2002 CENSUS OF CENSUS OFAGRICULTURE U.S. Department of Agriculture Presented by: Linda Hutton, Chief Environmental, Economics, and Demographics How does Alabama Agriculture Compare to the U.S. & Other States ? Third Annual Butler/Cunningham Conference November 8-9, 2004 Montgomery, Alabama

- provides the most comprehensive source of statistics portraying our Nation’s agriculture - is the only source of uniform agricultural data for every county in the U.S. - provides a complete statistical picture of U.S. farms and ranches every five years The Census of Agriculture 2002 CENSUS OF CENSUS OFAGRICULTURE

Benefits from the Census 2002 CENSUS OF CENSUS OFAGRICULTURE Data supplied by farmers and ranchers help the ag community make informed decisions concerning: -Farming trends -Structure and needs of farms of various sizes and specialties -Irrigation and other practices -Improving farming efficiencies -Environmental and conservation issues

Some New Information Collected Includes - - Multiple operators (up to 3 operators) - Acres used to grow certified organic commodities - Acres treated with animal manure - Grain storage capacity - Bison, deer, elk, llamas, emus, & ostrich inventory - More detailed farm-related income - Computer/Internet use 2002 CENSUS OF CENSUS OFAGRICULTURE

27.4%

197 ac

$335,217

Less than $2,500 $2,500 to $9,999 $10,000 to $24,999 $25,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $99,999 $100,000 to $499,999 $500,000 or more Percent of Farms U.S. Distribution of Farms by Market Value of Sales: 2002 Percent of Market Value of Sales

% farms produce 2.4% value 21.4% farms produce 13.8% value 7.5% farms produce 83.9% Alabama:

Source: 1999 Agricultural Economics and Land Ownership Survey United States

21.4%

Alabama’s Animal Agriculture is Larger Than its Crop Production 82% 18% 53% 47%

1.4 mil inv.

While over 80% of Alabama’s value of sales is from animal production, cotton, corn, peanuts, and soybeans are the major crop commodities.

523,123 ac

176,122 ac.

176,395 ac.

164,771 ac.

Demographic Data: 2002 Census Tenure of principal operator Full owner Part owner Tenants AlabamaU.S Farms with one operator Farms with more than one Percent Women Principal Operators.. farms acres 4, , , mil

472,332 ac

You Make It Known – AGRICULTURE COUNTS CENSUS OF CENSUS OFAGRICULTURE 2002 x 7

Thank you