5 5 farmfacts
TRANSCRIPT
Farm Facts
Farming is still a Family affair
• Today, 99% of U.S. farms are owned by individuals, family partnerships or corporations with fewer than ten stockholders. Only .4% of farms are owned by non-family corporations
Farm Populations
• The farm population in the U.S. has declined from 22 million in 1880 to less than 5 million today
Farm Populations
• The farm population in the U.S. has declined from 22 million in 1880 to less than 5 million today
• The number of farms peaked at 6.8 million in 1935 and is down to 1.9 million farms today
What one acre of land can produce...
•Lettuce
What one acre of land can produce...
•Lettuce• 24,000 pounds per
acre, worth over $5900
What one acre of land can produce...
• Strawberries
What one acre of land can produce...
• Strawberries 45,500 pounds per
acre, worth over $21,000
What one acre of land can produce...
•Potatoes
What one acre of land can produce...
•Potatoes• 36,000 pounds per
acre, worth over $4,400
What one acre of land can produce...
• Apples
What one acre of land can produce...
• Apples• 35,000 lbs per
acre, worth over $17,400
What one acre of land can produce...
• Sweet Corn
What one acre of land can produce...
• Sweet Corn• 1,328 pounds per
acre, worth $872
How farming has changed...
• In 1850, about 90 hours of labor were required to raise 100 bushels of corn. Yields were about 40 bushels per acre.
How farming has changed...
• By 1900, the amount of labor to produce 100 bushels of corn was down to about 35 hours. The yield per acre had not changed.
How farming has changed...
• By 1950 commercial fertilizers and tractors pushed yields to about 50 bushels per acre. About 14 hours of labor were required to produce 100 bushels of corn.
How farming has changed...
• Today, only 2.5 hours of labor are needed to produce 100 bushels of corn. Yields are routinely over 200 bushels per acre.
Number of People fed by One Farmer
19
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1940
Number of People fed by One Farmer
1927
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1940 1950
Number of People fed by One Farmer
1927
46
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1940 1950 1960
Number of People fed by One Farmer
1927
46
73
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1940 1950 1960 1970
Number of People fed by One Farmer
1927
46
73
115
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980
Number of People fed by One Farmer
1927
46
73
115129
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 today
Farm Sales & Income
Meat Animals
$51 billion
Meat Animals
$51 billion
Feed Crops
$19 billion
Meat Animals
$51 billion
Feed Crops
$19 billionDairy
Products
$19 billion
Meat Animals
$51 billion
Feed Crops
$19 billionDairy
Products
$19 billion
Poultry & Eggs
$17 billion
Meat Animals
$51 billion
Feed Crops
$19 billionDairy
Products
$19 billion
Poultry & Eggs
$17 billion
Oil bearing crops
$13 billion
Meat Animals
$51 billion
Feed Crops
$19 billionDairy
Products
$19 billion
Poultry & Eggs
$17 billion
Oil bearing crops
$13 billionVegetables &
Melons
$12 billion
Meat Animals
$51 billion
Feed Crops
$19 billionDairy
Products
$19 billion
Poultry & Eggs
$17 billion
Oil bearing crops
$13 billionVegetables &
Melons
$12 billion
Cotton
$5 billion
Meat Animals
$51 billion
Feed Crops
$19 billionDairy
Products
$19 billion
Poultry & Eggs
$17 billion
Oil bearing crops
$13 billionVegetables &
Melons
$12 billion
Cotton
$5 billion
Tobacco
$3 billion
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Wheat - $4.7 billion
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Tobacco –
$1.3 billion
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Corn - $4.2 billion
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Hides & Skins - $1.3 billion
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Vegetables - #3.3 billion
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Soybeans - $4.6 billion
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Fruit & Nuts - $4.0 billion
Top U.S. Farm Exports
Meat & Poultry - $4.4 Billion
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Corn
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Corn• Plastic
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Corn• Plastic
• Cooking Oil
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Corn• Plastic
• Cooking Oil
• Diapers
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Corn• Plastic
• Cooking Oil
• Diapers
• Packing Material
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Soybeans
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Soybeans• Ink
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Soybeans• Ink
• Paint
Farming is more than just food..Some non-food products made from farm commodities
Soybeans• Ink
• Paint
• feed
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Red Meat – 112 pounds
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Red Meat – 112 pounds
• Fresh vegetables – 113 pounds
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Red Meat – 112 pounds
• Fresh vegetables – 113 pounds
• Fresh fruits – 124 pounds
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Red Meat – 112 pounds
• Fresh vegetables – 113 pounds
• Fresh fruits – 124 pounds
• Cheese – 26 pounds
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Red Meat – 112 pounds
• Fresh vegetables – 113 pounds
• Fresh fruits – 124 pounds
• Cheese – 26 pounds• 234 eggs
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Beverage milk – 214 pounds
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Beverage milk – 214 pounds
• Rice – 18 pounds
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Beverage milk – 214 pounds
• Rice – 18 pounds• Fats & oils – 65
pounds
What’s On America’s Dinner Table?Annual Per Capita Consumption of Major Food Commodities
• Beverage milk – 214 pounds
• Rice – 18 pounds• Fats & oils – 65
pounds• Flour & cereal – 189
pounds