Farm acreage and the number of farms operating in the U.S. have fallen significantly, according to new agriculture census data released by the USDA. The 2022 Census of Agriculture reports that farm acres fell to 880,100,848, a loss of more than 20 million acres since 2017; total farms have decreased by 141,733.
“The latest census numbers put in black and white the warnings our members have been expressing for years,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Increased regulations, rising supply costs, lack of available labor and weather disasters have all squeeze farmers to the point that many of them find it impossible to remain economically sustainable.”
The latest Census data show that farmers over the age of 65 are outpacing younger farmers. Approximately 1.3 million farmers are now at or beyond retirement age, while just 300,000 farmers are under the age of 35.
“Family farms not only help drive the economy, they allow the rest of the nation the freedom to pursue their dreams without worrying about whether there will be enough food in their pantries,” Duvall said. “We urge Congress to heed the warning signs of these latest numbers. Passing a new Farm Bill that addresses these challenges is the best way to help create an environment that attracts new farmers and enables families to pass their farms to the next generation.”