Perdue:This is an important day as we announce the release of the 2017 Census of
Agriculture. We have to have data like
this to rely on to help us improve
American agriculture. There 2.04 million
farms and ranches, which is down 3.2
percent from 2012;  average size of these
farms 441 acres, up just a little bit and
they cover over 900 million acres, which
is down 1.6% which means that we're
losing some arable land in this country
which ought to be a concern for all of
us for the future.
There are fewer middle sized farms but
larger farms of two thousand acres, more
increase. 96% of our farms are
family-owned. 105,000 farms produce 75
percent of all sales. In 2017 11% of all
producers have served in the military;
there are over 320,000 young producers
age 35 or less, and one in four producers
is a beginning farmer with 10 or fewer
years of experience. 36% of all producers
are female producers. The number of farms
with renewable energy systems on their
operation more than doubled from 2012
to 2017. More farms are using no-till
practices, reduced tillage on more than
29 million acres of cropland acres, and
cover crops
increased almost 50% So the initial
snapshot review shows that American
farmers are adapting and innovating. It
also shows that they're involved in
sound conservation practices. So thank
you, folks. The census of Agriculture
continues to tell an  amazing story of U.S.
agriculture - how it's changed.
Hamer: Thank you. Mr. Secretary. (applause)
