From the staggering billions of bushels of corn and soybeans blanketing the heartland to the billions of pounds of meat and milk fueling the nation, the sheer scale of American agriculture in 2022 tells a story of monumental output, complex challenges, and resilient innovation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, U.S. corn production reached 13.705 billion bushels from 90.5 million harvested acres with a record average yield of 177.3 bushels per acre.
- U.S. soybean production in 2022 was 4.256 billion bushels from 83.8 million harvested acres averaging 50.8 bushels per acre.
- Wheat production for all types in the U.S. during 2022 totaled 1.979 billion bushels from 38.4 million acres with an average yield of 51.5 bushels per acre.
- On January 1, 2023, the U.S. cattle inventory totaled 91.8 million head, down 2% from previous year.
- All sheep and lambs inventory on January 1, 2023, was 5.09 million head, down 3% from 2022.
- U.S. hog inventory on December 1, 2022, totaled 75.3 million head, up 2% from prior year.
- U.S. net farm income for 2022 projected at $160.7 billion, up 13.8% from 2021.
- Total U.S. farm cash receipts in 2022 reached $222.3 billion, up 15% from 2021.
- Crop receipts in 2022 were $142.9 billion, accounting for 64% of total cash receipts.
- U.S. total farmland acres in 2022 were 893 million, down 2% since 2017 Census.
- Cropland acres totaled 392 million in 2022, representing 44% of total farmland.
- Pastureland acres in 2022 were 393 million, 44% of U.S. farmland.
- Number of U.S. farm operators in 2022 was 2.90 million, with 36% women.
- Hired farm labor averaged 1.2 million workers monthly in 2022 peak season.
- Farmworkers wages averaged $15.50 per hour in 2022, up 6%.
Despite rising costs, 2022 was a year of strong production and income for U.S. agriculture.
Crop Production
- In 2022, U.S. corn production reached 13.705 billion bushels from 90.5 million harvested acres with a record average yield of 177.3 bushels per acre.
- U.S. soybean production in 2022 was 4.256 billion bushels from 83.8 million harvested acres averaging 50.8 bushels per acre.
- Wheat production for all types in the U.S. during 2022 totaled 1.979 billion bushels from 38.4 million acres with an average yield of 51.5 bushels per acre.
- U.S. cotton production in 2022 was 15.55 million bales (480-lb) from 9.5 million upland acres harvested at 807 pounds per acre.
- Rice production in the U.S. for 2022 reached 231.6 million cwt from 2.43 million acres with an average yield of 39.6 cwt per acre.
- U.S. sorghum grain production in 2022 was 404.2 million bushels from 5.79 million harvested acres averaging 69.8 bushels per acre.
- All hay production including alfalfa in 2022 totaled 125.3 million tons from 53.8 million acres with an average yield of 2.33 tons per acre.
- U.S. potato production in 2022 was 433.1 million cwt from 1.06 million acres averaging 408 cwt per acre.
- Sugarbeets production in 2022 reached 35.0 million tons from 1.13 million acres with a yield of 31.0 tons per acre.
- U.S. peanuts production in 2022 was 5.85 billion pounds from 1.42 million acres harvested at 4,118 pounds per acre.
- Dry beans production in 2022 totaled 27.0 million cwt from 1.51 million acres with an average yield of 179 cwt per acre.
- U.S. apples production in 2022 was 1,169 million bushels (42-lb cartons equivalent) primarily from Washington state.
- Oranges production in 2022 for all varieties was 74.2 million boxes (90-lb equivalent) from Florida, California, and Texas.
- U.S. grapes production in 2022 reached 6.8 million tons from 989,000 bearing acres.
- Strawberries fresh production in 2022 was 1.35 million tons from 62,000 acres harvested.
- U.S. tomatoes for fresh market in 2022 produced 1.88 million tons from 68,000 acres.
- Almonds production in 2022 was 2.09 billion pounds (kernel weight) from 1.69 million bearing acres in California.
- Walnuts production in 2022 totaled 707,000 tons from 355,000 bearing acres.
- U.S. sunflowers for oil production in 2022 was 1.32 million pounds from 1.10 million acres at 1,200 pounds per acre.
- Oats production in 2022 reached 61.0 million bushels from 1.15 million harvested acres averaging 53.1 bushels per acre.
- Barley production in 2022 was 193.8 million bushels from 3.05 million acres with 63.5 bushels per acre yield.
- U.S. canola production in 2022 totaled 4.28 million metric tons from 2.8 million acres.
- Dry peas production in 2022 was 13.5 million cwt from 764,000 acres averaging 17.7 cwt per acre.
- U.S. sweet corn for fresh market in 2022 produced 14.8 million cwt from 158,000 acres.
- Pecans production in 2022 reached 306 million pounds from improved varieties in key states.
