Securing Land Tenure Rights for Heirs Property Owners

See prevoiusly referenced Attachement: Attachment 1 - 2021 - 2024 - SARE LS21-356 Final Report Tally

Research and Information Products

• Heirs Property Guide for Communities (updated 2022, 2023)
• 10 Ways to Save Your Land (Updated with LLPP 2022)
• RC Community Profiles with County Level Data
• AFRI Report to Partners (2022)
• Workshops on How to Buy Land
• Tribal Partner Workshops

With respect to farmer-led data analysis in 2022, RC provided NASS County and Race/Ethnicity/ Gender County profiles (2012 and 2017) to cooperators during the planning and “discover” stages of this project. As our work advanced, RC created a template for community (county-level) profiles with special attention to variations in changes in the overall, average, and median acreages of land held in each county by race and ethnicity. We used Orangeburg, SC as our first example, because we had compiled data back to the 1959 Census of Agriculture that allowed us to better understand changes in the total amount of land in agriculture in the county over time. RC also included data on other production and economic differences and how these changed across all data-collection periods compared with national trends. The RC Research Team completed similar profiles and reviewed county and area-specific profiles with each cooperator. (RC also aggregated and included county-level data from the Social Vulnerability Index from the Centers for Disease Control and USDA data on poverty, Internet access, and several related questions.)

In October 2022, RC generated a report to CBO partners working in either the AFRI or SARE projects. The report employed existing NASS data and interpreted quantitative and qualitative results of the AFRI survey, which was piloted alongside outreach and TA events (focused on land tenure, heirs property, encumbrances, recordkeeping, wills, leases) in Alabama with Cottage House and Oklahoma with OBHRPI. (Qualtrics was used to document and analyze survey pilot data.) This report was reviewed with 18 partners, enabling us to understand trends, especially in areas where data is unavailable (because of privacy of information concerns, lack of participation in USDA, lack of trust) and to hone our farmer-led research methodologies.

This final report discusses how community-specific methodologies were identified, disseminated, and evolved across the research period. It also includes data from partner and participant interviews.

FY2022 Research Timeline

• Rural Coalition staff revised a briefer version of the survey in collaboration with the Farm Advisory Team as a “screening tool,” which was administered twice during the month of August by Rural Coalition and organizational partner, Cottage House, Inc. in the state of Alabama.
• Thirty-nine (39) participants completed the survey during a meeting hosted by Cottage House, or at the follow-up weekend workshop hosted with the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama during the first week of August. An attorney was present to answer questions about heirs property and legal encumbrances.
• RC staff entered data from these two surveys into Qualtrics, performed a rough analysis of the data utilizing capacities and expertise with the newly expanded Recordkeeping Team, and conducted an interview with CHI director about the results.
• RC updated the Qualtrics data management software to include SPSS, standard regression, and other statistical analysis tools.
• In October, RC produced a 24-page report [submitted with this report as an additional document] for research partners to examine and discuss key learnings, changes, and challenges and to enable collaborators to determine together the most productive way to advance the next research stage, including administering a shorter version of the survey and revising our focus group methodology if needed. The report also raises for discussion the significance of certain questions and how this can be better conveyed to participants. For example, the report raises why gender should not be omitted and why race/ethnicity data are incredibly valuable to USDA, Congress, and policymakers.
• Report summary: The purpose of the report to the research partners was and continues to inform a thoughtful review with AFRI research partners and farm advisory team members. NASS and related census data, especially County, State and REG (Race, Ethnicity, Gender) Profiles to shed light on the current results including Characteristics of the Farmer; the Characteristics of the Farm; Participation in USDA Programs; Record Keeping, Risk Management, Natural Resource Rights; and Family, Heirs Property and Community Change. Subsections focused on farmer data primarily from farmer respondents and data from all participating landowners, both farmers and non-farmers. Each sub-section concluded with a discussion of research considerations, such as the quality of the data collected with this instrument and suggestions for overcoming challenges to its interpretation. A series of tables presented data collected in the 2004-2005 Record Keeping Survey with 1000 Minority Farmers to compare with the current effort. The report also presents a slightly revised focus group protocol and an appendix with an evaluation table from the prior study and current evaluation questions.
• In the review of results with Cottage House (by phone interview on 8/22/22), we also captured emerging methodologies such as the “Do you know your land? The Walking Interview Assessment” employed by Mrs. Barbara Shipman. This walk is an informal, physical survey of the farm with the owner/s, which often culminates in a review of existing documents and a discussion of what is in them. Mrs. Shipman finds that many farmers with whom CHI works discover “old-time deeds” with buried clauses that prevent the sale of land and/or mineral and other rights, and that increase vulnerability to fracking and other predatory schemes. CHI is eager for the next stage of research to identify these and other encumbrances at a more granular level as described in objective three.
• The Report to Partners was shared with LLPP in preparation for the meeting reported under objective 2 and is currently being updated to include data insights from the survey conducted in Oklahoma in November and a follow up review with OBHRPI.
• A version of the survey containing many of the 2007 questions as well as new questions was piloted by the Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc. in July 2022 and determined to be too long for participants to complete fully in a reasonable amount of time. The survey was honed to 69 questions and readministered with a smaller group of 12 participants (all with farmland ownership, 9 farmers) in November 2022. These respondents participated in a meeting and nearly all survey questions were answered.       
• Rural Coalition’s 14th Annual Winter Policy and Research Forum that was initially scheduled for December 2022, was conducted from January 19 to 20^th. This meeting gathered more than 200 participants, including RC members, farmers, USDA staff and officials, and touched on many of the project’s research themes. 9 of the 11 CBO Research partners who were present determined that a review of the Forum would assist in framing the final phase of the AFRI and SSARE research projects to achieve overlapping objectives.

