Study Explores Farm Size Success, Succession, and Management Roles
A recent national survey from 2024–2025 looks closely at how U.S. farmers make decisions about their farm operations. The study focuses on three main areas: business planning, production, and food safety.
The research shows how farm size and type affect planning. All survey participants are vegetable growers, but many also produce fruits, grains, livestock, and row crops. About 65% grow grains, 52% grow fruits, 45% raise livestock, and 39% plant row crops.
The study finds that medium-sized farms (earning $350,000 to $999,999 per year) tend to plan more strategically. On average, they farm about 381 acres, while small farms (under $350,000 annually) average 85 acres.
Medium-sized farms are also more likely to have a formal succession or exit plan—about 85% of them do. Grain farms lead in succession planning among crop types, and livestock farms are most often passed down through family generations.
Family involvement is strong in farming. Around 67% of farms identify as family businesses. Livestock farms tend to have the most generations—sometimes up to three—involved in daily operations.
The average level of business success also differs. Medium-sized farms report higher success, scoring 4.44 on a 1–5 scale, while small farms average 4.05. Grain and livestock farms show the highest levels of reported success.
These findings help explain how farmers manage their operations and prepare for the future. They also show how closely farm success is tied to long-term planning and family participation.