NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — Most U.S. farms remain family-run, but state-level differences shape how much agricultural output those farms deliver, according to Farm Flavor’s review of USDA Census data. States such as West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky top the national rankings, with more than 96 percent of operations family-owned and output shares above 88 percent, underscoring how closely local economies rely on multi-generational farms.
Across the country, about 1.8 million family farms produce over 80 percent of national agricultural sales. Still, some states show weaker alignment between ownership and output. Texas and Oklahoma each report about 96 percent of farms as family farms, yet barely 70 percent of sales come from those operations.
In Alaska and Hawaii — the only states where family farms generate less than half of total sales — scale and specialization give larger non-family farms a disproportionate role.
These extremes highlight how structural differences, not ownership alone, determine economic contribution.
Farm-Level Takeaway: High ownership does not always translate into high output, underscoring the importance of structural differences in understanding state-level farm performance.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
New SDRP funding and expanded loss programs give producers additional tools to rebuild cash flow and stabilize operations after two years of severe weather losses.
November 18, 2025 11:56 AM
·
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, November 17, 2025.
November 17, 2025 05:05 PM
·
National Pork Board Chief Sustainability Officer Jamie Burr shares a closer look at the Pork Checkoff’s Pork Cares Farm Impact Report, a research program to increase trust in the pork supply chain.
November 17, 2025 02:03 PM
·
Brooks York with Agrisompo joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report with some guidance on how producers can navigate their crop insurance claims for unsold grain crops.
November 17, 2025 01:46 PM
·
For many farm businesses, property taxes on business assets have become a significant and highly visible expense, threatening liquidity, discouraging investment, and creating a disproportionate burden when compared to other industries.
November 17, 2025 01:34 PM
·
Ethanol markets remain mixed — weaker production and blend rates are being partially balanced by stronger exports as winter demand patterns take shape.
November 17, 2025 01:24 PM
·
