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Using USDA Census of Agriculture to Change Farm Management Education

Seth Wilner

Summary

An analysis of the past four USDA Censuses of Agriculture for New England, New York and Pennsylvania illuminated farm economic information that challenges us to consider changes to our farm management curriculum.

According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, 53-65% of New England farms had total gross revenues of less than $10,000. New York and Pennsylvania had 48% of their farms in this economic class. Further, just under 74% of New England farms had total sales of less than $25,000, with NY and PA at 63% and 62%, respectively. Rounding out this picture, 3.8% of New England farms accounted for 74.3% of sales.

An analysis of New Hampshire data found that these low-grossing farms did not move to higher economic classes above $25,000 at statistically significant levels.

Not only do the plurality of farms grow low gross revenues, the majority of all farms struggle with profitability. Over 70% of New England, 65% of NY farms and 52% of PA farms were net cash negative.

This presents a reality that common farm management curriculum does not account for, that most farms cannot appreciably contribute to family household income.

Further, it challenges agricultural service providers to augment our farm management curriculum for new and beginning farmers.

This interactive session will lead the attendees through structured discussions, utilizing their knowledge and experiences to identify primary topics, educational methods, and levels of complexity that best prepare lower grossing farm operations to achieve realistic business.

Details

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