In your state

States that have lost the most farms since 2000

Written by:
Andrew Lisa
November 6, 2018
Flystock // Shutterstock

States that have lost the most farms since 2000

According to Farm Journal's AgWeb, between 1992–2012, the U.S. lost 31 million acres of farmland—about one-third of which is the richest in the country—due to the disproportionate effects urban expansion has on agricultural land. The report also revealed that 62% of all new residential and commercial development now occurs on farmland. Although 1992 signaled the beginning of the loss, much of the damage was done in the 21st century.

Using data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Stacker ranked all 50 states based on the number of farms each has lost since 2000. For each state, Stacker listed the number of farms and average acreage for 2000 and 2017 as well as the difference between the two over that time period. Read on to see where your state is ranked on the list and to learn more about the status of each state's farmland.

ALSO: Richest and poorest states in America

You may also like: States with the highest concentration of bridges

#51. Texas

Number of farms in 2000: 226,000
Number of farms in 2017: 240,000
Difference: +14,000

Average farm size in 2000: 575 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 540 acres
Difference: -35

#50. Arizona

Number of farms in 2000: 7,500
Number of farms in 2017: 19,600
Difference: +12,100

Average farm size in 2000: 3,560 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 1,321 acres
Difference: -2,239

#49. New Mexico

Number of farms in 2000: 15,200
Number of farms in 2017: 24,700
Difference: +9,500

Average farm size in 2000: 2,895 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 1,753 acres
Difference: -1,142

#48. Colorado

Number of farms in 2000: 29,000
Number of farms in 2017: 33,800
Difference: +4,800

Average farm size in 2000: 1,090 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 941 acres
Difference: -149

#47. Florida

Number of farms in 2000: 44,000
Number of farms in 2017: 47,000
Difference: +3,000

Average farm size in 2000: 234 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 201 acres
Difference: -33

You may also like: States with the most registered hunters

#46. Utah

Number of farms in 2000: 15,500
Number of farms in 2017: 18,200
Difference: +2,700

Average farm size in 2000: 748 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 604 acres
Difference: -144

#45. Wyoming

Number of farms in 2000: 9,200
Number of farms in 2017: 11,400
Difference: +2,200

Average farm size in 2000: 3,761 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 2,649 acres
Difference: -1,112

#44. Connecticut

Number of farms in 2000: 3,900
Number of farms in 2017: 6,000
Difference: +2,100

Average farm size in 2000: 92 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 73 acres
Difference: -19

#43. Massachusetts

Number of farms in 2000: 6,100
Number of farms in 2017: 7,800
Difference: +1,700

Average farm size in 2000: 93 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 67 acres
Difference: -26

#42. Maine

Number of farms in 2000: 6,800
Number of farms in 2017: 8,200
Difference: +1,400

Average farm size in 2000: 187 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 177 acres
Difference: -10

You may also like: States with the worst highways

#41. Hawaii

Number of farms in 2000: 5,700
Number of farms in 2017: 7,000
Difference: +1,300

Average farm size in 2000: 253 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 160 acres
Difference: -93

#40. New Hampshire

Number of farms in 2000: 3,100
Number of farms in 2017: 4,400
Difference: +1,300

Average farm size in 2000: 135 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 107 acres
Difference: -28

#39. Nevada

Number of farms in 2000: 3,000
Number of farms in 2017: 4,000
Difference: +1,000

Average farm size in 2000: 2,267 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 1,493 acres
Difference: -774

#38. Rhode Island

Number of farms in 2000: 700
Number of farms in 2017: 1,240
Difference: +540

Average farm size in 2000: 86 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 56 acres
Difference: -30

#37. Vermont

Number of farms in 2000: 6,800
Number of farms in 2017: 7,300
Difference: +500

Average farm size in 2000: 197 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 171 acres
Difference: -26

You may also like: States where road conditions are deteriorating fastest

#36. South Carolina

Number of farms in 2000: 24,000
Number of farms in 2017: 24,300
Difference: +300

Average farm size in 2000: 196 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 206 acres
Difference: +10

#35. Alaska

Number of farms in 2000: 580
Number of farms in 2017: 760
Difference: +180

Average farm size in 2000: 1,586 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 1,092 acres
Difference: -494

#34. Delaware

Number of farms in 2000: 2,600
Number of farms in 2017: 2,500
Difference: -100

Average farm size in 2000: 223 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 200 acres
Difference: -23

#33. West Virginia

Number of farms in 2000: 20,500
Number of farms in 2017: 20,400
Difference: -100

Average farm size in 2000: 176 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 176 acres
Difference: 0

#32. Idaho

Number of farms in 2000: 24,500
Number of farms in 2017: 24,300
Difference: -200

Average farm size in 2000: 486 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 490 acres
Difference: +4

You may also like: States with the most boat owners

#31. Maryland

Number of farms in 2000: 12,400
Number of farms in 2017: 12,200
Difference: -200

Average farm size in 2000: 169 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 166 acres
Difference: -3

#30. North Dakota

Number of farms in 2000: 30,300
Number of farms in 2017: 29,900
Difference: -400

Average farm size in 2000: 1,300 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 1,308 acres
Difference: +8

#29. Montana

Number of farms in 2000: 27,600
Number of farms in 2017: 27,100
Difference: -500

Average farm size in 2000: 2,054 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 2,207 acres
Difference: +153

