The changing face of American farms

The National Agricultural Statistics Service has announced the state and national demographic data from the Census of Agriculture, which is conducted every five years; the first was taken in conjunction with the 1840 population census. Remarks Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman: "The results show the great diversity of people involved in this important segment of our economy. For the first time, the census will provide us with measures of the total number of people operating farms and ranches, as well as the number of households sharing in farm income."

Veneman states that the number of African-American, Native American, Hispanic, and female operators has increased since 1997. Also among the findings:

* The average age of an American farm owner is 55.

* Approximately 27% of agricultural producers are women; the number of females who are principal operators has increased 12.6% since the last census.

* Farms run by individuals of Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino origin have jumped by 50.8%.

* Black principal operators swelled by 8.8% and Native Americans went up by 19.4%.

* Ninety percent of America's farms are run by individuals or families and most remain small operations. In fact, 59% have less than $10,000 in sales of agricultural products per year.

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