Massachusetts Data and Statistics - FIC

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Massachusetts Data and Statistics

Welcome to the Massachusetts 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

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.

Find interactive maps and state data for Farms Under Threat: The State of the States and Farms Under Threat 2040: Choosing an Abundant Future.

2017 National Resources Inventory

The National Resources Inventory (NRI) is an appraisal of natural resource conditions and trends on non-federal land conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The 2017 NRI summary report includes details about land cover and use, soils, erosion, wetlands and conservation practices for the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii and Caribbean Territories. AFT’s Farmland Information Center developed maps and charts present data about agricultural land cover/use, the conversion of agricultural land to developed uses, and agricultural land in the context of total surface area.

Census of Agriculture

Data Item 2007 2012 2017
Farms 7,691 7,755 7,241
Land in Farms (acres) 517,879 523,517 491,653
Cropland (acres) 187,406 160,789 171,496
Permanent Pasture and Rangeland (acres) 48,120 62,234 46,341
Woodland (acres) 212,539 209,111 194,189
Land in Buildings (acres) 69,814 91,383 79,627
Total Land Area (acres) 5,192,927 5,192,927 5,192,927
All operators/All producers 12,265 12,595 13,371
All operators/All producers 34 and younger 869 1,055 1,082
All operators/All producers 65 and older 2,494 3,189 4,315
All producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 7,618
Principal producers 10,154
Principal producers 34 and younger 705
Principal producers 65 and older 3,719
Principal producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 2,536
Principal operators / Primary producers 7,691 7,755 7,241
Principal operators / Primary producers 34 and younger 341 419 428
Principal operators / Primary producers 65 and older 1,914 2,333 2,732
Primary producers with experience of 10 years or less on any farm 1,734
Market value of agricultural products sold $489,820,000 $492,211,000 $475,184,000
Average market value of agricultural products sold per operation $63,687 $63,470 $65,624
Market value of agricultural products sold directly to consumers $42,065,000 $47,909,000 $100,466,000
Market value of agricultural products sold directly to retail markets, institutions, and food hubs for local or regionally branded products $57,189,000

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

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