Data and Statistics - FIC

We’ve detected that you are using an outdated browser.

Please use a new browser like Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Microsoft Edge to improve your experience.

We’ve detected that you are using an outdated browser.

Data and Statistics

Data can support the case for farmland protection at the local, state or national level. Search here for data and statistics by state or browse our collection of national statistics. 

Find Statistics by State

National Statistics

Farms Under Threat: The State of the States

Explore new data from AFT’s new report Farms Under Threat: The State of the States. Farms Under Threat is American Farmland Trust’s multi-year initiative to complete the most comprehensive assessment of the loss of U.S. farmland and ranchland ever undertaken, both past and future. AFT’s goal is to document the threats and offer policy solutions to ensure the long-term protection and conservation of agricultural land in the United States to sustain an expanding population and protect biodiversity. 

Farms Under Threat

National Resources Inventory

The National Resources Inventory (NRI) program collects and produces scientifically credible information on the status, condition, and trends of land, soil, water, and related resources on the Nation’s non-federal lands in support of efforts to protect, restore, and enhance the lands and waters of the United States.

2017 National Resources Inventory

Census of Agriculture

The Census of Agriculture is the most comprehensive source of data portraying our nation’s agriculture over time. The census is conducted every five years by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). On April 11, 2019, NASS released the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Census of Agriculture

Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land

The Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) survey is a study of agricultural landowners—including non-operator landlords—conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS). The survey provides data about land ownership, income, expenses, debt, assets, landlord characteristics, and agricultural landowners’ land transfer plans.

Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land

Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs

Purchase of agricultural conservation easement (PACE) programs compensate property owners for restricting the future use of their land. PACE is known as Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) in many locations. The Farmland Information Center conducts an annual survey of State PACE programs and tracks their activity.

Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs

Protected Agricultural Lands Database

The Protected Agricultural Lands Database (PALD) is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive national inventory of spatial data about protected agricultural lands. It contains boundaries of easements that permanently protect private farmland and ranchland in the U.S. as well as important information about each site. This database was compiled by the American Farmland Trust GIS Team as a complement to data gathered through surveys by AFT’s Farmland Information Center of state and local Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements (PACE) programs and land trusts that protect agricultural land for agriculture

Protected Agricultural Lands Database

Visit American Farmland Trust

Get engaged and receive the information you need right in your inbox.