Florida Agriculture Remains Strong

Randall Weiseman Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, Equine, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, General, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Peanuts, Poultry, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

Tallahassee, FL – The United States Department of Agriculture released today the preliminary results of the 2012 Census of Agriculture. The census, taken every five years, tracks the number of farmers, farms, farmland, value of agriculture products and the demographics of the farmers themselves. The census revealed Florida agriculture remains an economic engine and job creator in Florida, with an increase in farmers, farms and farmland since the 2007 census.

“Despite expected setbacks as a result of the effects of greening on citrus and the collapse of the housing market on nurseries, the census confirms agriculture’s place as a vital and enduring part of Florida’s economy,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “The census noted the number of farms in Florida holding steady at approximately 47,000, and the average age of farmers ticking slightly upward, while growing more diverse, ethnically.”

Highlights include:

• 9,548,342 acres of land in Florida farms, up from 9,231,570 in 2007;
• 47,740 farm operations in Florida, up from 47,463 in 2007;
• $161,368 is the average sales per farm, down from $164,027 in 2007;
• 200 acres is the average Florida farm size, up from 195 in 2007; and
• $7.70 billion in value of products sold, down from $7.78 billion in 2007.

The Census of Agriculture is the most accurate source of information related to national and state agriculture. The census provides a snapshot every five years of the farms, ranches and the farmers themselves that make up American agriculture. Detailed demographic data is collected, such as race, gender and age, is also collected.

To view the full preliminary results of the 2012 Census of Agriculture, visit http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/.