Overview
The 2012 Census of Agriculture Reports follows the same format as in 2007. There are several graphs in the beginning that show the changes from
2007 and 2002. Table 1 Historical Highlights contains data from the 1982 through 2012 Censuses of Agriculture. Table 2 shows the market value of
agricultural products sold.
Selected Characteristics tables are tables 55-63. These tables highlight demographic groups.
The detailed summary tables are tables 64-70. These tables are about 25 pages long.
General
The following tables where generated using the Quick Stats query tool or in some cases I copied a table from the Census publication. I may have
included some comments.
Number of farms and land in Farms
2012
Total
8,174
1,455,304
178
67
FARMS AND LAND IN FARMS
Farms number
Land in farms acres
Average size of farm acres
Median size of farm acres
No changes from the preliminary release.
Land use
Land Use
2007
total
8,136
1,347,566
166
65
2012 as percent of
2007
100%
108%
107%
Percent
2007 Change
acres
All Other LAND
121,402
95,620
27%
CROPLAND
477,343
529,253
-10%
PASTURELAND
81,707
62,014
32%
WOODLAND
773,652
660,679
17%
Total
1,454,104
1,347,566
8%
This table shows changes in land use. Though the land in farms increased, cropland decreased.
2012
Farms by Economic sales class
farms
LESS THAN 1,000 $
1,000 TO 2,499 $
2,500 TO 4,999 $
5,000 TO 9,999 $
10,000 TO 24,999 $
25,000 TO 49,999 $
50,000 TO 99,999 $
100,000 TO 249,999 $
250,000 TO 499,999 $
500,000 TO 999,999 $
1,000,000 OR MORE $
Total
sales
1,990
1,122
1,050
1,077
1,125
620
404
339
202
120
124
8,173
444,000
1,649,000
3,585,000
7,094,000
16,434,000
19,972,000
27,651,000
52,144,000
69,568,000
86,326,000
478,194,000
763,061,000
% of all farmers
24%
14%
13%
13%
14%
8%
5%
4%
2%
1%
2%
100%
% of total farmes
24.3%
38.1%
50.9%
64.1%
77.9%
85.5%
90.4%
94.5%
97.0%
98.5%
100.0%
Farms with $500,000 sales and above totaled 244 and accounted for 3% of farms and 74% of all gross sales.
Farms with $250,000 sales and above totaled 446 and accounted for 5% of farms and 83% of all gross sales.
Farms with $100,000 sales and above totaled 785 and accounted for10% of farms and 90% of all gross sales.
% of sales
0.1%
0.2%
0.5%
0.9%
2.2%
2.6%
3.6%
6.8%
9.1%
11.3%
62.7%
100%
0%
0%
1%
2%
4%
6%
10%
17%
26%
37%
100%
Farm Income
The following table combines farm income from commodity sales, Government payments, and farm related income.
Percent
Data Item
2012
2007
Change
COMMODITY TOTALS - SALES,
MEASURED IN $
763,062,000
617,190,000
24%
GOVT PROGRAMS, FEDERAL RECEIPTS, MEASURED IN $
10,162,000
8,815,000
15%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED - RECEIPTS,
MEASURED IN $
37,017,000
35,359,000
5%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, AG
SERVICES, CUSTOMWORK & OTHER RECEIPTS, MEASURED IN $
8,002,000
12,809,000
-38%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, AG TOURISM
& RECREATIONAL SERVICES - RECEIPTS,
MEASURED IN $
1,803,000
1,012,000
78%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, CROP &
ANIMAL INSURANCE PAYMENTS RECEIPTS, MEASURED IN $
2,945,000
1,080,000
173%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST
PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE
SYRUP) - RECEIPTS, MEASURED IN $
8,616,000
5,816,000
48%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, GOVT
PROGRAMS, STATE & LOCAL RECEIPTS, MEASURED IN $
1,587,000
1,205,000
32%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, OTHER RECEIPTS, MEASURED IN $
11,135,000
11,299,000
-1%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, PATRONAGE
DIVIDENDS & REFUNDS FROM
COOPERATIVES - RECEIPTS, MEASURED
IN $
604,000
405,000
49%
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, RENT, LAND
& BUILDINGS - RECEIPTS, MEASURED
IN $
2,325,000
1,733,000
34%
Total
810,241,000
661,364,000
23%
This table shows the value of farm sales, government payments, and farm related income. It does not include full value of value
added sales. It will include the value of the raw farm product. For example, it does not include the value of jam sales but does
include the value of the fruit that was used to make the jam.