Insights from Interviews and 2022 Census Review: In 2024, Texas continues to have the most black farmers; Oklahoma  SDFR farms have largely cow-calf operations, because of the lower quality of land, drought has been the primary challenge over the 2022-2024 period; South Carolina has historically and currently has a preponderance of row crop farmers, where interviews and outreach confirm that elder farmers want to "keep land from becoming heirs property." When asked what motivates SDFRs to resolve heirs property, farm community leaders said that it is the ability to make their operations more sustainable and participate in farm programs. 

When asked to define or describe sustainability, one farm leader and SARE cooperator/partner said that the ability to hold on to the land (pay bills and taxes), take care of the land (conservation), and pass the land to future generations (family and new and beginning farmers) are the three most important things to a Socially-disadvantaged  farmer, rancher or landowner, forest landowner who is often an elder. 

Profitability is defined as “making enough” to do these things. Not making enough accelerates land loss and the loss of farmers in these communities. “No one [young] can make enough.” 

And the “Land Grant Institutions (1890s and otherwise) are phasing out education for what I call ‘dirt farmers’, instead they are focusing on Agribusiness and other careers, so nobody wants to or knows how to farm.”  

During 2022 and throughout 2023, it was called to our attention that producers were being approached by notaries and other such entities. These entities told (and continue to tell) farmers, ranchers, and landowners that they can help them receive USDA farm program benefits. Farmers and landowners are asked to complete a Power of Attorney (PoA) form granting the entity authority to conduct USDA business on their behalf. The grantees who receive this authority then apply for certain benefits on behalf of the farmer. The entities have an additional agreement with the farmer, often unwritten, to take a cut, ranging from 10-30%, of any benefits the farmer receives. The producers are not informed there is no cost for USDA services. After joining the meeting with Mayors across the Southeast to explain the issues of heirs property, the need for the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act at the state level and its implementation where it has been passed (e.g. Texas) became evident.

Supporting Cottage House’s heirs property training, focus groups and survey administration in 2022 and learning about their approach to TA, RC created a Partners Community Report on County Level Data (Pilot Survey Results), reviewed the report and pilot survey in a meeting with 18 partners (CBO staff and farm leaders, researchers, co-PIs), revised the pilot survey and contributed to the 2023 updated Community Guide with LLPP. The RC  review of data with cooperators assists the collaborative effort between cooperators, farmer and rural communities, and USDA by examining the trends across counties, states, regions and the nation as well as programmatic needs and emergent concerns. 

When the 2022 Ag Census was released on Feb 15, 2024, RC worked with NASS to acquire data for the counties of work in this project. The RC filtered this data to share with cooperators during the reporting interviews and intake sessions for this report. 

 

SSARE NARRATIVES BY COUNTY

INTRODUCTION

This research looks at land tenure trends down to the county level and examines what NASS data related to demographics and farm economics (government payments, gross and net cash income) can reveal as USDA endeavors to grow more farmers who feed US populations and sustain rural economies as well as contribute to a global economy based in agriculture. 

In part, the impetus for this research project on Land Tenure has been the difficulty of finding data that can assist USDA in improving its services to small, limited resource, underserved farmers, and new farmers, ensuring the implementation of Farm Bill legislation.

During the research period (2022-2023), which corresponded with an unprecedented public health crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the intensification of climate related disasters, Rural Coalition and its partners have conducted direct relief, technical assistance and outreach with these hardest to reach and hardest to count farmer communities.

In this project, the research team purposively elected to conduct research alongside partners conducting legal and technical assistance related to land tenure, increased farm resilience and resolving heirs property and other land encumbrances in some of the most vulnerable communities and to use ground-level data to advance this project where data (and research dollars) were unavailable.

Across eight (8) Congressional Farm Bill debates, Rural Coalition and partners have encouraged USDA to collect race, ethnicity, and gender-related data about farmers (which was finally included in the 2014 farm bill), and we have advocated for funds to be appropriated for the upcoming TOTAL land survey as well as recommendations in the Equity Commission Report with respect to heirs property and a number of other evidence-based suggestions described elsewhere in our report.

THE USE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF NASS DATA TO THIS PROJECT AND FARMER COMMUNITIES WE SERVE

Employing the NASS/USDA suite of published Census of Agriculture data and online tools –including tables, quickstats, County and Race, Ethnicity and Gender (REG) Profiles– we began compiling project-specific profiles by county for our farm leaders to conduct a baseline assessment of farm economics as related to farmer demographics, current conditions and long term trends.

Because this research focuses on land tenure among underserved farmers, at least two major issues concurrently present the challenge and underscore the rationale for this research led by farmers themselves and the incorporation of their narrative interpretations of “what the data is telling us” about farmer realities (co-constructed as profile narratives and charts with the professional research team). 

First, it is not surprising that many of the target counties (where partners conducted TA, Outreach, Education) had little to no NASS data that can be published without disclosing individual information. In NASS tables and publications, “(D)” indicates when this is the case for only part of the data. In NASS REG Profiles, there may be no information, which is indicated as, “Data not available at this geographic level for farms with Black or African American Producers.”

The second challenge arose when compiling data using more than one tool or aggregate dataset. Reconciling these data can be challenging due to recognized methods such as rounding, and changes to the Census questions over time. These challenges are compounded when, for instance, counting more than one operator per farm (and by multiple REG categories) results in a grossly different number of total farmers, which can also obscure whether farms are operated by a specified REG group. Again, the change from aggregating REG by principal operator in 2012 to farms with (multiple) producers in 2017 can obscure rather than illuminate the conditions for the most vulnerable farmers and farmland. 

