U.S. Farm Numbers Little Changed

WASHINGTON - Feb 27/04 - SNS -- The number of farms in the United States barely changed in 2003, finishing the year at an estimated 2.13 million, 0.4% fewer than in 2002, according to the USDA.

The decline in farms occurred in all sales categories except the $250,000-$499,999 class which remained unchanged.

Total land in farms, at 938.8 million acres, decreased 1,550,000 acres from 2002. The average size farm during 2003 was 441 acres, an increase of one acre from the previous year. The decline in the number of farms and land in farms continues to reflect consolidation in farming operations and competition for agricultural land for other uses.

The number of farms in 2003 declined in 20 States, remained unchanged in 28 States, and increased in two States. The largest decline in farms occurred in California which lost 1,200 places followed by Missouri with 1,000. Other notable declines were: Minnesota and Nebraska, 900; Indiana, 800; North Carolina, 700; Iowa, 600; and Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin each losing 500 farms. For the two states with increased farm numbers, Mississippi added 600 and Montana 100 places.

      Number of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm:
                    United States, 1992-2003 1
--------------------------------------------------------------
Year	:     Number     :      Land      :     Average
        :    of Farms    :    in Farms    :    Farm Size
--------------------------------------------------------------
	:     Number     :   1,000 Acres  :      Acres
        :                :                :
1993    :   2,201,590    :     968,845    :       440
1994    :   2,197,690    :     965,935    :       440
1995    :   2,196,400    :     962,515    :       438
1996    :   2,190,500    :     958,675    :       438
1997    :   2,190,510    :     956,010    :       436
1998    :   2,192,330    :     952,080    :       434
1999    :   2,187,280    :     948,460    :       434
2000    :   2,166,780    :     945,080    :       436
2001    :   2,148,630    :     942,070    :       438
2002    :   2,135,360    :     940,300    :       440
2003    :   2,126,860    :     938,750    :       441

  1  A farm is any establishment from which $1,000 or more of agricultural
products were sold or would normally be sold during the year.

   Percent of Farms, Land in Farms, and Average Size Farm:  By Economic Sales
                       Class, United States, 2001-2003  1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Economic      :       Percent of Total        :
        Sales        :-------------------------------:    Average Size Farm
        Class        :     Farms     : Land in Farms :         (Acres)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     :                           2001
                     :
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      27.1             4.3                   70
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      14.9             4.2                  124
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      13.3             5.0                  165
 $10,000 -  $19,999  :      11.7             7.5                  281
 $20,000 -  $39,999  :       8.7             8.4                  423
 $40,000 -  $99,999  :       8.6            13.3                  678
$100,000 - $249,999  :       8.2            20.9                1,118
$250,000 - $499,999  :       4.1            15.8                1,690
$500,000 - $999,999  :       2.2            11.4                2,272
$1,000,000 +         :       1.2             9.2                3,361
                     :
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  438
                     :
                     :
                     :                           2002
                     :
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      27.3             4.5                   73
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      15.0             4.1                  120
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      13.7             4.9                  157
 $10,000 -  $24,999  :      11.5             7.6                  291
 $25,000 -  $49,999  :       8.7             9.7                  491
 $50,000 -  $99,999  :       8.4            11.5                  603
$100,000 - $249,999  :       7.9            20.9                1,165
$250,000 - $499,999  :       4.1            15.8                1,697
$500,000 - $999,999  :       2.2            11.5                2,302
$1,000,000 +         :       1.2             9.5                3,486
                     :
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  440
                     :
                     :
                     :                           2003
                     :
  $1,000 -   $2,499  :      27.0             4.3                   70
  $2,500 -   $4,999  :      15.2             4.0                  116
  $5,000 -   $9,999  :      14.0             4.9                  154
 $10,000 -  $24,999  :      11.4             7.5                  290
 $25,000 -  $49,999  :       8.6             9.8                  503
 $50,000 -  $99,999  :       8.3            11.5                  612
$100,000 - $249,999  :       7.9            20.9                1,168
$250,000 - $499,999  :       4.1            16.0                1,722
$500,000 - $999,999  :       2.1            10.5                2,207
$1,000,000 +         :       1.4            10.6                3,342
                     :
Total                :     100.0           100.0                  441
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Economic Sales Classes changed for 2001 to standard government groupings.

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