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Sarah Hoffman (202) 720-0684
Deborah Norton (202) 690-8124
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Census Reveals Two-Thirds of Black or African American Principal Operators Own Their Farm
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2005 - According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, land ownership is high among Black or African American principal operators. Two-thirds of all Black or African American principal operators are full owners of the farms they operate. Ninety-one percent of Black or African American principal operators own at least a portion of the land they operate. Black or African American operators represent 1.4 percent of all principal farm operators in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), released the 2002 Census of Agriculture results in June. Conducted every five years, the census of agriculture is the only source of consistent, comparable and detailed data for every county in America. Organizations that support programs benefiting small farms such as State Departments of Agriculture, National and State agricultural advocacy groups, credit unions, 1890 Land-Grant Universities, and cooperative organizations, all use census of agriculture data to best meet the needs of Black or African American farmers and ranchers.
"The 2002 Census of Agriculture is an excellent resource for understanding the facts on minority farmers and ranchers in the U.S.," said Ron Bosecker, NASS Administrator. "New methodology used for the 2002 Census of Agriculture has greatly improved representation of small and minority operated farms and ranches compared to prior censuses. This improved methodology allows for a truly representative picture of the agriculture and farming population in each State and county."
In 2002, the number of Black or African American principal operators counted increased to 29,090, up 8.6 percent from 26,785 in 1997. The average age of Black or African American principal operators was 59.4 years, 4 years older than the U.S. average of 55.3 years for all principal operators. Among Black or African American principal operators, 56 percent listed farming as their primary occupation. Almost all Black or African American farms (95 percent) are operated by a family or individual.
In addition to the principal operator, information was gathered on up to two additional operators for the first time in the 2002 Census of Agriculture. When three operators per farm could be reported, a total of 30,605 farms in the U.S. had Black or African American operators in 2002. More than half of those farms were located in five states: Texas with 20 percent; Mississippi with 17 percent; Alabama with 8 percent; Georgia with 7 percent; and South Carolina with 6 percent. The farm land operated by Black or African American operators totaled over 3.8 million acres with more than half of those acres located in the same five states.
Black or African American farms averaged 115 acres with 97 percent of Black or African American principal operators farming less than 500 acres. When it comes to farm types, 52 percent of farms with Black or African American principal operators were beef cattle ranching and farming operations. Significant other types of farming reported included: oilseed and grain farming, vegetable and melon farming, and tobacco farming. In 2002, Black or African American farmers sold nearly $507 million in agricultural products.
Census results are available for free on the NASS Web site at www.nass.usda.gov or may be purchased by calling 1-800-727-9540. NASS collects and provides a vast array of production, economic, demographic and environmental facts about U. S. agriculture through regularly scheduled weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports. |
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