Forest Products by county
County
County
ANSI
HANCOCK
9
PENOBSCOT
19
PISCATAQUIS
21
SOMERSET
25
WALDO
27
WASHINGTON
29
AROOSTOOK
3
ANDROSCOGGIN
1
CUMBERLAND
5
FRANKLIN
7
KENNEBEC
11
KNOX
13
LINCOLN
15
OXFORD
17
SAGADAHOC
23
YORK
Total
31
Data Item
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, FOREST PRODUCTS, (EXCL CHRISTMAS TREES &
SHORT TERM WOODY CROPS & MAPLE SYRUP) - OPERATIONS WITH RECEIPTS
Farms
Sales
79
267,000
118
542,000
35
294,000
112
1,974,000
120
412,000
63
174,000
103
825,000
48
250,000
38
137,000
60
512,000
93
486,000
41
177,000
24
112,000
69
930,000
33
76,000
97
1,447,000
8,615,000
Net Farm income
Table 5. Net Cash Farm Income of the Operations and Operators: 2012 and 2007
[For meaning of abbreviations and symbols, see introductory text.]
2012
Item
Income
Farms
($1,000)
Net cash farm income of the operations
(see text) .................................................
8,173
164,610
Average per farm .................. dollars
(X)
20,141
2007
Income
($1,000)
Farms
8,136
(X)
167,671
20,609
Farms with net gains 1 .........................
Average per farm ............... dollars
3,177
(X)
271,086
85,328
3,235
(X)
229,963
71,086
Farms with gains ofless than $1,000 ............................
$1,000 to $4,999 ...........................
$5,000 to $9,999 ...........................
$10,000 to $24,999 .......................
$25,000 to $49,999 .......................
$50,000 or more ...........................
299
729
562
590
339
658
150
2,034
4,073
9,377
11,961
243,491
385
833
470
580
363
604
174
2,216
3,412
9,157
12,992
202,013
Farms with net losses ..........................
Average per farm ............... dollars
4,996
(X)
106,476
21,312
4,901
(X)
62,292
12,710
Farms with losses ofless than $1,000 ............................
$1,000 to $4,999 ...........................
$5,000 to $9,999 ...........................
$10,000 to $24,999 .......................
$25,000 to $49,999 .......................
$50,000 or more ...........................
423
1,688
1,157
1,069
360
299
209
5,038
8,273
16,622
13,055
63,278
607
1,815
1,098
927
283
171
312
5,269
7,933
13,966
9,835
24,978
8,173
(X)
163,075
19,953
8,136
(X)
165,909
20,392
3,170
(X)
269,947
85,157
3,231
(X)
228,183
70,623
298
727
568
585
342
650
149
2,018
4,134
9,279
12,090
242,276
385
832
470
582
362
600
174
2,211
3,406
9,208
13,003
200,182
5,003
(X)
106,872
21,362
4,905
(X)
62,275
12,696
422
1,690
1,163
1,067
360
208
5,031
8,358
16,632
13,041
606
1,816
1,097
932
284
312
5,277
7,922
14,022
9,870
Net cash farm income of operators (see
text) .........................................................
Average per farm .................. dollars
Farm operators reporting net gains 1 ..
Average per farm ............... dollars
Farms with gains ofless than $1,000 ............................
$1,000 to $4,999 ...........................
$5,000 to $9,999 ...........................
$10,000 to $24,999 .......................
$25,000 to $49,999 .......................
$50,000 or more ...........................
Farm operators reporting net losses ...
Average per farm ............... dollars
Farms with losses ofless than $1,000 ............................
$1,000 to $4,999 ...........................
$5,000 to $9,999 ...........................
$10,000 to $24,999 .......................
$25,000 to $49,999 .......................
301
63,602
170
24,873
$50,000 or more ...........................
1 Farms with total production expenses equal to market value of agricultural products sold, government payments, and
farm-related income are included as farms with gains of less than $1,000.
Net cash farm income of the operators. This value is the operators’ total revenue (fees for producing under a production contract,
total sales not under a production contract, government payments, and farm-related income) minus total expenses paid by the
operators. Net cash farm income of the operator includes the payments received for producing under a production contract and
does not include value of commodities produced under production contract by the contract growers. Depreciation is not used in the
calculation of net cash farm income.
For publication purposes, farms are divided into two categories:
1. Farms with net gains (includes those operators that broke even).
2. Farms with net losses.
Commodities
Aquaculture, value of sales at $75,107,000 up from $26,300,000 in 2007. Top county data is not published to avoid disclosing
individual information.
