P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

February 24, 2014

1 Min Read
2012 Census of Agriculture Preliminary Results

The United States Department of Agriculture released its preliminary “2012 Census of Agriculture” results showing an increase in the value of agricultural products sold in the U.S. totaling $394.6 billion in 2012, up 33 percent compared to $97.4 billion in 2007.  

 

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The number of farms and land in farms continues to decline and the age of farmers continues to increase.  Results from the census include:

  • Crop sales of $212.4 billion in 2012 exceeded livestock sales of $182.2 billion.  This occurred for only the second time in census history.  The previous being 1974. 

  • Between 2007 and 2012, per farm average value of sales increased from $134,807 to $187,093. 

  • The average age of a principal farm operator was 58.3 years, up 1.2 years since 2007.  This is a continuing 30-year trend.

  • There were more minority-operated farms in 2012 than in 2007.

  • Between 2007 and 2012, the amount of land in farms in the U.S. continued a slow downward trend declining from 922 million acres to 915 million acres.  This is the third smallest decline between censuses since 1950. 

The “Census of Agriculture” has been conducted since 1840. 

See this week’s Legislative Preview stories:

Tax Reform

Members Ask for Rule on Downer Calves

USDA Predicts Record 2014 Corn

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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