Who is an American farmer? Who counts in American agriculture?

Abstract

The most recent changes in the US Census of Agriculture (CoA) have caused substantial increases in the number of farmers. At the same time, by including lifestyle and residential operations, the CoA also obfuscates the degree of consolidation in the agricultural sector. The goal of this paper is to illustrate the issues associated with the current CoA classifications by outlining their historical trajectory since 1974, when the current definition of a farm was adopted. Though the characterization of a farm has remained the same for over half a century, the definition of operators and the farm sector as a whole have changed dramatically. To help understand the problems this has created, CoA data is juxtaposed with other agricultural statistics such as surveys of landowners and workers. This illuminates two issues. First, it shows the broad changes that have occurred in US agriculture, and the importance of actors beyond the farmer/operator in the sector. Second, it clarifies the need for consistent information that treats farming as an economic sector to aid the policy-making process and provide clear information to the public. The paper concludes with a range of proposals on how to improve the usefulness of agricultural statistics that include integration of existing data with targeted surveys that more holistically represent the reality of US agriculture today and consistently incorporate landowners and farm workers, and the creation of an independent statistical agency to more efficiently develop, manage and disseminate information about the US agricultural sector.