Commercial Farm Numbers Slip in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Feb 28/03 - SNS -- The USDA says there were more farms in the United States in 2002, with 2.16 million operations covering 941.5 million acres of land.

Most of the increase was in non-commercial operations -- those with annual sales of less than $9,999. That fraction rose 1% to 1,172,770 in 2002. Small commercial farms, those with sales between $10,000 and $99,999, decreased 0.9% from 2001 to 637,160 operations; while the number of actual commercial farming operations in the United States slipped 1.1% to 348,160 businesses.

The USDA said the number of farms in the South Region increased by 5,700, 0.6%, and the number of farms in the West Region increased by 510, 0.2%. The North Central Region lost 3,300 farms, 0.4%. The number of farms declined 500, or 0.4% in the Northeast Region.

The number of farms in 2002 increased in nine States, remained unchanged in 32 States, and decreased in nine States. Texas gained 3,000 farms while Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Oregon added 1,000 farms during the year. Arkansas, Montana, and South Carolina farms increased by 500. California, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee farms declined by 1,000. New York lost 500 farms and North Dakota lost 300.

The subscriber version of the article is available by Clicking here