Structural and Financial Characteristics of U.S. Farms: 2004 Family Farm Report

by David Banker and James M. MacDonald

This report presents comprehensive information on family and nonfamily farms and important trends in farming, operator household income, farm performance, and contracting. Most farms are family farms. Even the largest farms tend to be family farms. Small family farms account for most of the farms in the U.S. but produce a modest share of farm output. Average farm household income has been at or above the average for all U.S. households in recent years, with farm households receiving most of their income from off-farm sources.

Keywords: Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), family farms, farm businesses, farm financial performance, farm operator household income, farm operators, farm structure, farm typology, women farm operators, spouses of farm operators, small farms

In this publication...

• Entire Report
• Abstract and Contents
• Summary
• Introduction
• Large and Small Farms: Trends and Characteristics
• Farm Household Income, Farm Structure, and Off-Farm Work
• Characteristics of Top-Performing Farms
• Farm Size, Efficiency, and Off-Farm Work
• Agricultural Use of Production and Marketing Contracts
• Women Farmers in Transition
• References
• Appendices