About 90% of U.S. farms are small. In 2018, small farms accounted for 48% of the land operated by farms. Small farms have gross cash farm income of less than $350,000.

Large-scale family farms accounted for the largest share of production, at 46%. Large-scale family farms are those with gross cash farm income of $1 million or more.

Family farms as a group accounted for 98% of farms and 88% of production in 2018.

Nonfamily farms accounted for 2% of farms and 12% of production.

15% of nonfamily farms had gross cash farm income of $1 million or more and accounted for 87% of nonfamily farms' production. Examples of nonfamily farms include partnerships of unrelated partners, closely held nonfamily corporations, farms with a hired producer unrelated to the owners and publicly held corporations.

Large-scale family farms account for more than two-thirds of dairy production, while large-scale family farms and nonfamily farms produce more than 80% of high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables.

Midsize and large-scale family farms dominate production of cotton, cash grains and soybeans and hogs.

Small and large-scale farms together account for 69% of beef production. Small farms generally have cow-calf operations, while large-scale farms are more likely to operate feedlots.

Small farms produce 56% of U.S. poultry and egg output and 50% of hay.

Between 58% and 81% of small family farms had an operating profit margin in the high-risk red zone.

Between 9% and 25% of small farms operate in the low-risk green zone, as do between 37% and 41% of midsize, large and very large farms.

In 2018, 57% of farm households received an income at or above $63,179, the median for all U.S. households.

Overall, 45% of principal farm operators work off the farm.

Sole proprietorships are the most common form of legal organization for farms.