Characteristics of Large-Scale Farms, 1987

The total number of farms in the United States declined during 1982-87, continuing a long-term trend toward fewer farms. Large-scale farms (farms with annual product sales of $500,000 or more) increased during the period, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of all farms. Although only a small fraction of all farms, large-scale farms increased their share of land in farms from 10.5 percent in 1982 to 13.0 percent in 1987 and their share of farm product sales from 32.4 percent to 38.2 percent. This report uses 1987 (the most recent data available) and earlier Census of Agriculture data to summarize the major structural and financial characteristics of large-scale farms. The report looks at how these farms are organized and their resource base and financial situation in relation to farms in general.