![]() “With so many new and young farmers in Maine, it’s an exciting time for agriculture in the state,” Jackson said. The census also reported 2,739 new Maine farmers on 4,398 new farms. Jackson said in Maine, however, smaller farms are on the rise with more young people becoming involved in agriculture.Īccording to the USDA census, there are 1,412 young farmers - individuals 35-years-old or younger - working on 1,001 farms in Maine. The largest farms - those with 2,000 or more acres in production - account for 58 percent of all farmland in the country. The most recent census was taken in 2017 and the results released this past April and are available online at According to the USDA 2017 census, the smallest farms in the country with 1 to 9 acres in production account for less than 1 percent of all farmland. ![]() The census is administered by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and gathers data on land use, ownership, production, income, expenditures and operator demographics. The USDA has collected data on farms through the detailed Census of Agriculture every five years since 1840. “It used to be such a traditional way of life.” Keeping track of farms “There are very few small farms still owned by a single family in this country,” Jackson said. While the income generated from these hobby farm sales must be declared when filing taxes, if it does not represent your primary source of income, you do not qualify as a farm according to the IRS. The IRS does, however, make a solid distinction between a production farm and a so-called hobby farm in which an individual grows and sells small amounts of produce or other crops or livestock in addition to their regular employment off the farm. Individuals or businesses that meet the definition of farming may be able to deduct certain farm-related expenses or losses as part of their annual tax filing. A farm includes livestock, dairy, poultry, fish, vegetables and fruit. ![]() IRS definition of what qualifies as a farmĪccording to the United States Internal Revenue Service, a business qualifies as a farm if it is actively cultivating, operating or managing land for profit. In some years, however, they experience low sales due to bad weather, disease or changes in marketing strategies. These farms tend to be very small and normally have profitable seasons. USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for. According to the USDA, these tend to be smaller farms that experience low sales in a particular year. This definition takes into account that farms that may not have sold $1,000 or more of products in a specific year, but normally do every other year.
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