Kentucky 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.

Kentucky Data and Statistics

Welcome to the Kentucky Statistics page. Here you will find frequently requested data specific to this state from AFT's Farms Under Threat: The State of the States report, the National Resources Inventory, the Census of Agriculture, and the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) program survey. You also can link to additional information and data sources.

On This Page

Farms Under Threat

National Resources Inventory

Census of Agriculture

Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs

Other Data Sources

Farms Under Threat: The State of the States

All estimates represent figures for the Conterminous U.S.

Total and Agricultural Land Cover/Use

Data Item Acres
Total land area in 2016 25,860,200
Agricultural land in 2016 12,286,800
Cropland in 2016 4,975,900
Pastureland in 2016 4,067,300
Rangeland  in 2016 0
Woodland in 2016 3,243,600
Agricultural land in 2001 12,026,200

High-quality Agricultural Land

Data Item Acres
Nationally Significant agricultural land in 2016 5,690,500
Nationally Significant agricultural land in 2001 5,664,000
Best agricultural land in 2016 5,987,900
Best agricultural land in 2001 5,950,300

Nationally Significant agricultural land is the land best-suited to long-term, intensive crop production within the Conterminous United States; and each state’s “best land” is approximately the better half of all agricultural land in each state. For more information about these categories of high-quality agricultural land and how they were identified, see the interactive website for Farms Under Threat: The State of the States, and the fact sheet about AFT’s Productivity, Versatility, and Resiliency (PVR) Analysis.

Agricultural Land Converted from 2001-2016

Data Item Acres
Agricultural land developed or compromised 265,300
Agricultural land converted to urban and highly-developed land use (UHD) 60,200
Agricultural land converted to low-density residential land use (LDR) 205,100
Nationally Significant agricultural land developed or compromised 119,600
Nationally Significant agricultural land converted to UHD 28,300
Nationally Significant agricultural land converted to LDR 91,400
Best agricultural land developed or compromised 121,900
Best agricultural land converted to UHD 25,600
Best agricultural land converted to LDR 96,400

Learn More


2012 National Resources Inventory

1997-2002 2002-2007 2007-2012 1982-2012
Agricultural land converted to developed land (acres) 125,300 55,700 30,400 608,700
Agricultural land at the beginning of the reporting period (acres) 11,210,100 10,856,100 10,779,600 11,872,200
Prime agricultural land at the beginning of the reporting period (acres) 4,771,900 4,621,100 4,579,200 5,020,900
Forest land converted to developed land (acres) 104,500 57,500 34,000 363,400
Other rural land converted to developed land (acres) 6,500 4,700 2,400 28,400
Total surface area (acres) 25,863,400 25,863,400 25,863,400 25,863,400

Census of Agriculture

Data Item 2007 2012 2017
Farms 85,260 77,064 75,966
Land in Farms (acres) 13,993,121 13,049,347 12,961,784
Cropland (acres) 7,278,098 6,336,247 6,630,448
Permanent Pasture and Rangeland (acres) 2,912,424 3,223,610 2,988,777
Woodland (acres) 3,107,137 2,745,655 2,689,985
Land in Buildings (acres) 695,462 743,835 652,574
Total Land Area (acres) 25,860,152 25,860,152 25,860,152
All operators/All producers 123,971 114,210 125,155
All operators/All producers 34 and younger 10,435 9,411 12,197
All operators/All producers 65 and older 29,247 30,703 38,565
All producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 74,180
Principal producers 100,889
Principal producers 34 and younger 9,334
Principal producers 65 and older 33,442
Principal producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 26,709
Principal operators / Primary producers 85,260 77,064 75,966
Principal operators / Primary producers 34 and younger 4,841 4,479 6,255
Principal operators / Primary producers 65 and older 24,339 24,479 27,002
Primary producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 18,566
Market value of agricultural products sold $4,824,561,000 $5,067,334,000 $5,737,920,000
Average market value of agricultural products sold per operation $56,586 $65,755 $75,533
Market value of agricultural products sold directly to consumers $15,173,000 $16,438,000 $28,836,000
Market value of agricultural products sold directly to retail markets, institutions, and food hubs for local or regionally branded products $14,236,000

Notes on Changes to the 2017 Census of Agriculture

  • Producer characteristic data were collected for a maximum of four producers on each farm, up from a maximum of three producers in prior years.
  • Principal producer is a new term that identifies up to two main decision-makers on each farm, up from one principal operator in prior years.
  • Market value of agricultural products sold directly to consumers expanded to include value-added products.
  • Market value of agricultural products sold directly to retail markets, institutions, and food hubs for local or regionally branded products is a new data item.

 


Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs

For summaries of PACE activity by state, use the links for the downloadable table or most recent fact sheets on the national statistics page under Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs.


Other Data Sources

Visit American Farmland Trust

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