NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The Land of Enchantment has a long history of agriculture, but the latest numbers from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggest agricultural consolidation. And the numbers show similar trends across the country.
USDA recently released the results of the 2022 Agricultural Census. The data comes from millions of farms across the United States and is collected every five years.
“Agricultural Census data tells a story,” Hubert Hamer, administrator of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, said in a press release. “This comprehensive five-year snapshot enables data users to see long-term trends and changes in the industry, while also helping growers with their businesses.”
There are just under 21,000 farms in New Mexico, according to the latest data. This is a 16% decrease from the previous agricultural census in 2017. The total acres of land devoted to agriculture and related activities also decreased by approximately 1.5 million acres.
The average size of farms in New Mexico also decreased slightly. But the average value per farm increased from less than $1 million to more than $1.5 million, according to the data.
The total number of farms and ranches across the United States decreased by 7%. There are currently approximately 1.9 million farms and ranches in the United States, but the average size per farm has increased slightly, and so has the total amount of agricultural products produced by those farms.
The latest data shows the number of small farms in New Mexico is declining. In 2017, there were 8,554 farms in the state that were 10 acres or less. As of 2022, there were 6,934 farms of the same size in the state. The number of large farms in New Mexico also declined overall.
Although the number of farms is decreasing, New Mexico’s total farm-related income is increasing. Average income per farm increased from $19,449 to $30,795.
