 2022.

This increase in productivity underscores the impact of technological advancements and efficiency gains, allowing farmers to produce more with fewer resources. The magnitude of changes is not uniform across states, with the Southwest experiencing a much higher percentage loss in farms than states east of the Mississippi.

The challenges faced by farms of all sizes has raised calls for a robust and comprehensive farm bill that could provide support to the operations most at risk and to those providing the lion’s share of the American food supply, helping both to navigate economic uncertainties and regulatory complexities, to undertake innovative and sustainable practices, and to promote the long-term viability of a diverse agricultural landscape across the nation.

The Census of Agriculture paints the picture of what we have lost, and of what more could be lost without firm support…