census of agriculture

The 2022 Census of Agriculture, conducted by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), collected more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. This included information on organic agriculture like producer characteristics (15% were under the age of 35, for example), farm specialization and top states and counties.

Vast flatland, fertile soil and endless prairie make up USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Northern Plains Region, which is comprised of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, this region is known for its cattle and calf sales, crop sales — in particular grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas, with each ranking top 10 in the nation — and being near the top in the nation for number of young producers (producers under the age of 35).

The Southern Region of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, is home to nearly 144,000 farming operations that produce a variety of commodities. Agriculture is deeply rooted in the region and has shaped it into an area known for its warm hospitality and delicious comfort food. What better embodies Southern hospitality than a freshly baked slice of pie?

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Great Lakes Region encompasses Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio – three states with a significant impact on U.S. agriculture and a healthy crop of young producers.

Oklahoma and Texas form one of the nation’s most abundant agricultural regions. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, these two states accounted for 8% of total U.S. agricultural sales. The market value of agricultural products from Texas came to $32.2 billion, 6% of U.S. agricultural sales. In Oklahoma, the market value of agricultural sales reached $8.5 billion, 2% of total U.S. agricultural sales.

From the big skies of Montana to the peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the white sand deserts of New Mexico, the diverse terrain of the Mountain Region presents unique challenges and great opportunities for the region’s 125,938 farms covering a vast 191.7 million acres of land.

Did you know, the United States is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of corn in the world? In 2022, corn and soybeans accounted for more than half of the U.S. crop cash receipts—totaling $148.5 billion. This is in no small part thanks to the Heartland Region states of Illinois and Missouri.

When people think about Wisconsin agriculture, they immediately think of Wisconsin as a leader in dairy farms and cheese production. As of December 31, 2022, Wisconsin had 6,216 dairy farms, and in 2022 Wisconsin produced just over 5.2 billion pounds of cheese.

Natural beauty, vibrant cities and diverse ecosystems make up USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Northwest Region, which includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. With its temperate northern climate, it’s no surprise that the region is diverse in crops and livestock. With the 2022 Census of Agriculture, we discovered more about these agricultural treasures in the Northwest Region.

Now that the 2022 Census of Agriculture data are available, we can take a closer look at updated agricultural statistics in U.S. regions, states and counties.