Bucking national trends, Michigan gained 1,000 small farms in 2001 and the overall total number of farms and farmland acres remain virtually unchanged from the previous year, according to recently released state agricultural statistics said Dan Wyant, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA).

Small farms in Michigan average 63 acres and are defined by an economic sales class of generating at least $1,000 of agricultural product sales but less than $10,000. Recent 2001 estimates show that these smaller sized farms increased from 27,500 in 2000 to 28,500 in 2001 Small farm numbers have ranged between 27,000 and 28,500 over the last six years.

In addition, 2001 estimates show that Michigan is home to approximately 52,000 farms and has about 10.4 million acres of farmland, both unchanged from the year before.

"While other states are losing farms and farmland, Michigan is holding steady. These statistics are important and telling indicators that Michigan is on the right track with its agricultural policy efforts that have been initiated, developed, implemented and enhanced over the past decade," Wyant said. "Michigan, with the strong support of the Governor and Legislature, has placed a high priority on ensuring the future viability of agriculture in the state, from initiatives that have helped increase on-farm profitability to reducing significant tax burdens."

Wyant pointed to just a few of these key efforts:

• Enacting Proposal A to reduce overall property tax burdens and then enhancing the state’s Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program to help ensure the continued enrollment and renewal of farmland preservation contracts.
• Helping add value to the agricultural commodities grown and produced in Michigan and expanding domestic and export markets for these commodities, including new and niche markets.
• Enhancing the Right to Farm Act and creating proactive environmental programs that protect a farmer’s right to farm while simultaneously ensuring sound environmental stewardship.

Nationally, the number of farms and ranches stands at about 2.16 million or a decrease of nearly 1 percent, the second largest decline since 1991. The total U.S. land in farms declined about 1.9 million acres from the year before.

Agriculture is the state’s second largest industry, generating about $37 billion annually. Of Michigan’s 52,000 farms, the majority are in the small-size category with 28,500, while the state has about 15,500 medium-size farms ($10,000 to $99,999 in ag product sales) and 8,000 farms that are classified as large (more than $100,000 in ag product sales). Mid-sized farm numbers have been declining while larger farms are expanding slowly.

Michigan will be participating in the upcoming 2002 Census of Agriculture, which will provide more specific agriculture-related statistics and trends for the state and nation.

For more information, visit MDA’s web site at www.michigan.gov or contact the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service at 517/324-5300 or via the web at www.nass.usda.gov/mi/.

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