Ag Labor
Data Item
2012
2007 Per. Change
LABOR, HIRED - NUMBER OF WORKERS
15,072
15,634
-3.6%
LABOR, HIRED - OPERATIONS WITH WORKERS
2,415
1,886
28.0%
LABOR, HIRED, GE 150 DAYS - NUMBER OF WORKERS
4,594
3,561
29.0%
LABOR, HIRED, LT 150 DAYS - NUMBER OF WORKERS
10,478
12,073
-13.2%
This table shows the changes in hired labor. The total number of hired workers decrease but the number of farms with hired
workers increased as did the number of full time workers (hired greater than 150 days). I suspect the lower number of part time w
Direct Market Sales
Direct Market Sales
OPERATIONS WITH SALES
SALES, MEASURED IN $
SALES, MEASURED IN $ / OPERATION
SALES, MEASURED IN PCT OF FARM OPERATIONS
SALES, MEASURED IN PCT OF FARM SALES
County
Sales
Million $
York
Cumberland
Lincoln
Aroostook
3.287
3.027
2.613
2.488
Ranking
of all US
Counties
68th
78th
94th
101st
2012
2,311
24,793,000
10,728
28.3
3.2
US
Ranking
23
21
16
5
8
Agri-tourism
Data Item
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, AG TOURISM &
RECREATIONAL SERVICES - OPERATIONS WITH
RECEIPTS
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, AG TOURISM &
RECREATIONAL SERVICES - RECEIPTS, MEASURED IN $
INCOME, FARM-RELATED, AG TOURISM &
RECREATIONAL SERVICES - RECEIPTS, MEASURED IN $ /
OPERATION
County
Sales
Million $
Kennebec
Cumberland
0.282
0.236
Ranking
of all US
Counties
451st(tie)
521st(tie)
Percen
t
Chang
e
2012
2007
270
141%
1,803,000
112
1,012,00
0
6,678
9,039
-26%
78%
Organic
The data represent the value of commodities produced according to USDA’s National Organic Program and sold from operations
during 2012. Crops, livestock, and poultry products were reported individually on the 2012 report form, but in 2007, these
commodities were combined and may have come from either crops or livestock production. Thus, some data for the 2012 census
years is not directly comparable. Data that are comparable are:
Table 54. Organic Agriculture: 2012
[For meaning of abbreviations and symbols, see introductory text.]
Item
2012
Item
VALUE OF SALES OF CERTIFIED OR EXEMPT
PRINCIPAL OPERATOR CHARACTERISTICS FOR
ORGANICALLY
FARMS
PRODUCED COMMODITIES
WITH CERTIFIED OR EXEMPT ORGANIC
554 PRODUCTION - Con.
Total organic product sales (see text) ................. farms 36,401
$1,000 65,706 Place of residence:
Average per farm ........................................ dollars
On farm operated ....................................................
Not on farm operated ..............................................
By value of sales:
212
$1 to $4,999 ................................................. farms
367 Days worked off farm:
$1,000
57
None .........................................................................
$5,000 to $9,999 .......................................... farms
371
Any ...........................................................................
$1,000
81
1 to 49 days ..........................................................
$10,000 to $24,999 ...................................... farms
1,345
50 to 99 days ........................................................
$1,000
61
100 to 199 days ....................................................
$25,000 to $49,999 ...................................... farms
2,121
200 days or more ..................................................
$1,000
143
$50,000 or more .......................................... farms 32,195 Years on present farm:
$1,000
2 years or less ...........................................................
3 or 4 years ...............................................................
TYPE OF PRODUCTION (SEE TEXT)
5 to 9 years ...............................................................
10 years or more ......................................................
USDA National Organic Program certified organic
457
production ......................................................... farms
Average years on present farm ................................
USDA National Organic Program organic production
154
exempt from certification .................................. farms
Age group:
Acres transitioning into USDA National Organic
65
Under 25 years .........................................................
Program
25 to 34 years ...........................................................
organic production ............................................ farms
35 to 44 years ...........................................................
45 to 49 years ...........................................................
PRINCIPAL OPERATOR CHARACTERISTICS FOR FARMS
50 to 54 years ...........................................................
WITH CERTIFIED OR EXEMPT ORGANIC PRODUCTION
408
55 to 59 years ...........................................................
Sex of operator:
203
60 to 64 years ...........................................................
Male ...........................................................................
65 to 69 years ...........................................................
Female .......................................................................
70 years and over .....................................................
426
Primary occupation:
185
Average age ..............................................................
Farming ......................................................................
Other ..........................................................................
2012
497
114
268
343
71
44
70
158
33
93
161
324
16
6
94
99
51
69
88
108
55
41
51.1
By comparing the total value of organic sales in the NACIS Summary tables, Table 68 in 2012 and Table 64 in 2007, you can see a $10
million increase in sales from other crop farms, which in New England are primarily hay or maple operations. Organic sales on
vegetable farms increase about $3.8 million. Organic sales on dairy farms dropped about $200,000.
Practices
CSAs
Maine had 406 farms with CSAs which ranks 8th nationally. This is 5 percent of all farms and ranks 3rd nationally by percent of farms.
Top Counties
County
Number
Ranking
of farms
of all US
Counties
Waldo
65
6th
Androscoggin
58
9th
nd
York
41 20 (tie)
Wholesale direct to retailers and institutions
Maine had 1,074 farms that market directly to retailers which ranks 17 th nationally. This is 13 percent of all farms and ranks 7th
nationally by percent of farms.
Top Counties
County
Number
Ranking
of farms
of all US
Counties
Waldo
115
34th
Hancock
101 45th (tie)
York
10 45th (tie)
Penobscot
96
55th