NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — Family-owned farms dominate every region of the U.S., but their economic footprint varies widely across the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Plains, Southwest, and Northwest. USDA Census data analyzed by Farm Flavor indicate that family ownership exceeds 90 percent across all regions, yet output shares vary by scale, crop mix, and local infrastructure.
Family farms in the Midwest achieve some of the highest production levels, with states such as Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin reporting both high ownership and high sales shares. The Southeast, including Georgia and Arkansas, mirrors this pattern, with family farms accounting for most output.
Great Plains states such as Kansas and Colorado, however, exhibit wider gaps: more than 93 percent of farms are family-owned, yet many sales originate from larger non-family operations.
In the Northeast and Northwest, high ownership persists, but the presence of specialty crops and consolidated operations increases output variability.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Regional differences indicate that family ownership is universal, but farm structure and commodity mix determine the extent to which these operations drive agricultural output.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
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