Top Florida Agriculture Facts From the 2024 Census of Agriculture
In partnership with: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Download Florida Census of Ag Infographic PDF
From juicy citrus fruits to fresh vegetables, beef and dairy products, Florida farmers produce a vast array of agricultural products – more than 300 of them, to be exact. In addition to feeding both the state and nation, Florida agriculture is an economic powerhouse, employing more than 2.5 million Floridians and generating billions of dollars for the state economy each year. According to the USDA’s most recent Census of Agriculture, there are 44,703 farms in Florida with a market value of agricultural products sold totaling more than $10.2 billion. (The 2022 Census of Agriculture data was released in February 2024 is the most recent census data available.)
The number of farms in Florida has decreased by 6% since 2017 but increased by 1% since 2002. There are more than 9.7 million acres of farm land in Florida, and the state’s average farm size is 217 acres.
The market value of crops grown in Florida, including its significant nursery and greenhouse industry, totaled nearly $8.1 billion in 2022. The market value of livestock, poultry and their products, including beef, pork, chicken, dairy and eggs, came to more than $2.1 billion.
Take a look at the infographic below to learn more Florida agriculture facts. Click on the infographic to download.
What Are Florida’s Top Agricultural Products?
According to the most recent available cash receipts (the total amount of crops or livestock sold in a calendar year), Florida’s top agricultural products include floriculture, sugarcane, oranges, cattle and calves, and milk and other dairy products, to name just a few.
See More: Florida Agriculture
Who Owns Florida Farms?
The Census of Agriculture calculates farm ownership by the farm’s legal status for tax purposes. Like many states, Florida farms are primarily owned and operated by families or individuals, with 34,167 family farms as of 2022, or about 76.4% of all farms in the state. Corporations accounted for 7,242 farms, or 16.2%, while partnerships own 2,538 farms, or 5.7%. Other farms, such as estates or trusts, prison farms, grazing associations, American Indian Reservations, etc., make up about 1.7% of farms in Florida.
Florida farmers are predominantly men. According to the Census of Agriculture, there were 46,781 male farmers in Florida in 2022, making up 59% of the state’s total producers. Florida’s 32,472 women farmers accounted for 41% of the total.
See More: Large or Small, Florida Farms Take Pride in Their Products
How Old Are Florida Farmers?
Out of 79,253 farmers in Florida, most are over the age of 55. In fact, the average age of a Florida farmer is 59.5 years old, up from 58.9 years in 2017.
Just over a quarter of Florida farmers (26.3%) fall into the age group of 55 to 64 years, and 25.1% of farmers are ages 65 to 74. Farmers ranging from 45 to 54 years old account for 16.2%, followed by farmers over 75 years old (15.2%), then farmers ages 35 to 44 (10.6%). Only 6.1% of farmers are ages 25 to 34, and just 1,142 Florida farmers are under 25, or about 1.4%.
Florida is home to 5,211 farmers considered “young producers” (age 34 or younger).
More Florida Farm Facts
Though the state counts nearly 80,000 agricultural producers, 57% of Florida farmers have a primary occupation other than farming. Only 34,327 respondents to the Census of Agriculture said their primary occupation was farming.
Active duty military members and veterans also account for some farmers, as Florida has 9,492 farmers with current or past military service.
According to the census, Florida has 2,052 Black farmers who farm 111,298 acres of land across 1,388 farms.
Florida has 186 USDA-certified organic farms.
Florida farmers cultivated 382,803 acres of citrus fruits in 2022, including 349,046 acres of oranges.
In equine news, Florida inventoried 83,114 horses and ponies in 2022.
See More: Florida Citrus Growers Think Outside the Crate in Pursuit of New Fruit