USDA: 10 Percent of Farmland to be Transferred by 2019

Newly released numbers from the USDA show nearly one third of principal farm operators were at least 65 years or older, compared to 12 percent of self-employed workers in businesses unrelated to agriculture. The average age of a farmer is 58-years-old.

Pastureland in South East Iowa
Pastureland in South East Iowa
(Christopher Walljasper)

Newly released numbers from the USDA show nearly one third of principal farm operators were at least 65 years or older, compared to 12 percent of self-employed workers in businesses unrelated to agriculture. The average age of a farmer is 58-years-old.

Between 2015 and 2019, the USDA is predicting 93 million acres will be transferred, or roughly 10 percent of all farmland.

Of that land, more than half is expected to be transferred through wills, gifts and trusts.

AgWeb-Logo crop
Related Stories
NASS says incorrect acreage weights for irrigated and nonirrigated fields affected September corn yield estimates for Kansas, Nebraska and the U.S. The agency’s October forecast remains unchanged.
Payments to cover in-field fuel costs expected by year’s end as farm aid tops the 2020 pandemic-era record of $45 billion
NASS identified a processing error affecting September corn data for Kansas, Nebraska and national figures. The agency says its October forecast of 181.2 bu. per acre remains unchanged, leaving questions about the yield jump.
Read Next
After more than a decade of field trials, Eric Miller has found that the highest corn yields don’t necessarily maximize ROI. His work offers insights for other growers looking to improve nutrient efficiencies and protect margins.
Get News Daily
Get Market Alerts
Get News & Markets App