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Agriculture Census results are in
USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Nov, 2004
Half of America's farms and ranches have Internet access and nearly 39% report using a computer for their farm business, according to data released from the most recent Census of Agriculture. "These data illustrate the importance of the eGovernment initiatives being implemented by USDA," declares Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "We are making more information available to farmers and ranchers through the Internet and helping to provide broadband access to rural communities. To date, this Administration has provided over $253,000,000 in broadband loans for rural areas."
Conducted every five years, the census represents all agricultural operations, defined as any place which sold or normally would have sold more than $1,000 worth of products during the year.
Highlights include:
* The top five states in value of agricultural products sold are California ($25,700,000,000), Texas ($14,100,000,000), Iowa ($12,300,000,000), Nebraska ($9,700,000,000), and Kansas ($8,700,000,000).
* Ninety percent of farms are operated by an individual or family. The number of corporate farms declined by 18.4%, reversing a trend that had continued without interruption since 1974. Direct sales to consumers increased 37%, totalling $812,200,000.
* The value of organically produced commodities reached $392,800,000.
* The estimated market value of land and buildings on the nation's farms rose 24%. The average value per farm increased by over $100,000, reaching $537,833. The average value of land and buildings per acre is up more than $200 to $1,213.
* The average age of principal farm or range operators is 55.3 years old.
The Census of Agriculture provides the sole source of detailed, comprehensive facts for every county in the U.S. and provides data on very specialized or small scale agriculture. For example:
* Fresno County, Calif., held its place as tops in value of agricultural products sold, reaching $2,800,000,000.
* Mills County, Tex., was number one in inventory of goats and other meats with a total of 43,400.
* Washington County, Maine, was first in berry acres at 17,100.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Society for the Advancement of Education
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