PPB February 2021

Farms: Then And Now • The number of U.S. farms peaked in 1935 at 6.8 million farms • In 2019, the U.S. was home to 2.02 million farms, down from 2.20 million in 2007 • In the early 1970s, the average farm size was 440 acres • In 2019, the average farm size increased slightly to 444 acres Source: USDA Economic Research Service A Look At Modern Farmers • About 11 percent of U.S. farmers are serving or have served in the military • Women comprise 36 percent of all U.S. farm operators • 56 percent of all farms have at least one female decision-maker • The number of farm operators of Spanish, Hispanic or Latino origin is higher than ever at more than 112,400 • The number of Black farm operators has increased to over 45,400 • One in four farmers are beginners in the business with less than 10 years’ experience Source: Farm Bureau Ag r i cu l t ur e The World’s Biggest Ranches Unlike a farm, where farmers grow crops and raise livestock for dairy products, a ranch uses the land to raise livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. These are reportedly the seven largest in the world in terms of number of acres. Tswalu Kalahari South Africa Land size: 200,000 acres Waggoner Ranch Texas Land size: 520,527 acres Vermejo Park Ranch Colorado and New Mexico Land size: 590,823 acres King Ranch South Texas Land size: 825,000 acres Anna Creek Station Australia Land size: 2 million acres Alexandria Station Australia Land size: 4 million acres Mudanjiang City Dairy Farm Heilongjiang, China Land size: 22.5 million acres Source: GrizzlyRose.com Top 10 Produce Crops In The United States 1. Corn 2. Cotton 3. Fruit 4. Tree nuts 5. Rice 6. Soybean and oil crops 7. Sugar and sweeteners 8. Vegetables 9. Pulses (beans, peas, legumes and peanuts) 10. Wheat Source: USDA Economic Research Service Delving Into The American Diet Every year, the average American eats about 2,000 pounds of food. Here’s how that breaks down: Food Pounds Dairy products (non-cheese) 600.5 Vegetables (non-corn) 415.4 Fruits 273.2 Beverage milks 181 Wheat flour 134.1 Red meat 110 Fats and oils 85.5 Poultry 73.6 Corn 56 Corn syrup 42 Eggs 32.7 Cheese 31.4 Coffee, cocoa and nuts 24 Fish and shellfish 16.1 Source: Visual Economics Eric Isselee / Shutterstock.com 46 | FEBRUARY 2021 | GROW