Michigan Farm News (2024)

FAQs

What is the average age of a Michigan farmer? ›

Farm Structure

The average age of a Michigan farmer is 56 years old.

In fact, Michigan leads the nation in cherry production, growing nearly 75% of the nation's supply.

Michigan's cropland cash rent was $148 per acre in 2023, up $4 from last year. EAST LANSING, Mich. — The 2023 average Michigan farm real estate value, including land and buildings, averaged $6,400 per acre, according to Marlo D. Johnson, Regional Director of USDA, NASS, Great Lakes Regional Office.

The distribution of farms in Michigan shows about 80% of Michigan's farms are in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula where soil and climatic conditions favorable for agricultural production are found.

On average, farm-level net cash farm income is projected to decline by 20% from 2022 to $41,700 – also the most significant year-over-year decline since USDA began reporting farm-level net cash farm income in 2010.

In 2022, the median U.S. farm household had $1,376,404 in wealth. Households operating commercial farms had $3.5 million in total wealth at the median, substantially more than the households of residence or intermediate farms.

The state leads the nation in the production of several crops, including asparagus, black and small red beans, marigolds, and squash. Michigan agriculture contributes more than $104.7 billion annually to our state's economy, making Michigan one of the most diverse states in the United States.

Cherries

Michigan ranks 1st in the nation for tart cherry production, and 4th for sweet cherries.

According to the Michigan Realtors association, the average price per acre of vacant residential land in Michigan as of 2022 was around $16,500. However, land prices can range from as low as $2,000 per acre in rural, undeveloped areas to over $100,000 per acre in desirable recreational and waterfront locations.

(h) "Farmland" means 1 or more of the following: (i) A farm of 40 or more acres in 1 ownership, with 51% or more of the land area devoted to an agricultural use.

What crop is most profitable per acre? ›

Saffron: The Most Profitable Crop per Acre.

Alfisols: These soil orders are mostly present in the bottom half and middle of Michigan. Alifisols are fertile soils that are excellent for crop growth. the upper peninsula.

The Netherlands is the largest owner in Michigan at 458,436 acres followed by Canada at 359,679 acres. These two countries account for 59.7 percent of all foreign ownership.

The average age of all U.S. farm producers in 2022 was 58.1 years, up 0.6 years from 2017, continuing a long-term trend of aging in the U.S. producer population. Producers also tend to be experienced; they have been farming an average of 23.4 years.

average age of the US farmer is nearly 58 years old (57.7). the largest age group of farmers is in the 55 to 64 age bucket. second largest is 65 to 74; and close on its heels is the 45 to 54 year old bucket. Fourth largest is 75 years and older and this represents nearly 400,000 farmers.

The average age of the U.S. farmer is 58.1 years as of the 2022 Census. The share of farmers between 45 and 64 was lower in the 2022 versus the 2017 Census of Ag. In contrast, the shares of people less than 45 and over 65 increased from 19 to 22 percent and from 34 to 39 percent, respectively.

The average and median ages of California farmworkers is 39. About 63% of California farmworkers were married, and 58% had children.