Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The Trend toward Concentration and Consolidation
The information in tables 3.1 and 3.2 illustrates some key structural changes in U.S. agricul-
ture between 1910 and 1997. The data in these tables tell a story of a dramatic transforma-
tion of agriculture from a system that was comprised of many farm operators who produced
a broad array of commodities on relatively small plots of land to a system of production in
which a handful of very large-scale, specialized producers now account for the bulk of sales.
For example, the average farm size in the United States increased slowly between 1910 and
1950, from 138.1 acres to 215.3 acres, but then accelerated after 1950. Today, the average
farm is close to 500 acres.
Table 3.1. Farm Structure Information and Enterprise Diversification on U.S. Farms: 1910,
1950, 1997
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