When we found the numbers too different to be useful or credible, we cross-checked using the total numbers of farms; the numbers of male and female producers; the number of female producers by race; etc. We used the most consistent, clear and comparable figures. In cases where there was little or no statistical data specific to the target population, the research team reviewed available data with farmer leaders to capture their “qualitative” insights about farmer realities, conditions, and trends.

What data is available when employing the NASS suite of tools shifts with evolving Ag Census questions, so the profiles produced for this farmer-researcher project may include the numbers of principal operators (2012), the count of all producers in 2017, or principal operators (2017). The Project Profile narratives below include notes about where data is unavailable and when tables (Census chapters) provided more, sometimes also incomplete, data. These notes document feedback about what is most useful for future census questions and the highlights NASS produces to projects such as this.

The charts produced for farmer-led research collaborators in this project combine some of the most useful features of the prior 2012 REG profiles and the current county profiles, especially the column focused on change since the last census, which is only available on county profiles. 

Trends we gave a close look in research-specific profiles and interviews: 

• Increase in farm size overall, concentration, profitability, government payments (showing participation in programs including conservation)
• Decrease in farm size for SDFRs and small sustainable family farm holdings
• Land tenure
• Land transfer
• New and Beginning Farmers
• Female farmers indicating land transfer to Female Principal Operators, New, Beginning, Next Generation SDFRs, Veteran Farmers
• REG groups for whom data is available
• Internet access for all and by REG - except when data is unavailable for groups at the geographic (county) level

 

DIVE INTO COUNTY DATA

 STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTIES

The Yellowhammer State had 37,362 farms as of 2022. The decline follows a national trend. There are 1.9 million farms in the U.S., a 7% loss in just five years. In Alabama, 95% are still family farms or partnerships.

Barbour County Profile (data as of 2017)

Barbour county Alabama is situated in the Southeast corner of the state and accounts for 2 percent of the state’s agricultural sales. Since 1950, Barbour has experienced an over 200 percent decline in land in farms with a 67 percent increase in average farm size. A consolidation of farmland can be observed in this county over time.

 

More specifically, Black/African American farms and land have experienced significant decline over the past 50 years. From 1964 to 2017, land in Black/African American farms decreased over 360 percent and the number of Black/African American farms decreased over 650 percent over the same period.

The loss of Black/African American farms is exacerbated by the lack of profits generated and government payments received by these farms in Barbour County. Compared to their White farm counterparts, who profited $46,851 on average per year from 2007-2017, Black/African American producers averaged -$784 per year in profits from farm sales. In addition, White farmers receive 37 percent more in government payments than their Black/African American counterparts. Compounding these disparities is a lack of internet service. Across the county, only 61 percent of farms are accounted as having internet access. Even less, only 46 percent of Black/African American farms have internet access. 

In 2017, the average farm size in Barbour County was 307 acres. On average, 81 percent of farms fall between 10-500 acres. Although these farms might range larger in size, 43 percent of farms make less than $2,500 in agriculture sales per year. From 1992-2017, the poultry and egg sector has dominated the market value of agricultural production across the county, averaging over 70 percent of total production. Cotton and cattle follow far behind, but also make up 7 and 4 percent of the total agricultural product sales in the area.

Most producers in Barbour County are White, but there is still a significant portion of Black/African American farmers, 25 percent of which are New and Beginning farmers. The average age of producers in the county is continually increasing and stands at 60.5 years old in 2017. On average, African American/Black producers are younger than White producers with averages ages of 58.3 and 60.8, respectively.

Geneva County Profile 

In 2012 in Geneva county, farm size went down by 8%, land in acres diminished to 218,805 acres, but average farm size went up by 8% to 215 acres. 

Most 2012 REG data was unavailable at the county level for 2012, but for female producers. In 2012, female farmers operated 157 of the 1017 farms with producers in the county. They were 66.7 years old on average, with gross average earnings of $111,840, net cash farm income of $19,949, and government payments averaging $6205 (where the total avg payment was $,7,876).

REG Data are not available at this geographic level for farms with Asian; Black or African American Producers; Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Operators (Project Profiles used census chapter tables, county profiles and REG estimates.]

The 2017 REG Profile shows that there were 30 American Indian farms, and white farmers counted as 806 out of 820 farmers. 424 (white) women were farming on 427 farms with an average age of 60.6. 

While no 2017 REG for other groups at this geographical level, the tables show that there were 12 farms with Black producers in 2012 and 2017. The number of producers captured by the 2017 multi-producer question showed an increase to 15, but their total  farmland decreased from 1472 to 711 acres.

In 2017, 1227 white producers farmed 180,864 acres on 711 farms, which also reflects a trend in concentration. In the prior census of 2012, 1421 white producers on 996 farms operated on 216,504 acres. 

 

STATE OF GEORGIA COUNTY 

Baker County Profile

In 2017, all 147 farms in Baker County operated on 130,989 farmland acres averaging 891 acres. In 2012, 150 farms in the county amounted to 146,478 acres with an average of 977 acres. In 2007, there were 156 farms on 135,181 acres with an average of 867 acres.

While most of the REG data is masked (D), in 2017, 33 Black farms on 6291 acres averaged 191 acres in size, including two with over 1000 acres.

Much of white producer farmland data is also masked (D) in the 2017 REG profile, but farm size data shows that 30 (28%) were over 1000 acres. In 2012, 158 white producers farmed on 112 operations with a total of 137,874 acres. The 108 farms in the county with 142 white producers, on average grossed $426,226 and netted $158,679 in cash income with $76,022 in government payments. All farms averaged

Women producers netted slightly higher than average income of $158,679 with an average gross (MVP) of $426,226 and $76,022 in government payments.

