U.S. Agriculture Faces Significant Shift: Over 140,000 Farms Lost in Five Years

The United States agriculture sector has undergone a significant transformation, according to the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture. Between 2017 and 2022, the nation witnessed the loss of 141,733 farm operations, marking a 7% decrease. This period also saw a reduction of 20.1 million acres of farmland, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Maine, signaling a concerning trend toward the consolidation of farms into fewer, larger operations.

Despite these challenges, the value of agricultural production saw an increase, rising from $389 billion in 2017 to $533 billion in 2022, a 40% nominal increase and 17% when adjusted for inflation. This growth highlights a paradox within the sector: while the number of farms and the amount of farmed land decrease, productivity and output are on the rise, thanks to technological advancements and improved efficiency.

The census also sheds light on the long-term trend of decreasing farm operations and acreage, a pattern that has persisted since 1950. In the face of a more than doubled U.S. population and a global population that has more than tripled, technological advancements in agriculture have enabled producers to achieve higher yields with less land.

However, this consolidation and loss of farms raise concerns about the sustainability of farming practices, the vitality of rural communities, and the security of the nation’s food supply. The decrease in farmland and the shift toward larger operations underscore the urgent need for policies that support small and medium-sized farms, enhance sustainability, and ensure a diverse and resilient agricultural sector for future generations.