At a time when Americans are increasingly questioning where their food comes from, new U-S-D-A data reveals family farms still power most of U.S. agriculture.
A new analysis from Farm Flavor maps out the state of family-owned farms across the country using the latest USDA data. Researchers calculated the share of farms in each state that meet the USDA’s definition of a family farm—where the majority of the business is owned by the principal operator and their relatives—and examined the market value of agricultural products sold.
Illinois is home to more than 66-thousand family-owned farms, which collectively generate over $25 billion of the nation’s nearly $600 billion dollars in total agricultural output each year.
93 percent of all Illinois farms are family-owned—ranking Illinois 39th in the U.S. in family-owned farm share.
To view the full report, which covers all 50 states, click here.