In 2017, whereas Black farmers’ average age was 66.1, white farmers were 60.7 on average. On farms with a total of 48 female producers, including 36 white, one American Indian, 4 Asian, and 7 Black producers, women producers were 63.2 years old on average.  

Internet access for Black farms was significantly low at 30% in 2017, while 75% of farms with white producers and 72% of farms with female producers had access.

Update: In 2022, overall farm size increased by 20% in Baker. While the total 113,062 acres in farms and the number of farms, 1067, have decreased by 14% and 28% respectively. Average net cash income of $84,096 was down 37%. Gross was $555,624, with government payments of $36,727. (Only 65% of all farms have access to the Internet.)

Dougherty County Profile  

In 2012 there were 26 farms with Black operators in Dougherty County, the 2017 census counted 37 producers. In 2017, 67 African American producers, 24 of whom were women, farmed on 2872 acres, but 2012 data is unavailable for comparison. The average Black farmer was 66 years old, received a government payment of $8,567, and 73 percent had internet access. 

In 2017, the average gross income for all farms in the County was $162,519, net income of $162,519 with government payments of $30,022. The 90 farms with white operators lost acreage in 2017, going from 90 to 71 farms with 127 operators (4 fewer than previously) and from 63,193 acres to 61,570.

In 2022, the average farm size was 546 acres, down 7%, and the net cash income averaged 16,962, which was a 90% decrease.

 

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES

OVERVIEW - NC is 15th in the nation in the loss of farmland from 2017 to 2022, although those numbers don’t reflect the population growth and development the state is experiencing now or is projected to see in the next 16 years. (American Farmland Trust ranks NC second in the country in projected land loss by 2040.)

The number of new and beginning producers was up 13 % from 2017, just shy of 23,000 new and beginning producers in agriculture.

The average age of farmers in North Carolina remained at 58.1 years. (Young people choosing to farm.) Largest number of farms in Randolph, Chatham, Buncombe, Johnston and Duplin counties.

Granville County Profile

Project population - African American Producers

ALL FARMS - In 2017, Granville County had 557 farms on 124,813 acres with an average farm size of 224 acres. Despite the new all producer census question, farmers went from 855 operators to 844 producers. Their average age was 59.7. Farm income averaged a gross of $49,268 (up from $38,769 in 2012), with an average net cash income of $9033, and an average of $1712 in government payments. Farm access to the internet averaged 79 percent.

BLACK FARMS - Between 2012 and 2017, farms with African American producers decreased in number from 35 to 24 farms, previously an average size of 86 acres on a total of 3067 acres, average size was not published for the current 2762 total acres of Black farmland in 2017. Economic data is spare for 2017, but in 2012, African American farmers were netting an average cash income loss of $6818, grossing $12,010, and had an average in government payments of $693. (Internet data is masked along with other economic (farm asset) data by demographic at this geographical location.)

WHITE FARMS - While the average size of farms with white producers was not published for 2017, farm acres increased to 122,525 acres and the number of farms decreased from 549 in 2012 to 532 farms. Previously, these farms covered 97,283 acres, and the average sized white operated farm was 177 acres. Economic data is also published sparingly for this demographic in 2017, but in 2012, white farmers were netting an average cash income of $4818, grossing $40,829 with $4542 in government payments. (Internet data is masked along with other economic (farm asset) data by demographic at this geographical location.)

See: https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/North_Carolina/Publications/Annual_Statistical_Bulletin/AgStat/Back50/GranvilleGreene.pdf

FARMS WITH FEMALE PRODUCERS AND WOMEN OPERATED FARMS - The 240 farms with female producers totalling 40,586 acres averaged 169 acres in size and were 100% “family farms.” These family farms had a net cash income of $1056, an average gross income of $23,100, and $1272 in government payments. Female producers in Granvilles were 59.3 years old on average, and the farms where they worked had 87% access to the internet.

Halifax County Profile (as of 2017 data)

In 2017, everything was up except the number of farms. With 209,073 acres on 336 farms, the average farm related income was up 118%.

Halifax county is situated outside of the densely populated city area of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and accounts for 1 percent of that state’s total agricultural sales. The land in farms has decreased steadily from 1950 to 2017, over 75 percent. Additionally, the number of farms has decreased significantly from 4,474 in 1950 to 336 in 2017. Over the same time period, the average size of farms has increased 86 percent. This trend mirrors the national trends of agricultural consolidation across the United States as agriculture makes up a smaller portion of full time employment.

Specifically, Black African American farms and land in farms have decreased considerably from 1950 to 2017. Just over 11,000 acres in Black/African American land in farms has been lost over that time period, decreasing 83 percent. Moreover, the number of farms has decreased more dramatically over the same time period by 261 percent.

Across the county, government payments to operators differ significantly based on race. From 2007 to 2017, on average White operators received over 60 percent greater amounts in government payments than their Black/African American counterparts. Similarly, from 2007-2012, White operators averaged a net cash farm income of $82,791 per year, while Black/African American operators averaged around $30,703, only 37 percent of what White operators made. Disparities can also be identified in internet access. As of 2017, 72 percent of White farms had internet access. On the other hand, only 49 percent of Black/African American farms had internet access. That is less than half of Black/African American farms who can access the internet in Halifax county.

Across the county farms were generally well-distributed in size in 2017.The largest sector of farms fell between 50 to 179 acres, and 18 percent of farms are larger than 1,000 acres. However, 24 percent of farms are smaller than 50 acres. Despite representation of very large farms, the majority, 48 percent of farms, produced less than $2,500 in sales in 2017. On the other end of the spectrum, the second largest portion of farms, 31 percent, produced more than $100,000 in sales in 2017. As with farm size, market value of Agricultural products sold in Halifax in 2017 are well-distributed across products. Cotton and cotton seed comprised about 20 percent of the market from 1992 to 2017, followed by poultry and eggs at 22 percent, hogs and pigs at 16 percent, tobacco at 12 percent, and grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas at 10 percent.

