NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — Most U.S. farms remain family-run, according to a new Farm Flavor analysis of USDA Census data, which shows 94.7 percent of all farms are family-owned.
These operations account for more than 80 percent of national farm sales, underscoring that American agriculture remains rooted in local, multigenerational enterprises rather than large corporate ownership.
Nationally, about 1.8 million family farms generate roughly $484 billion in annual output. The majority are small farms earning under $350,000 annually, yet they remain essential to rural economies and community food systems. Every state reports at least 90 percent family ownership, with West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky leading the nation.
Larger family farms — while fewer in number — drive more than half of U.S. agricultural output, reflecting efficiency and scale in row crops and livestock. Some states, including Texas and Maine, show wide gaps between family ownership and sales shares, indicating stronger contributions from non-family, high-value operations.
Farm-Level Takeaway: USDA data confirms American agriculture remains overwhelmingly family-run despite structural shifts in scale and production.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
Researchers out of the United Kingdom are using gene editing technology to help make High-Path Avian Flu less of a threat to poultry.
October 12, 2023 12:38 PM
·
RFD-TV is proud to provide daily agriculture and markets news to the hard-working farmers across Rural America ever day, but it is a special joy to celebrate our viewers today on National Farmers Day!
October 12, 2023 12:01 PM
·
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute have constructed the perfect watermelon—returning “lost” genes from the domesticated fruit’s wild relatives that improve both taste and resilience during the growing process.
August 14, 2023 03:31 PM
·
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute found human sewage, not fertilizer, is mainly responsible for dangerous nitrogen levels in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon.
March 07, 2023 07:22 AM
·
September 30, 2022 10:25 AM
