Ag Census Data Reflects Operations of Younger Producers

(WASHINGTON, DC) USDA recently released the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Some interesting findings come from the demographic-side of the survey. Highlights include the average age of all producers is 57.5, up 1.2 years from 2012. More than 370-thousand producers have served in the military, representing 11 percent of all farmers and ranchers, but they tend to be older with an average age of almost 70. There are 321-thousand young producers, 35 years old or younger and farms with young producers making decisions tend to be larger than average in both acres and sales. More than any other age group, young producers make decisions regarding livestock. One in four producers is a beginning farmer with 10 or fewer years of experience and an average age of 46.3. Farms with new or beginning producers making decisions tend to be smaller than average in both acres and value of production. Thirty-six percent of all producers are female and 56 percent of all farms have at least one female decision maker. Female producers are most heavily engaged in day-to-day decisions along with record keeping and financial management.