Preliminary 2002 Census of Agriculture statistics presented in this report describe the number of farms and ranches by size and type for each State and the Nation. Selected demographic items portray the American farmers and ranchers who are the source of U. S. agricultural production. Demographic data include gender of operator, age group categories, race, years on present farm, days worked off farm, number of persons living in farm households, and number of households deriving income from this farm or ranch. Data are presented as preliminary because the comprehensive census review of all items to the county level is continuing. These data are therefore subject to some limited change when final census results are released. The expected date for the release of the complete report is June 3, 2004.
United States Tables
Table 001 Abbreviated Historical Highlights: 2002 and Earlier Census Years
Table 002 Principal Operators by Race: 2002 and 1997
Table 003 Selected Operator Characteristics by Race: 2002
Table 005 Women Operators - Selected Operator Characteristics: 2002 and 1997
Table 006 Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Origin Operators - Selected Operator Characteristics: 2002 and 1997
Pennsylvania Tables
Table 229 Abbreviated Historical Highlights: 2002 and Earlier Census Years
Table 230 Principal Operators by Race: 2002 and 1997
Table 231 Selected Operator Characteristics by Race: 2002
Table 233 Women Operators - Selected Operator Characteristics: 2002 and 1997
Table 234 Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Origin Operators - Selected Operator Characteristics: 2002 and 1997
PA County Tables
County 001 Average Farm Size and Assests: 2002
County 002 Number of Farms by Size: 2002
County 003 Cropland and Market Value of Porducts: 2002
County 004 Farms by Value of Sales: 2002
County 005 Total Income from Farm-Related and Government Sources: 2002
County 006 Livestock and Poultry: 2002
County 007 Selected Crops Harvested: 2002
General Terms
The following definitions and explanations apply to the terms and phrases used in this publication. Definitions are essentially the same as those used in earlier censuses, but new items have been added and are explained below.
Farm. In 2002, a farm is defined as any place where $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold. The $1,000 threshold can be met by any combination of sales and government payments. Abnormal farms are institutional, experimental, and research farms.
Land in farms. The acreage designated as ''land in farms'' consists primarily of agricultural land used for crops, pasture, or grazing. It also includes woodland and wasteland, provided it was part of the farm operator's total operation. Land in farms includes acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Wetlands Reserve Programs (WRP).
Land in farms is an operating unit concept and includes land operated by owners, by those renting from others, and operated by hired managers. Land used rent free was to be reported as land rented from others. All grazing land, except land used under government permits on a per-head basis, was included as ''land in farms'' provided it was part of a farm or ranch. Land under the exclusive use of a grazing association was to be reported by the grazing association and included as land in farms. All land in American Indian reservations used for growing crops or grazing livestock was to be included as land in farms. Land in reservations not reported by individual American Indians or Alaska Natives or others was to be reported in the name of the tribal group that used the land. In many instances, an entire American Indian reservation was reported as one farm.
Value of sales. This category represents the gross market value of agricultural products, before taxes and production expenses, for all agricultural products sold or removed from the place in the census year, regardless of who received the payment. It includes sales by the operator(s) as well as the value of any shares received by partners, landlords, contractors, or others associated with the operation. The value of commodities placed in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) loans is included in this figure. It does not include payments received for participation in other federal farm programs. Also, it does not include income from farm-related sources such as custom work and other agricultural services, or income from non-farm sources. Sales are expressed in current dollars for each census of agriculture with no adjustment for inflation.
Symbols and Abbreviations
The following symbols and abbreviations are used throughout the tables:
- Zero
(X) Not Applicable
(NA) Not Available or Not Published
Demographic Terms
The term operator designates a person who operates a farm or ranch, either doing the work or making day-to-day decisions about such things as planting, harvesting, feeding, and marketing. An operator may be the owner, a member of the owner's household, a hired manager, a tenant, a renter, or a sharecropper. A person renting land to others or having land worked on shares by others is considered the operator only of the land retained for his/her own operation. A farm may have more than one operator. However, each operation was asked to designate one principal operator, defined below.
Total Operators. This category represents the total reported number of operators on farms and ranches. The 2002 census is the first census to ask for the total number of operators associated with the operation. It is also the first time the total number of women operators has been determined.
All (Multiple) Operators. The 2002 Census of Agriculture is the first census to collect data for more than one operator per farm. Demographic and other information was collected for up to three operators per farm, the principal operator plus one or two additional operators. This may be fewer than the total number of operators on some farms. Table columns designated as "all operators" refer to these multiple operators. Demographic data on up to the 3 operators reported are presented separately for women, by race categories, and for Hispanic origin.
Demographic information for multiple operators was collected for place of residence; days worked off farm; year began operating farm; age; sex; primary occupation; Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino origin; race; residence on an American Indian reservation; and number of persons living in household. If data were not reported for any of the items, they were imputed based on information reported by nearby farms with similar acreage, tenure, and value of sales.
Principal operator. The person responsible for the on-site, day-to-day operation of the farm or ranch business. This person may be an owner, renter, a hired manager, or business manager.
Primary occupation. Primary occupation classifications were "Farming" and "Other". Operators selected the category associated with where they spend more than 50 percent of his/her work time.
American Indian and Alaska Native farm operators. This category was previously labeled American Indian operators; and included Alaska Native operators. To ensure complete coverage of this category the term Alaska Native was added in 2002 census.
Number of households sharing in net income of farm. These data are new in the 2002 Census of Agriculture. The principal operator reported the number of households sharing net income. Hired managers were excluded from reporting this item.
Released February 3, 2004, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. If you have any questions about the census of agriculture, please call the NASS at 800-727-9540.