WASHINGTON -- Upon releasing the 2007 Census of Agriculture on Feb. 5, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he was pleased by the growth in small and large farms, but troubled by the decline in midsized farmers and determined to use federal policy tools to help stabilize midsized farmers.
"The health of rural communities depends on small and medium-sized farms," Vilsack said at a news conference.
The ag census showed that the total number of farms in the country had grown to 2,204,792, a 4 percent increase since 2002. Between 2003 and 2007, 291,329 farms began operation, but the new farms averaged only 201 acres in size, with an average of $71,000 in sales. Only 33 percent of operators of new farms listed farming as a primary occupation. By comparison, the average for all farms in the United States was 418 acres and $135,000 in sales.
Vilsack noted that the number of farms with sales of less than $1,000 and those with sales of more than $250,000 had grown, but that the number of farms with sales between $1,000 and $250,000 had shrunk since 2002. The number of farms with sales between $250,000 and $500,000 grew from 81,694 to 93,373, the number between $500,000 and $1 million from 41,969 to 60,777, while the number of farms with sales of more than $1 mil-lion grew from 28,673 to 55,509.
The number of farms that produced 75 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural production went down. In 2002, 144,000 farms produced 75 percent of production. In 2007, it was 125,000 farms. In 2002, farms with sales of more than $1 million had 47 percent of production. In 2007, farms with sales of more than $1 million had 59 percent of production.
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A long-term trend
Vilsack said the increase in small farms showed that "people sense there is opportunity" in rural America. He attributed some of that optimism to USDA's variety of programs. Although the reduction in the number of midsized farms is a long-term trend, particularly in the Midwest, Vilsack said he was disturbed by it and that the Obama administration would address it.
"This is an issue we have to grapple with," Vilsack said, adding that President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden recently announced that the administration is establishing a commission to figure out policies that can help the middle.
"I made sure USDA is involved" in that task force, Vilsack said.
Vilsack said he thinks that USDA's organic, conservation and energy development programs have helped the small farms and that he is determined to use them to help midsized farmers. The climate change debate will be good for midsized farmers, Vilsack said because midsize farms can produce alternative fuels.
Vilsack also said he was pleased that the number of women and Hispanic farm operators had increased since 2003. The census found that the number of principal female farm operators had gone from 237,819 in 2002 to 237,819 in 2007, an increase of almost 30 percent.
