LUBBOCK, TX – A new USDA Economic Research Service report finds that nonfamily farms operate significantly more land than family-owned operations. From 2018 through 2022, small nonfamily farms averaged 697 acres compared to just 220 acres for small family farms.
Among larger farms, nonfamily operators with over $1 million in gross cash income managed nearly 5,000 acres on average, while large-scale family farms averaged about 3,200 acres. The ERS defines nonfamily farms as operations where the majority ownership is held by people not related to the principal operator.
While these operations make up only 2% of all U.S. farms, they account for over 13% of total agricultural production. Midsize family and nonfamily farms operated similar land areas. The report highlights how farm structure continues to evolve, with fewer but larger operations contributing a greater share of output—particularly among nonfamily farms with greater financial capacity.