Top Alaska Agriculture Facts From the 2024 Census of Agriculture

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Although it’s the largest state in the nation at 365 million acres, only around 870,000 of those acres are devoted to farm land in Alaska. However, Alaska agriculture is a steadily growing industry. According to the USDA’s most recent Census of Agriculture, there are 1,173 farms in Alaska with a market value of agricultural products sold totaling nearly $91 million. (The 2022 Census of Agriculture data was released in February 2024 and is the most recent census data available.)

The number of farms in Alaska has increased by 18% since 2017 and by a whopping 93% since 2002. The average size of an Alaskan farm is 742 acres.

The market value of crops grown in Alaska, including the state’s significant nursery and greenhouse industry, totaled nearly $40 million in 2022. Just over half of that total ($21.6 million) came from nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod crops. The market value of livestock, poultry and their products, including beef, pork, chicken, dairy and eggs, totaled more than $51 million.

What Are Alaska’s Top Agricultural Products?

According to the most recent available cash receipts (the total amount of crops or livestock sold in a calendar year), Alaska’s top agricultural products include floriculture, hay, cattle and calves, other animals and animal products, and barley, to name a few.

See More: Alaska Agriculture

Who Owns Alaska Farms?

The Census of Agriculture calculates farm ownership by the farm’s legal status for tax purposes. Like many states, Alaska farms are primarily owned and operated by families or individuals, with 921 family farms as of 2022, or about 79% of all farms in the state. Partnerships accounted for 86 farms, or 7.3%, while just 113 farms, or 9.6%, are owned by corporations. Other farms, such as estates or trusts, prison farms, grazing associations, American Indian Reservations, etc., make up about 4.5% of farms in Alaska. 

Alaskan farmers are split relatively equally between men and women. According to the Census of Agriculture, there were 1,071 male farmers in Alaska in 2022, making up 52% of the state’s total producers. Alaska’s 974 women farmers accounted for the remaining 48% of the total.

See More: Foods That Grow in Alaska

How Old Are Alaskan Farmers?

Out of 2,045 farmers in Alaska, most are over the age of 55. In fact, the average age of an Alaska farmer is 58.7 years old, up from 55.2 years in 2017. 

More than a quarter of Alaskan farmers (around 26.1%) fall into the age group of 55 to 64 years, and 24% of farmers are ages 65 to 74. Farmers ranging from 45 to 54 years old account for 17.5%, followed by farmers ages 35 to 44 (16.8%), then farmers over 75 years old (8.8%). Only 6% of farmers are ages 25 to 34, and just 18 Alaskan farmers are under 25 years old, or just under 1%.

More Alaska Farm Facts

Of Alaska’s 2,045 agricultural producers, about 55% have a primary occupation other than farming. Only 928 respondents to the Census of Agriculture said their primary occupation was farming.

Active duty military members and veterans also account for some farmers, as Alaska has 212 farmers with current or past military service.

See More: What’s Growing in Alaska? Seasonal Produce Calendar

Alaska is home to 11 USDA-certified organic farms. 

Alaska’s bison inventory totaled 1,489 in 2022.

Finally, here’s some more buzzy news about Alaska agriculture: Alaska was home to 597 colonies of honeybees in 2022, which produced 28,491 pounds of honey.

See More: Tasting the Last Frontier: How Alaska Became a Foodie Destination