A new analysis based on data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture reveals that farmland in the United States has shrunk by 75 million acres, or 8%, between 1997 and 2022. This decline is primarily attributed to the reduction in pastureland, which accounted for 88% of the total loss, with a decrease of 65 million acres. The report highlights that cropland and woodland also experienced declines of 2% and 6%, respectively.
The study notes that the reduction coincided with the 1996 Farm Bill, which gave U.S. farmers more freedom in deciding land use by removing acreage set-aside programs that had been in place since 1933. This policy change allowed more flexibility in crop planting, contributing to shifts in land use. Notably, cropland decreased the least, a mere 2%, despite the overall loss in farmland.
“The loss of farmland does not equate to a loss in cropland, as pastureland was primarily affected,” the report states. The shift toward confinement animal production likely contributed to the large decrease in pastureland. Researchers also emphasized the need for further study to understand how this shift occurred and its implications for agricultural production.
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