                                 

As of 2017, 82 percent of operators in Halifax identified as White. Another 16 percent of operators identified as Black/African American. 1 percent of operators identified as American Indian/Alaska Native, and another 1 percent identified as more than one race. On average, in 2017, the average age of operators was 61.2 years old. The average age of White operators was 61.8 years old and the average age of Black/African American operators was younger at 58.2 years old. In 2017, while the majority of new and beginning operators identified as White, 22 percent are Black/African American. 

Robeson County Profile

Project Populations: American Indian Farmers, African American Farmers

ALL FARMS: The 2017 average net cash income for all farms in Robeson was $176,611, with an average government payment of $11,293. Between 2012 and 2017, the total number of farms in Robeson County decreased by 23%. The total 263,740 acres of farmland went down slightly by 1%, and the average size of farms increased by 29% to 365 acres. This meant that the overall number of farms decreased to 722 from the previous number of 941 farms in 2012. 73 percent of all farms had Internet access in 2017.

 

NATIVE AMERICAN FARMS: Farmland with American Indian producers decreased from 69,464 in 2012 to a total of 68,758 acres on 290 farms. The average farm size grew from 172 acres to 237 acres, and the number of farms decreased from 404 to 290 farms. They grew older on average from 55.3 to 58.7 years. Their average net cash income increased from $43951 to $63,745 and their farms’ average government payments increased from $7102 to $11,943. 70 percent of their farms had Internet access.

BLACK FARMS AND FARMERS (Black land, farmers and farms): In 2017, 43 farms with African American producers increased in average size from 86 to 95 acres since 2012. This reflects a decrease in numbers of farms with Black producers, from 50 to 43 farms. The total amount of Black farmland also decreased from 4291 total acres to 4069 acres from 2012. Black producers had 67 percent Internet access and were aged on average 65. The net cash income of these farms went up from $690 to $4375.

WHITE FARMS: In 2017, farms with a total of 628 white producers, who were on average 57.1 years old, increased in average size from 376 acres to 479 acres.

WOMEN FARMERS AND FARMS - FARMS WITH FEMALE PRODUCERS: Among 312 female producers of the total 1117 producers in the County in 2017, 187 were white, 110 American Indian, and 10 Black female farmers. 73 percent had internet access in 2017.

 

Vance County Profile

Project population: African American Farmers

In 2017 there were 238 farms counted in Vance County on 66,157 acres with an average size of 278 acres. In 2012 there were 54,880 acres of farmland (a slight change, calculated as 0%, from 55,091 acres in 2007) with 242 farms overall (a 2% decrease from 2007). Between 2007 and 2012, farms in the county also grew in average size from 224 to 227 acres.

In 2017, all farms grossed $72,314 in income on average, netted an average cash income of $11,681 with an average in governments of $2006. In 2012, the average gross income for all farms in Vance was $71,464; the average in government payments was $4,022, and the average net cash income was $5,992. The 2017 county profile shows that the numbers of farms decreased only slightly (2%), farm size went up 23%, but net cash decreased by 52%, and government payments went down by 50%.

In 2017, among the 369 total producers, 175 were over 65. Census counted 16 producers under 35, and 107 new and beginning. Overall 79 percent had access to the internet.

For farms with African American producers, both prior census tabulations counted 11 farms, 16 operators, and the total acres went up slightly from 1020 to 1093 acres in Black farmland.

For farms with white producers, total farmland acres also increased from 54,240 acres to 65,064 acres, with 233 farms and 305 white operators in 2012, and 227 farms with 345 producers in 2017.

While most other demographic (REG) data is unavailable at this geographic level for 2012 and 2017, the data for women producers and partial data from the tables provides some insight into the changes and trends over time for smaller operations (with non-male and at least 17 non-white producers).

Among the 115 farms with a total of 134 female producers in 2017, 117 were white, 9 African American, 6 native Haiwaiian/PI and two (2) were Asian producers. Their average gross income was $23,048, with $1252 in government payments, netting an average cash income of $3349. Farmland with women producers counts 12,778 acres with an average farm size of 111 acres.

Female producers on all farms are 58.6 years old on average, 60 female producers were over 65, and 16 were under 35 (the same number cited for the county overall); 107 new and beginning; 77% of farms with female producers have access to the Internet.

In 2012, 48 farms had women as principal operators on 7,331 acres with an average size of 153 acres. Their farms grossed an average of $21,582 with an average in government payments of $1,614. When counting women principal operators in 2012, these farmers were considerably older at 70.2 years of age on average. (Demographic data is not broken down for women producers by race or ethnicity in this profile.)

 

STATE OF OKLAHOMA COUNTIES

Okfuskee County Profile (2012-2017)

While much of the REG data for Okfuskee county is unavailable at this geographic level or masked (D) in tables and profiles for this period, on average all farmers in the county were farming at a loss of -$5,160 in 2017.

In 2017, all 792 farms with white producers sold $26,884,00 of farm products, lost $3,693,000, and averaged a net cash income loss of $4,663.

Between 2012 and 2017, the number of farms in Okfuskee County increased by 6% to 934, and the land in farms (acres) increased 9% to 347,309. Of the total 1595 producers, 485 producers were classified as “new and beginning” in 2017.

Despite a gross farm income (market value of products sold) of $35,617, which was only a 10% decrease from the prior census, net cash income decreased by 128%. The 372 number of farms in the county amounted to a 2% increase since 2012.

Among 156 Native American producers, they lost $6600 on average (net cash income) annually despite an average gross farm income of $46,868 (market value of products sold) and $6,173 in government payments. The 2017 Ag Census counted 88 female producers in this category. (The 2017 female producers' census questions captured 60 in this category.)

