Farming on Increase in New England

There are now 3.2 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres of farmland across the United States, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While the total number of farms has been decreasing throughout the nation, New England has seen an increase in the number of farms – especially small farms.

Media reports:

NECN: New England Goes Against Grain in Farming Data (29 AUG 14)

WCSH-TV: New England farms growing stronger with younger farmers

Providence Journal: New go-to career for New England’s young: Farming (22 AUG 14)

Hartford Courant: Let It Grow: Connecticut Leads Farm Growth In New England (23 MAR 14)

The Valley Breeze: Local man’s sticker-shock leads to farm purchase (26 AUG 14)

Background information:

New England Small Farm Institute

Fresh New England

New Hampshire Farms Network

U.S. Department of Agriculture: 2102 Census of Agriculture: United States Summary and State Data

U.S. Department of Agriculture: 2102 Census of Agriculture: Connecticut State and County Data

U.S. Department of Agriculture: 2102 Census of Agriculture: Maine State and County Data

U.S. Department of Agriculture: 2102 Census of Agriculture: Massachusetts State and County Data

U.S. Department of Agriculture: 2102 Census of Agriculture: New Hampshire State and County Data

U.S. Department of Agriculture: 2102 Census of Agriculture: Rhode Island State and County Data

U.S. Department of Agriculture: 2102 Census of Agriculture: Vermont State and County Data