Structure and Finances of U.S. Farms: Family Farm Report, 2014 Edition. Report Summary.

摘要

Most U.S. farms—97 percent in 2011—are family operations, and even the largest farms are predominantly family-run. Midsize and large-scale family farms account for 8 percent of U.S. farms but 60 percent of the value of production. In contrast, small family farms make up 90 percent of the U.S. farm count but produce a more modest 26-percent share of farm output. Non-family farms account for the remaining 3 percent of farms and 15 percent of production. Small farms are less profitable than larger farms, on average, and their operator households tend to rely on off-farm income for their livelihood. Generally speaking, farm operator households cannot be characterized as low-income when both farm and off-farm incomes are considered. Nevertheless, limited-resource farms still exist and account for 11 percent of family farms.