Agriculture makes up only about 1% of the U.S. workforce by profession.

According to the USDA NASS 2017 Census of Agriculture – the average American farmer is 58 years old. And that average has been rising. In fact, farming is the oldest profession in America.

Only about 10% of American farmers are under 35. For every 4 farmers over 40, there is only 1 farmer under 40.

Of the 2.1 million farms in the United States in 2012:

• 97% were family owned operations,
• 88% were small family farms with less than $350,000 in gross cash farm income,
• 9% were mid-size and large family farms.

Small farms account for:

• 48% of all farmland operated
• 47% of the value of farm real estate (land and buildings), 20% of agriculture sales, and earned 5% of the country’s net farm income.

Average farm debt is over $1.3 million and bankruptcies are on the rise.

Over 50% of small farmers have an additional occupation to make ends meet.

https://wolfstreet.com/2019/08/31/my-dream-is-to-become-a-farmer-ha/