The 2017 Census of Agriculture was released April 11.
Related content: Average age of U.S. farmer climbs to 57.5 years
Here’s a few findings from the report.
Beginning farmers
Alaska ranks first in the percent of producers who are beginning farmers, followed by Georgia and Maine. Beginning farmers have 10 or fewer years of farming experience. In 2017, 27% of all U.S. producers classified as beginning farmers. Their average age was 46.3, and their farms were smaller than average in both acres and sales.
Farmer age
The average age of all U.S. producers in 2017 was 57.5 years, up 1.2 years from 2012, when the last Census was conducted. This continues a long-term trend. Producers had been on their current farm an average of 21.3 years. On average, producers are older in southern states and younger in Midwestern states.
Internet access
In 2017, 75% of all U.S. farms had internet access, up from 70% in 2012. Rates are higher in northern and western states.
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