Black producers’ average net cash income (loss), average age, farm size, land in acres were not published in 2017 (D). Yet other data yields some insights. Of the total number of black farmers, 61 were new and beginning, 33 of whom were under the age of 35, and 43 were female producers.

Among the 575 female producers in the county on farms averaging an annual loss (net cash farm income) of  $,7270, overall, 450 were white; 35 were Black, and 60 were Native American. With an average age of 55, 72 female producers were under the age of 35 and 168 were over 65. In 2017, 219 female producers were classified as “New and Beginning.”

When the census question was introduced in 2017, Internet access was 71% for white producers, 74% for female producers, 68 percent for American Indian producers, and 60 percent for African American producers. According to the 2022 Ag Census, 75 percent of all farmers in the county had access to the Internet.

Update: The 2022 Ag Census data has only recently become available (anticipating REG profiles in June 2024) and thus not evenly incorporated into these county level narratives. However, it is noteworthy to observe that for farmers overall this has changed significantly. Land in acres, farm size and the number of farms decreased, but net cash income increased 435% to $17,265 (as of 2022).

Wagoner County Profile

Populations of Project Interest: African American Farmers, American Indian Farmers, White Farmers 

ALL FARMS AND FARMERS - Between the 2012 and 2017 Ag Census, Wagoner County farms in acres seemed to hold somewhat steady, going from 198,924 to 194,466 in total acres. Farm size changed slightly from 182 to 184 acres. The number of farms went down from 1090 to 1059. Net income increased from $ 31,049 to $43,380, farms grossed $6714 on average compared to the prior average of $2925.

Among the 1757 producers counted in 2017, 650 were new and beginning farmers, 152 were American Indian, 78 were African American and 1396 were white. Overall, 76% of all farms had access to the internet.

AMERICAN INDIAN FARMERS AND FARMLAND - In 2017, American Indian farmers were 51.7 years old on average, farming on 206 farms and a total of 30,645 acres in Wagoner County with an average size of 149 acres. These farms averaged $22,972 in gross income, with a net income at a loss of -$4979 and government payment of $3408. Farms had 89% Internet access in 2017.

AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK FARMERS AND FARMLAND - During this period, as documented by the 2012 and 2017 Ag Census, farms with Black farmers in 2012 decreased to 76 farms from 1839 to 1331 in total acres in 2017. The average size of their farms in 2017 was 96 acres.

WHITE FARMERS AND FARMLAND - With 955 farms on 182,333 total acres averaging 191 acres in Wagoner County, farms with white principal operators averaged a gross income of $46,887 and a net income of $7642 with government payments averaging $6546, In 2017, white producers were 51.7 years old on average and their farms had 76% access to the Internet.  

WOMEN FARMERS AND FARMS WITH FEMALE PRODUCERS - In 2017, 687 women producers worked on 1059 farms and operated 651 farms. On average, their farms grossed $22,649, and netted cash income $7,642 with slightly higher than average government payments of $6,546. Their farms had 89% access to the Internet. Their average age was 54.9 with 198 (out of 687) over the age of 65. Census counted 67 American Indian women farmers, 27 African American women farmers, 9 Asian American and 285 new and beginning female farmers.

Of Additional Interest to SARE Project Work in OK - Muskogee County Profile

Located southeast of Tulsa in between Musogee, Choctaw and Cherokee Nations in Oklahoma, Muskogee county accounts for 2 percent of state agricultural sales. The county has seen only a slight decrease in farmland over the past 70 years. Between 1954 and 2017, there has been a 17 percent decrease in land in farms in the area. More significantly, there has been a 50 percent decline in the number of farms over the same period. An explanation for this can be found in the 22 percent increase during that time in the average size of farms, which signals a consolidation of farmland.

There is more significant change in farmland based on race and ethnicity of operations. From 1978 to 2017, there has been an increase of 88 percent in reported American Indian/Alaska Native land in farms and a 92 percent increase in farms, as well as a 65 percent increase in reported Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Origin land in farms and a 69 percent increase in farms. Additionally, the county has seen a 22 percent increase in the number of Black/African American farms over the same period. From 2007 to 2017, the NASS data encompasses greater diversity of race and ethnicity to display these trends.

While farm tenure varies between race and ethnicity, so do economic indicators. Nonetheless, all groups do not bring in high profits. Net cash farm income has varied significantly between the different groups from 2007 to 2018. For example, White farms averaged a net cash farm income around $3,311, while the net cash farm income of Black/African American farms were not displayed in 2012 and 2017 to protect confidentiality, the average for 2007 was -$915. Similarly, the average for American Indian/Alaska Native farms for 2007 and 2017 was -$716.50. Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Origin farms were recorded to have a net cash farm income of $4,825 in 2012. Government payments also vary by race in the county. From 2007 to 2017, White farms received the highest payments, averaging $4,820 per year, while Black/African American farms received the least, averaging $2,678. American Indian/Alaska Native farms fall in the middle, averaging $3,405 per year.

Generally, as of 2017, farms in Muskogee are mid-size in both acreage and sales. 40 percent of farms are less than 50 acres in size and 51 percent make less than $5,000 in sales per year. Cattle and calves make up around 48 percent of the market value based on products sold from 1992 to 2017. The industry is followed by poultry and eggs, which average around 23 percent, and then grains, oilseeds, dry peas, and dry beans, which average around 15 percent. On average in 2017, 73 percent of farms in the county had access to the internet. Although, only 63 percent of Black/African American farms had internet access.