#28. New Jersey

Number of farms in 2000: 9,600
Number of farms in 2017: 9,100
Difference: -500

Average farm size in 2000: 86 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 79 acres
Difference: -7

#27. Pennsylvania

Number of farms in 2000: 59,000
Number of farms in 2017: 58,000
Difference: -1,000

Average farm size in 2000: 131 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 132 acres
Difference: +1

You may also like: States with the most drunk driving fatalities

#26. Michigan

Number of farms in 2000: 52,000
Number of farms in 2017: 50,900
Difference: -1,100

Average farm size in 2000: 200 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 195 acres
Difference: -5

#25. South Dakota

Number of farms in 2000: 32,500
Number of farms in 2017: 31,000
Difference: -1,500

Average farm size in 2000: 1,354 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 1,397 acres
Difference: +43

#24. New York

Number of farms in 2000: 38,000
Number of farms in 2017: 35,500
Difference: -2,500

Average farm size in 2000: 203 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 203 acres
Difference: 0

#23. Louisiana

Number of farms in 2000: 29,500
Number of farms in 2017: 26,500
Difference: -3,000

Average farm size in 2000: 275 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 291 acres
Difference: +16

#22. Alabama

Number of farms in 2000: 47,000
Number of farms in 2017: 43,600
Difference: -3,400

Average farm size in 2000: 191 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 204 acres
Difference: +13

#21. Washington

Number of farms in 2000: 40,000
Number of farms in 2017: 35,700
Difference: -4,300

Average farm size in 2000: 393 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 412 acres
Difference: +19

#20. Kansas

Number of farms in 2000: 64,000
Number of farms in 2017: 59,600
Difference: -4,400

Average farm size in 2000: 742 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 770 acres
Difference: +28

#19. Virginia

Number of farms in 2000: 49,000
Number of farms in 2017: 44,300
Difference: -4,700

Average farm size in 2000: 178 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 183 acres
Difference: +5

#18. Arkansas

Number of farms in 2000: 48,000
Number of farms in 2017: 42,300
Difference: -5,700

Average farm size in 2000: 304 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 322 acres
Difference: +18

#17. Minnesota

Number of farms in 2000: 79,000
Number of farms in 2017: 73,200
Difference: -5,800

Average farm size in 2000: 362 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 354 acres
Difference: -8

#16. Oregon

Number of farms in 2000: 40,000
Number of farms in 2017: 34,200
Difference: -5,800

Average farm size in 2000: 430 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 477 acres
Difference: +47

#15. Ohio

Number of farms in 2000: 80,000
Number of farms in 2017: 73,600
Difference: -6,400

Average farm size in 2000: 186 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 190 acres
Difference: +4

#14. Nebraska

Number of farms in 2000: 54,000
Number of farms in 2017: 47,400
Difference: -6,600

Average farm size in 2000: 859 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 954 acres
Difference: +95

#13. Illinois

Number of farms in 2000: 78,000
Number of farms in 2017: 71,000
Difference: -7,000

Average farm size in 2000: 355 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 375 acres
Difference: +20

#12. Indiana

Number of farms in 2000: 64,000
Number of farms in 2017: 56,800
Difference: -7,200

Average farm size in 2000: 242 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 259 acres
Difference: +17

#11. Mississippi

Number of farms in 2000: 43,000
Number of farms in 2017: 35,800
Difference: -7,200

Average farm size in 2000: 258 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 299 acres
Difference: +41

#10. Oklahoma

Number of farms in 2000: 85,000
Number of farms in 2017: 77,200
Difference: -7,800

Average farm size in 2000: 400 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 440 acres
Difference: +40

#9. Iowa

Number of farms in 2000: 95,000
Number of farms in 2017: 86,900
Difference: -8,100

Average farm size in 2000: 345 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 351 acres
Difference: +6

#8. Wisconsin

Number of farms in 2000: 77,000
Number of farms in 2017: 68,500
Difference: -8,500

Average farm size in 2000: 210 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 209 acres
Difference: -1

#7. Georgia

Number of farms in 2000: 50,000
Number of farms in 2017: 40,900
Difference: -9,100

Average farm size in 2000: 222 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 227 acres
Difference: +5

#6. North Carolina

Number of farms in 2000: 57,000
Number of farms in 2017: 47,800
Difference: -9,200

Average farm size in 2000: 161 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 169 acres
Difference: +8

#5. California

Number of farms in 2000: 87,500
Number of farms in 2017: 77,100
Difference: -10,400

Average farm size in 2000: 318 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 328 acres
Difference: +10

#4. Missouri

Number of farms in 2000: 109,000
Number of farms in 2017: 97,300
Difference: -11,700

Average farm size in 2000: 275 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 293 acres
Difference: +18

#3. Kentucky

Number of farms in 2000: 90,000
Number of farms in 2017: 75,800
Difference: -14,200

Average farm size in 2000: 151 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 169 acres
Difference: +18

#2. Tennessee

Number of farms in 2000: 90,000
Number of farms in 2017: 65,900
Difference: -24,100

Average farm size in 2000: 130 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 164 acres
Difference: +34

#1. Total United States

Number of farms in 2000: 2,172,080
Number of farms in 2017: 2,048,000
Difference: -124,080

Average farm size in 2000: 434 acres
Average farm size in 2017: 444 acres
Difference: +10

Trending Now