USDA survey shows rising farmland rental trends and aging landowners
More than two million landowners rent out farmland across the United States, according to the latest Tenure, Ownership, and Transition of Agricultural Land (TOTAL) survey released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The survey shows that about 348 million acres of farmland are rented to agricultural producers. A large majority of this land, nearly 79 percent, is owned by non-farming landlords. These landlords include individuals, families, trusts, and other entities that own farmland but do not operate farms themselves.
Among these non-operating landlords, more than 251 million acres are rented out by private landowners, family entities, or trusts. These arrangements allow farmland owners to earn income while farmers gain access to land needed for crop production and livestock operations.
The survey also highlights the economic importance of renting farmland. In 2024, rented farmland and the buildings on it were valued at more than $1.6 trillion. During the year, landlords earned about $34.1 billion in rental income while spending roughly $12 billion on operating expenses related to the land.
“About 5% of the nearly 900 million U.S. farmland acres, or about 43 million acres, is slated for ownership transfer in the next five years, not including farmland that is in or is expected to be put into wills or trusts,” said Joseph L. Parsons, NASS Administrator.
Researchers also examined how farmland ownership may change in the near future. According to the survey, about 43 million acres of farmland could change ownership within the next five years. This represents roughly 5% of the nearly 900 million acres of farmland in the United States.
However, only a portion of this land is expected to enter the open market. About 23 million acres may be sold to buyers who are not related to the current owners, while approximately 20 million acres could be transferred to relatives or given as gifts.
The report also provides information about the people who own farmland. The average age of principal landlords is 69.2 years, which is significantly older than the average farmer age of 58.1 years reported in the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
In addition, nearly 52% of these principal landlords have never farmed themselves, showing how farmland ownership has become increasingly separated from farm operations.
Agriculture officials explain that the TOTAL survey provides important information about land ownership, farmland values, and land transfer trends. These insights help government agencies, researchers, and agricultural organizations better understand farmland markets and plan for the future of U.S. agriculture.
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