NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

March 4, 1999

Definition, Economics Change N.D. Farm Numbers

Nearly 40 percent of North Dakota's counties showed an increase in the number of farms from 1992 through 1997, according to the recent Population Bulletin released by the State Data Center at North Dakota State University. This increase is in contrast to the previous period of 1987 through 1992, when every county in the state suffered a loss of farms.

"This reflects largely a change in definition of farms and the growth in hobby farms," said Richard Rathge, data center director. "The growth in hobby farms is best illustrated by the 95-percent increase in farms with annual sales averaging less than $2,500 from 1992 through 1997."

North Dakota had 4,164 hobby farms in 1997. The main definition change from 1992 through 1997 was the inclusion of farms totally enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, Rathge explains. North Dakota farms of all types totaled 30,504 in 1997, a 2-percent drop from 1992 when the total was 31,123.

"While North Dakota had a small drop in the total number of farms, an even larger decline occurred with full-time farms," Rathge says.

In 1997, there were 22,677 operators who said farming was their principal occupation. A larger proportion of farmers are taking employment elsewhere to supplement their income. In fact, 6,135 operators worked at least 200 days off farm while an additional 12,837 worked less than 200 days off farm.

Total farm acreage in North Dakota dropped only 0.2 percent from 1992 through 1997. Golden Valley County showed the largest percentage increase in total farm acreage, 14.5 percent. Logan County had the largest percentage decline, 11.3 percent.

Average farm size in North Dakota grew 1.8 percent, to 1,290 acres in 1997, up from 1,267 acres in 1992. Mercer County's average farm size grew 15.5 percent, the largest percentage increase in the state. Sioux and Billings counties had, on average, the most acres per farm in 1992 and 1997.

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Source: Richard Rathge (701) 231-8621

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136

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