Family farms continue to dominate American agriculture, accounting for nearly all farms and the vast majority of agricultural production across the country, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA reports family-operated farms represented about 97% of all U.S. farms in 2024. Those operations managed 91% of the nation’s agricultural land and were responsible for about 85% of total agricultural production.
While family farms dominate the industry, the data also show significant differences in production based on farm size.
Small family farms, defined as operations with gross cash farm income of less than $350,000, accounted for approximately 86% of all U.S. farms. Despite their large numbers, those farms produced about 17% of the total value of U.S. agricultural production.
Large family farms represented only about 5% of all farms but generated approximately half of the nation’s agricultural production value.
Non-family farms made up just 3% of U.S. farms while accounting for about 14% of total production value.
The figures demonstrate that family ownership continues to be the foundation of American agriculture, even as agricultural production becomes increasingly concentrated among larger operations.
The USDA data also highlight the role of smaller farms in the agricultural landscape. Although small family operations account for a relatively modest share of total production value, they represent more than eight out of every 10 farms nationwide.
At the same time, the relatively small number of large family farms accounts for a substantial portion of the food, livestock and other agricultural products produced in the United States.