An explanation of how we constructed the above figure comparing conversion threat and policy response can be found here. CONVERSION AFFECTED ALL TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND. Difference: -149, Number of farms in 2000: 44,000 Difference: +12,100 This site is organized into three main sections: Spatial Mapping, Policy Scorecard, and Call to Action (see tabs above). Although 1992 signaled the beginning of the loss, much of the damage was done in the 21st century. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. The total value of agriculture products sold are from the 2017 Agriculture Census and top crops are from USDA state agriculture overviews as of Sept. 24, 2019. Livestock plays a vital role, too, with American farmers raising over 2 trillion cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. Purchase of agricultural conservation easement programs (PACE), Property tax relief for agricultural land. According to Farm Journal's AgWeb, between 1992–2012, the U.S. lost 31 million acres of farmland—about one-third of which is the richest in the country—due to the disproportionate effects urban expansion has on agricultural land. Our most recent report, The State of the States, provides unprecedented insight at the state, county, and even sub-county levels. Farms Under Threat is American Farmland Trust’s multi-year effort to document the extent, diversity, location, and quality of agricultural land in the continental U.S.—as well as the threats to this land from expanding commercial, industrial, and residential development. 3. The USDA reports the Major Land Uses series is the “longest-running, most comprehensive accounting of all major uses of public and private land in the United States.”. In this century, land use changes have been hard to see. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health // Flickr, 2 trillion cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens, States with the biggest agriculture industry, Where America gets its cocoa and 20 other agricultural imports, 50 longest-running TV series to take in while social distancing, How likely voters are to vote by mail in every state, 30 ways COVID-19 is impacting children around the world, People who retire comfortably avoid these financial advisor mistakes, States with the highest and lowest Trump approval ratings. Difference: +1,700 Number of People/Horses: 48.5. Stacker analyzed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Major Land Uses Survey, then ranked each state and the District of Columbia based on the number of acres each has dedicated to farmland. Pennsylvania. The 2012 MLU data is the latest available from the series which has been published since 1945—Alaska and Hawaii were added in 1959 when they became states. Average farm size in 2000: 2,895 acres For more information or suggestions regarding the data on this site, please contact AFT’s Farmland Information Center: www.farmlandinfo.org or (800) 370-4879. Number of farms in 2017: 47,000 Average farm size in 2017: 2,649 acres You can change the layer that is displayed using the dropdown menu located in the top right of the map area. Texas had the most farms in the United States in 2019 followed by Missouri and Iowa. Difference: +2,700 Iowa. Thirty nine (39) states have more than 11,000 farms. (Note: Alaska and Hawaii are not represented due to data limitations.). States can use the interactive maps on the Spatial Mapping tab to identify where their highest threats converge with their best quality agricultural lands. Difference: -33, Number of farms in 2000: 15,500 America’s agricultural landscape is extensive and diverse. Working with local government partners, they can help ensure that local land use policies address the quality as well the quantity of their agricultural resources. States should address these trends and conditions with clear goals and a suite of coordinated policies. - Cropland pasture: 9,000 acres, - Market value of agricultural products sold: $580.1 million (#45 among all states) To download a 2-page summary highlight sheet that provides more details about each state, a PDF version of the policy scorecard, scoresheets containing the detailed scores for all policies, or other useful materials, click the “Reports and Data” menu at the top of the page. Farms Under Threat provides actionable information on the location and quality of agricultural land, the threats posed by development, and state-level policies that can help protect farmland and ranchland. Ranches, institutional farms, experimental and research farms, and Indian Reservations are included as farms. Thanks to widespread mechanization, American farms are some of the most productive on Earth, fetching high yields of the top-five crops: corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and cotton. - Cropland used for crops: 161,000 acres - Cropland pasture: 22,000 acres, - Market value of agricultural products sold: $563.8 million (#46 among all states) The U.S. has roughly 2 million farm households, but which American regions have the most acreage devoted to farming? The Agricultural Land Protection Scorecard presents findings from our assessment of six state-level policies and programs intended to protect and retain agricultural land. American Farmland Trust makes no warranties as to the suitability of the data and information found here for any particular purpose or user. The Call to Action provides guidance that can help every state enhance their response. Texas. For further context, each slide also provides total cropland acreage, cropland used for crops, idle cropland, and cropland used for pasture. - Most valuable crops produced: potatoes ($166.9 million), hay & haylage ($28.1 million), blueberries ($23.2 million), maple syrup ($21.7 million), oats ($3.6 million), - Total cropland: 412,000 acres Difference: +9,500 Other farming activities include commercial feedlots and artificial insemin… For guidance on how to navigate these pages, click here. Thirty nine (39) states had more than 12,000 farms in 2019. With more than 329 million American mouths to feed and about $139.6 billion worth of agricultural exports, American farms need plenty of land to grow and produce crops. Average farm size in 2000: 93 acres Thanks to widespread mechanization, American farms are some of the most productive on Earth, fetching high yields of the top-five crops: corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and cotton. Government payments are included in sales.