- U.S. cranberries production in 2022 was 600 million pounds from 44,000 acres in major states.
- Blueberries production in 2022 totaled 859 million pounds from 117,000 acres nationwide.
- U.S. lettuce production for fresh market in 2022 was 3.44 million tons from 256,000 acres.
- Onions production in 2022 reached 7.51 million cwt from 143,000 acres harvested.
- U.S. carrots production in 2022 was 1.45 million tons from 21,000 acres.
Crop Production Interpretation
While American farmers are busy proving they can feed the world from coast to coast, it seems Mother Nature, with a record-breaking assist from science and sweat, finally agreed to show up for the math test.
Employment
- Number of U.S. farm operators in 2022 was 2.90 million, with 36% women.
- Hired farm labor averaged 1.2 million workers monthly in 2022 peak season.
- Farmworkers wages averaged $15.50 per hour in 2022, up 6%.
- U.S. farms reporting hired labor numbered 558,000 in 2022 Census.
- Total farm payroll in 2022 was $45.5 billion for hired workers.
- Beginning farmers (10 years or less) operated 31% of farms in 2022.
- Average age of principal farm operators was 57.5 years in 2022.
- Women principal operators totaled 1.04 million in 2022, 56% increase since 2017.
- Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino operators numbered 460,557 in 2022.
- American Indian/Alaska Native operators 43,874 in 2022 Census.
- Asian operators totaled 29,812 in 2022.
- Black/African American operators 35,758 in 2022.
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander operators 2,237 in 2022.
- Multiple race operators 48,458 in 2022 Census.
- Family farms accounted for 94% of U.S. farms and 87% of production in 2022.
- Unpaid family labor on farms totaled 1.5 million workers equivalent in 2022.
- Migrant farmworkers estimated at 150,000-200,000 annually in crop sectors.
- H-2A visas issued for temporary ag workers reached 298,000 in FY2022.
- Farms with 10+ hired workers numbered 74,000 in 2022 Census.
- Contract labor used by 21% of crop farms in 2022.
- Average farm employment per farm was 2.3 workers in 2022.
- Principal operator primary occupation farming on 86.5% of farms in 2022.
- U.S. agricultural exports in FY2022 totaled $196 billion, up 5.3% from prior year.
- Soybean exports FY2022 were $28.6 billion, largest single commodity.
- Corn exports reached $18.6 billion in FY2022.
- Beef and veal exports $11.1 billion in FY2022.
- Tree nuts exports $8.5 billion, led by almonds.
Employment Interpretation
The American farm is still overwhelmingly a family business run by someone of AARP age, but with a younger, more diverse cast of unpaid relatives, hired hands, and visa workers now propping up its increasingly expensive and globally-traded cornucopia.
Farm Economics
- U.S. net farm income for 2022 projected at $160.7 billion, up 13.8% from 2021.
- Total U.S. farm cash receipts in 2022 reached $222.3 billion, up 15% from 2021.
- Crop receipts in 2022 were $142.9 billion, accounting for 64% of total cash receipts.
- Livestock receipts in 2022 totaled $79.4 billion, up 13% year-over-year.
- U.S. farm production expenses in 2022 rose to $199.2 billion, up 13.3% from 2021.
- Fertilizer expenses for U.S. farms in 2022 increased 28% to $25.4 billion.
- Farm debt outstanding at end of 2022 was $535.8 billion, up 4.9% from prior year.
- Average farm real estate debt per farm in 2022 was $1.1 million.
- U.S. farms with sales over $1 million increased to 12% of total farms in 2022.
- Government farm payments in 2022 totaled $14.2 billion, down from COVID-era peaks.
- Net cash farm income forecast for 2023 at $152.6 billion, down 7% from 2022.
- U.S. farmland value per acre averaged $3,800 in 2022, up 7.4% from 2021.
- Farm household median income in 2021 was $92,239, 18% above U.S. median.
- Total farm assets in 2022 reached $3.8 trillion, with debt-to-asset ratio at 13.4%.
- Seed and feed expenses rose 12% to $28.1 billion in 2022.
- Labor expenses on U.S. farms in 2022 increased 14.6% to $17.9 billion.
- Interest expenses for farms jumped 22% to $14.2 billion in 2022.
- U.S. farm sector equity grew 4.6% to $3.27 trillion in 2022.
- Rented farmland acres accounted for 37% of total cropland in 2022.
- Average cash rent for irrigated cropland was $236 per acre in 2022.
- Non-operator landlords owned 40% of U.S. farmland in 2022.
Farm Economics Interpretation
American farms had a seemingly banner year in 2022, but the celebration is muted by the sobering reality that soaring costs and debt are consuming those record receipts faster than a combine through a wheat field.