In 2017, 70 percent of operators in the county identified as White. Another 18 percent identified as American Indian/Alaska Native. 6 percent identified with more than one race, and 5 percent identified as Black/African American. Almost one-third, 27 percent, of the operator population are new and beginning farmers. Of that group, 25 percent identify as American Indian/Native American. The average age for operators in the county is 57.3 years old with Black/African American operators averaging older, at 62.3 years, and American Indian Alaska Native Operators averaging younger at 53.5 years of age.

 

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES

Orangeburg County Census Insights

In 2017, Orangeburg County in South Carolina accounted for 7 percent of the state agricultural sales. The county has a rich agricultural history, producing a wide range of agricultural goods throughout time. However, over the past 70 years, Orangeburg has experienced a decline in the number of farms, amount of farmland, diversity of agricultural products sold, and, of note, Black or African American operated farms.

On average producers’ race in Orangeburg is accounted for as 80 percent White, 17 percent Black or African American, 2 percent more than one race, and 1 percent Asian. There are 3 American Indian or Alaskan Native producers and 23 Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish Origin producers recognized by NASS. About 15 percent of the producer population have recorded military service. Of those producers, around 21 percent identify as Black or African American. On average, 30 percent of producers are female, and 21 percent are new and beginning farmers.

As of 2017, there were 978 farms and 293,790 acres in farmland in Orangeburg. Around half of these farms, 47 percent, sell less than $2,500 of products per year. On the other hand, the second largest group of farms, 20 percent, sells over $100,000 in agricultural products in a year. There is a wide disparity between the two largest groups of farmers in the county.

From 1950 to 2017, the average size of farms has increased significantly, expanding 225% of the average size of a farm in Orangeburg County in 1950. This trend echoes the greater underlying agricultural consolidation movement that can be observed across the United States.

More specifically, a concerning decrease in Black or African American land tenure can be observed over the same period. Over 3,240 Black or African American owned or operated farms were lost. This loss totals a shocking 94 percent decrease in black owned or operated farms in 70 years. The loss of farms resulted in an 81 percent decrease in Black or African American owned acres in Orangeburg today. In addition, the current population of Black or African American farmers is aging quickly, with an average age of 64.2 and over 50% of this population over the age of 65.

These changes have left 91 percent of the land in farms in Orangeburg to be controlled or owned by White farmers, even though Black or African Americans compose 62 percent of the population. The average farm in Orangeburg in 2017 earns $68,615 in average net cash farm income, in comparison to the average net farm income of Black or African American producers, $13,836, which is also well below the national average of $43, 053. The average farm, which is predominantly White operated or owned, is profiting almost 400 percent more than their Black or African American counterparts. Land ownership predetermines profit in the agricultural sector.

Furthermore, African American, or Black producers are increasingly hindered by limited access to the internet in Orangeburg. Only 35 percent of Black or African American farmers have internet access. Meanwhile, 70 percent of average producers in the county enjoy access to internet services. This could be an indicator of the following results that demonstrate a much lower average government payment received by Black or African American farmers in Orangeburg.

The higher average net farm income that the average, majority white, farmers earn can be attributed to land tenure, increased resource access, or even a greater proportion of government payments than Black or African American farmers. From 2007-2017, the average farmer in Orangeburg received, on average, 64% more in government payments than Black or African American farmers in the county.

Just in the past 30 years, Orangeburg County has experienced a significant decline in the diversity of agricultural products produced and sold by resident farmers. The county has seen aggressive growth in the poultry and egg sector, along with hay and other crops, and nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod industries. While the dairy, hog, and fruits, tree nuts, and berries sectors have been edged out by these growing sectors.

 

STATE OF TEXAS COUNTIES 

Texas has the most Black farmers and farmland owners in the USA. This project targeted 2 of 7 counties in Southeast Texas where a total of 1212 farms are owned and operated by Black farmers or ranchers on 70, 440 farmland acres according to the 2017 Ag Census. These counties include Waller and Jasper, which was added after project initiation based on community based insights from farmer-researchers. 

Target County	Numbers of Farm	Acres
Waller	254	19228
Harris	202	5608
Fort Bend	124	7245
Brazoria	234	9794
Austin	119	7910
Washington	194	12811
Grimes	85	7844
Total	1,212	70,440

Jasper County Census Project Profile Insights

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Jasper, TX are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (45.7%), White (Non-Hispanic) (43.9%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.84%), Other (Hispanic) (4%), and White (Hispanic) (0.891%). This research looks at land tenure trends at the county level and examines what NASS data related to demographics and farm economics (government payments, gross and net cash income) can reveal as USDA tries to grow more farmers who feed US populations and sustain rural economies. 

ALL FARMS - In 2017, 99% of the 896 farms in Jasper County were recorded as “family farms.” With a total of  91,437 farmland acres (up 4%), farm size in the county averaged 102 acres (also up 4%). On average, these farms netted an average loss of -$5933 (which was a 14% increase from the prior Census), with an average gross income of $10,201 and government payments of $1334. Internet access for all farms was 73%. 

ALL PRODUCERS - With 1444 producers in the county in 2017, 911 were male and 533 were female. The 2017 Ag Census counted 141 Black producers, 1290 white, 57 Latino, 7 American Indian, one (1) Asian American producers; 514 producers over the age of 65; and 439 “new and beginning” producers.

FEMALE OPERATORS, PRODUCERS AND FARMLAND - In Jasper County, women had larger than average farms, 249 acres vs. the 99 acre average for all farms, and they were 57.4 years old on average.

BLACK FARMS, BLACK FARMLAND, AFRICAN AMERICAN PRODUCERS - In 2017, 110 farms on 11,847 acres averaged in size of 108 acres (a bit larger than the average size of total farms). Their farms grossed $10,201, netted a loss of -$9955 (with an unavailable number for government payments) and 98% were “family farms.” Black farmers were 62.5 years old on average, 24 were “new and beginning farmers” and 75 percent of their farms had Internet access. 80 Black farms were cow-calf operations according to the Census.

