Feb 20, 2014USDA NASS census shows growing farm economy
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released its preliminary results from the 2012 census of agriculture. The ag census is conducted every five years.
The census revealed the value of agricultural products sold in 2012 to be $394.6 billion, an increase of $97.4 billion, or 33 percent, from 2007.
Between 2007 and 2012, the per farm average value of sales increased from $137,807 to $187, 093. The $52,235 increase was the largest rise in census history.
In 2012, crop sales of $212.4 billion exceeded livestock sales of $182.2 billion. This is only the second time in census history that crop sales outperformed livestock sales.
The amount of farmland in the U.S. declined from 922 million acres to 915 million acres.
Visit the USDA NASS site for more information.
