2022 Census of Agriculture Data Now Available

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture with new information about 49,053 Pennsylvania farms and ranches and those who operate them, including data about on farm decision making, down to the county level. The number of farms is down for Pennsylvania by 8 percent from 2017, most of this decrease can be attributed to the mid-size farms of 50 to 179 acres being lost, according to Charles Butler, Acting Northeastern Regional Field Office Director.

Census data provides valuable insights into demographics, economics, land, and activities on U.S. farms and ranches.

Some key Pennsylvania highlights include:

• The average age of all producers was 55.4 years of age, compared to 54.8 years in 2017.
• The per farm average net income increased from $42,020 in 2017 to $66,626 in 2022.
• The total value of production of all products is $10.3 billion, an increase of 33% over $7.8 billion in 2017.
• Organic farm numbers decreased by 11 percent from 2017.
• Value of sales is $628 million for organic farming, down from $708 million in 2017.
• New and beginning producers with 10 years or less of farming comprised of 24,448 producers.

On the national level, The overall value of agricultural production and income increased between 2017 and 2022. Increases remained concentrated by farm size, location, and industry. The number of large farms increased in 2022, while the number of mid-size and small farms declined. The largest operations and a small number of states accounted for the majority of agricultural production and sales. The 105,384 farms in the top two categories (sales of $1 million or more) are fewer than 6% of U.S. farms; they sold more than three-fourths of all agricultural products. Five commodities accounted for two-thirds of the value of agricultural production.

U.S. Production by State

The top 10 states accounted for 55% of sales in 2022. As in 2017, California was the largest provider of agricultural products, with sales of $59 billion, 11% of the U.S. total. The top nine U.S. counties are in California, and the top county, Fresno, had larger agriculture sales than 23 individual states.

Top Commodities

Cattle and calves were the top-ranked commodities, with $89.4 billion in sales. Texas was the top state in cattle and calves sales, accounting for 17% of the U.S. total. The top five commodities accounted for $363 billion in sales, 67% of U.S. total agriculture sales.

Income and Expenses

Farm income includes not just sales but also government payments and earnings from farm-related activities. With these items included, total U.S. farm income in 2022 was $576 billion. With farm production expenses of $424 billion, U.S. farms had net cash income of $152 billion. At the farm level, average income in 2022 was $79,790, up 85% or almost double from 2017.

The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. Even small plots of land —whether rural or urban—count if $1,000 or more of such products were raised and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year. The Census of Agriculture, taken only once every five years, looks at land use and ownership, operator characteristics, production practices, income, and expenditures. For America's farmers and ranchers, the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future, and their opportunity. Read more frequently asked questions.

Data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture is now available. All Census of Agriculture data can also be accessed using NASS's searchable database, Quick Stats.