WHITE FARMS - In 2017, the Census counted 788 farms with white producers on 79,610 acres with an average farm size of 101 acres, slightly less than the average of all farms. These farms grossed $10,619 with government payments of $1334 and a net cash income loss of -$5370 (compared to the average loss of -$5933). 73 Internet.

WHITE PRODUCERS - In 2017, among the 1295 white producers, 788 were male and 507 were female, 57 were Hispanic, 415 were new and beginning farmers, and 438 were over 65. Their average age was 58.4.

LATINO FARMS - 2017 Ag Census recorded 2500 acres of total farmland as Hispanic farms, 96% of which are family farms. Farm size averaged at 52 acres. These farms had no government payments, and netted a loss of -$9848 in net farm cash income. Farms had 58% Internet access.

LATINO/HISPANIC FARMERS - In 2017, 57 Latino (also recorded as white) producers on 48 Latino farms, were 51.1 years old on average, 28 male, 29 female, and 20 were “new and beginning” farmers.  

Waller County Profile

ALL FARMS - In Waller County, average farm income increased in 2017, with the net cash income moving into the black from -$5676 in 2012 to $2219, and gross income from 47,575 to 54,423, farm land numbers decreased. (The average government payments went up from $47,575 to $60,447.) Contrary to the trend observed in areas where loss of farms may lead to larger farms, the 2% decrease from 1927 total farms in 2012 to a total number of 1,881 farms in 2017 corresponds with a sd 439 smaller average sized farm of 135 acres (down 18% from 163 acres). Land in farming, in Waller County overall, went down 20% from a prior total of 314,918 acres to 253,194 acres. Internet access was available on 75 percent of all farms in 2017.

GROUPS OF INTEREST IN WALLER for whom data is available in the 2017 County Profile  include 3,177 total producers, including 291 Hispanic, 9 American Indian, 34 Asian, 370 African American, and 2749 white producers. 

BLACK FARMS (FARMLAND ACRES, SIZE, OPERATORS) - Black farmers in Waller aged on average from 59.6 in 2012 to 62.2. A potentially divergent trend for the project’s enquiry is the notable increase of Black farmland from 12,059 acres in 2012 to 19,360 acres in 2017. Average farm size for Black producers increased from 59 to 74, and the number of farms with African American producers increased from 205 to 261. Gross income went from $6,822 to $17,756, and net cash income went from being unpublishable (D) to a net income loss of -$10,253 with an average of $1033 in government payments in 2012 and an undisclosed amount (D) in 2017. Internet access score was 10 points lower than average at 65 percent.

WHITE FARMERS (Land, Farms, Operators) - According to the 2017 Ag Census farms with white producers lost land, their acres decreased from 302,604 acres in 2012 to 233,693 acres. Farm size decreased from 175 to 144, and notably, the Census question change from principal operator that yielded 2756 operators in 2012 captured only a few more white producers, that is, 2760 producers in 2017. White farms had slightly higher than the average of 75% Internet access with a score of 77%, and they were 59 years old on average in 2017 compared to 56.1 in 2012.         

FEMALE FARMERS - (FARMS WITH WOMEN PRINCIPAL OPERATORS AND FEMALE PRODUCERS) While the 2012 Census looked at women principal operators,the 2017 questions expanded to capture female producers on all farms and numbers of  farms with female producers.

In 2017, the census counted 501 female producers, 67 of whom were American Indian, 27 Black, 527 white, and 9 Asian producers. They were 54.9  years of age on average, and 76% of their farms had access to the Internet.

On average in 2017, the average farm with women producers grossed $46,887, netted $7,642 in cash income with $6546 in government payments.

 

Additional Counties initially considered - Atchison County Profile (as of 2017 data)

Unlike many counties across the United States, over the past 70 years, the land in farms in Atchison county has not changed significantly. Land in farms has decreased only around 9 percent. Even so, the average size of farms in the area has steadily increased from 172 to 396 over the same time period. The most notable change is the number of farms, which has decreased over 150 percent since 1950. It is clear that consolidation of farmland has played a major role in this county.

In looking specifically at land tenure by race and ethnicity, Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Origin Farms have experienced a 92 percent increase in land from 2002-2017. Although experiencing changes, White land in farm has generally remained consistent over the same time period. The USDA could not display data for the amount of Black/African American Land in Farms for 2017 to protect confidentiality of farmers, but there is a slight decreasing trend over the 2002-2017 time frame. me period.

The average net cash farm income for farmers has steadily risen since 1987, with a sharp increase of almost 50 percent from 2012 to 2017. Additionally, access to internet for farms increased greatly from 2012 to an average of 73 percent in 2017. Government payments have remained relatively unchanging and low, averaging around $5,800 from 1987 to 2017. The production of grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas dominate agricultural production in sales, making up around an average of 70 percent of the market from 1992 to 2017. The second largest agricultural market product is cattle, which comprises around 30 percent of the agricultural market of products sold in Atchison county.

Farms are well distributed by size, but tend to be larger, with a majority of farms larger than 50 acres and 23 percent of farms are over 500 acres in size. On the other hand, there is a wide spectrum of farms by value of sales. Around 20 percent of farms make less than $2,500 in agricultural sales, while around 30 percent make more than $100,00 in agricultural sales. There is a wide disparity between farms by value of sales.

         

As of 2017, operator demographics reflect a majority White population, with a small concentration of Black/African American operators. The average age of producers has followed the national trend by steadily rising over the years to an average of 57.4 in 2017. 20 percent of recorded operators identify as New or Beginning farmers.