Land Use
- U.S. total farmland acres in 2022 were 893 million, down 2% since 2017 Census.
- Cropland acres totaled 392 million in 2022, representing 44% of total farmland.
- Pastureland acres in 2022 were 393 million, 44% of U.S. farmland.
- Woodland acres on farms totaled 72.6 million in 2022.
- Irrigated acres in U.S. reached 58 million in 2017 Census, with updates showing growth to 58.5 million by 2022.
- Corn planted acres in 2022 were 89.8 million, harvested 90.5 million.
- Soybean planted acres 2022 totaled 84.6 million, harvested 83.8 million.
- Principal crop total acres harvested 2022 were 322 million.
- Grassland pasture and range acres idle totaled 15.9 million in 2022.
- U.S. cropland used for pasture increased to 39.9 million acres in 2022.
- CRP acres enrolled peaked at 39 million but declined to 23.5 million by 2022.
- Total irrigated cropland acres 58.2 million in 2022 estimates.
- Corn silage acres harvested 2022 were 14.8 million.
- Alfalfa hay acres 2022 totaled 16.9 million harvested.
- Wheat planted acres 2022 were 45.6 million, harvested 38.4 million.
- Cotton planted acres 2022 12.4 million, harvested 9.5 million upland.
- Rice planted acres 2022 2.54 million, harvested 2.43 million.
- Farmland in farms declined from 919 million acres in 2017 to 893 million in 2022.
- Permanent pasture acres 2022 totaled 348 million.
- Other pasture acres 45.2 million in 2022.
- Total U.S. farms numbered 1.90 million in 2022 Census, down 6.3% from 2017.
Land Use Interpretation
America’s farms are losing ground, but not ambition, with every shrinking acre of cropland meticulously squeezed for more corn and beans while pastureland stubbornly holds its own, proving that even as the dirt disappears, the drive to feed a nation remains undiminished.
Livestock Production
- On January 1, 2023, the U.S. cattle inventory totaled 91.8 million head, down 2% from previous year.
- All sheep and lambs inventory on January 1, 2023, was 5.09 million head, down 3% from 2022.
- U.S. hog inventory on December 1, 2022, totaled 75.3 million head, up 2% from prior year.
- Milk production in November 2022 was 19.3 billion pounds, up 1.7% from November 2021.
- U.S. chicken egg production in 2022 totaled 9.25 billion dozen, up 1% from 2021.
- Red meat production in 2022 reached 27.0 billion pounds, down slightly from 2021 record.
- Beef production for 2022 was 27.0 billion pounds, with steer and heifer slaughter dominant.
- U.S. pork production in 2022 totaled 27.5 billion pounds, up 3% from previous year.
- Broiler production in 2022 was 61.5 billion pounds ready-to-cook weight.
- U.S. turkey production in 2022 reached 5.1 billion pounds, down 3% from 2021.
- Lamb and mutton production in 2022 was 141 million pounds, down 5% year-over-year.
- U.S. cattle on feed January 1, 2023, numbered 14.3 million head, up 1% from December.
- Hogs and pigs inventory for December 2022 included 71.4 million head on farms.
- U.S. goat inventory on January 1, 2023, was 2.52 million head, stable from prior year.
- Commercial red meat production November 2022 was 2.45 billion pounds, up 2.5%.
- U.S. veal production in 2022 totaled 76 million pounds, down from previous years.
- Breeding sheep and lambs on Jan 1, 2023, were 3.88 million head, down 3%.
- Market hogs ready for slaughter Dec 2022 averaged 280.8 pounds liveweight.
- U.S. layers inventory Dec 1, 2022, was 352 million hens, up 1% from Nov.
- Pullets to be used as layers Dec 2022 numbered 25.4 million.
- U.S. beef cows inventory Jan 1, 2023, 28.2 million head, down 3%.
- Milk cows on farms Jan 1, 2023, totaled 9.37 million head.
- All cattle and calves inventory Jan 1, 2023, 91.8 million, with calves under 500 lbs at 32.8 million.
- U.S. commercial broiler hatchery chicks Dec 2022 placed 775 million.
- Turkey poults hatched Dec 2022 totaled 16.6 million.
Livestock Production Interpretation
Amidst the shifting tides of American agriculture, it appears the cows and sheep are staging a quiet retreat while the pigs and chickens, undeterred, are doubling down and laying in supplies for a siege.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NASSnass.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 2USDAusda.library.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 3ERSers.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 4FEDERALRESERVEfederalreserve.govVisit source
- Reference 5NATIONALAGLAWCENTERnationalaglawcenter.orgVisit source
- Reference 6FSAfsa.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 7USGSusgs.govVisit source
- Reference 8DOLdol.govVisit source
- Reference 9BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 10FASfas.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 11APPSapps.fas.usda.govVisit source