Trends in Oklahoma Agriculture & Rural Demographics:Communicating with New Ag Producers: How to Reach Them, How to Teach Them

OK Chapter of Soil and Water Conservation SocietyDamona DoyeDave Shideler

Larry D. Sanders8 May 2012 OSU CENTRA Presentation

21992 1997 2002 2007

0100002000030000400005000060000700008000090000

100000Number of Farms in Oklahoma, 1992 to 2007

Year

Num

ber o

f Far

ms

1992 1997 2002 20070

2000000400000060000008000000

1000000012000000140000001600000018000000

Total Cropland vs Harvested Cropland, Ok-lahoma, 1992 to 2007

Total Cropland

Harvested Cropland

3

Less $9,999

$10,000 to $49,9999

$50000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $499,999

$500,000 or more

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

Farms by Value of Sales,Oklahoma 1992 to 2007

1992

1997

2002

2007

Value of Sales ($)

Num

ber o

f Far

ms

1 to 50 50 to 179

180 to 499

500 to 999

1000 to 1999

2000 or more

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Size of Oklahoma Farms in Acres, 1992 to 2007

1992

1997

2002

2007

Number of Acres per Farm

Num

ber o

f Far

ms

4

1992 1997 2002 20070

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

Ownership of Farms, Oklahoma, 1992 to 2007

FullPartTenants

Year

Num

ber o

f far

ms

35,00010,500

11,000950 550

1 - 49 Head

50 - 99 Head

100 - 499 Head

500 - 999 Head

1000 + Head

Source: NASS, 2007

OK Farms and Ranches with Cattle by Size of Operation (Number)

5

6

Full owner Part Owner Tenant0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

Ownership of Farms Operated by Women, Oklahoma, 2002 to 2007

20022007

Num

ber o

f Far

ms

Less than $2500

$2500 to $4999

$5000 to $9999

$10000 to

$24999

$25000 to

$49999

$50000 or more

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

Economic Class of Farms Operated by Women, Oklahoma, 2002 to 2007

20022007

Ecoomic Class in $

Num

ber o

f Far

ms

7Less than 50 50 to 179 180 to 499 500 or more

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Origin Principal Operators

Size of Oklahoma Farms (acres)

20022007

Acres

Num

ber o

f Far

mrs

Less than

$2500

$2500 to

$4999

$5000 to

$9999

$10000 to

$24999

$25000 to

$49999

$50000 or more

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Economic Class of Oklahoma Farms by Race

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Value of farm

Num

ber o

f far

ms

8

Beginning farmers: about one-fifth of all farms; some established farms operated jointly by beginning farmers, 2009

Beginning farmers and ranchers account for 10% of production.30% had no production in 2009, compared to 23% of established farms.Slide courtesy of M. Ahearn, ERS, USDA, 20612

9

Share of farms in a county that are beginning farms

Source: 2007 Census of Agriculture.; Slide courtesy of M. Ahearn, ERS, USDA, 20612

10

Sources of land ownership for beginning and established farms

11

Personal characteristics of Beginning Farmers

• Most principal operators of beginning farms are white (90%, compared to 93% for established farms), nonHispanic (94%, compared to 98%) and male (83%, compared to 90%).

• One-third are age 55 or older, compared to 70% of established operators

• Two-thirds of beginning farmers have a major occupation other than farming, compared to 37% of established operators

Source: 2009 USDA ARMS.

12

Beginning Farmers and Type of ProductionGrains and oilseeds

Specialty crops

Other crops

Cattle

Dairy

Hogs and pigs

Poultry and eggs

Sheeps and goats

Other animals

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

before 1998

1998-2002

2003-2007

Beginning Farmer and Involvement in Community Agriculture

Operator Started

2003-2007 1998-2002Prior to

1998

% with direct sales 7% 8% 6%

% of total direct sales 10% 14% 76%

% with organic sales 1% 1% 1%

% of total organic sales 12% 15% 73%

% with recreational

services income 1% 1% 1%

13

14

Oklahoma Farm Land Prices agecon.okstate.edu/oklandvalues

15

Change in number of farms with 100 acres or fewer1992-2007

1 84 72 31 98

62

18

158

5

64

27

79

37

48

105

70

11

8

66

45

63

192

40

68

117

105

299

360

168

20

132

106

422316

463426

458

436248

276

454205

1 to 100

101 to 199

200 to 399

> 400 83

72

112414

428

560

609

158244145

248

117108

49

264100143

156104

199366 378 374

135

279

162307363

218267

310 265

124

170

259

16

Percentage Cropland Acres Changed – 1992 to 2007

% of change -91.3 - -30.6

-30.5 - -20.6

-20.5 - -11.6

-11.5 - -0.9

1.0 - 18

422Payne

453Lincoln

458Cleve.

426Ok.

436McC.

454Pott.

609Creek

560Rogers

428LeFl.

414McCur.

400+: Indicates counties with change in number of

farms with 100 or fewer acres,

1992-2007

17

Conclusions• Who are beginning producers?

– 2/3 under age 55– Buying land from nonrelatives– Little interest in local

marketing/organic farming– Likely small-scale livestock

producers– Continue full time nonfarm

employment• Where are they coming from?

– Both native OK and other states (Texas, California, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Florida, Colorado, Georgia, Arizona, Illinois)

• What are their backgrounds?– Farm background as children– Nonfarm background completely

new to agriculture– Some are refugees from

economic meltdown – Some are refugees from urban

lifestyles– Some are mid-career

professionals who want to return to farms

– Some are “Mother Earth News” fans seeking a simpler life

– Some are transitioning to retirement & semi-retirement

• What are their needs?– Funds– Education