Who Actually Farms These Days? The Changing Faces of Modern Agriculture

Say the word “farmer,” and what image comes to mind?

For many, it’s still a man in overalls on a tractor, working acres of row crops in the rural Midwest. But step onto a Texas goat dairy, a Houston hydroponic farm, or a compost-rich garden in Fort Worth—and you’ll see just how much that image is changing.

Modern farmers are veterans. They’re women. They’re retirees, food justice activists, high school teachers, and full-time parents. Some grow mushrooms in climate-controlled warehouses. Others host students in pollinator gardens behind churches or offer dairy classes in handmade barns.

So… who actually is a farmer these days?

📊 Farmers by the Numbers: What the USDA Tells Us

Every five years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts the Census of Agriculture—a comprehensive snapshot of who’s growing our food, fiber, and fuel. The most recent report, from 2022, paints a complex and shifting picture.

Here are a few standout stats:

1. 3.37 million producers were counted in the U.S. in 2022—down slightly from 2017. A “producer” is anyone involved in farm decision-making.
2. 36% of producers are women, and 58% of farms have at least one female producer.
3. Average age of all producers is 58.1, but nearly 20% are under age 45, and just over 9% are under 35 .
4. 95% of farms are family-owned, and 74% are considered small farms by revenue standards (under $50,000/year) .
5. Black farmers make up 1.2% of producers, and Hispanic/Latino farmers 2.4%—but these numbers are growing slowly after decades of decline .

And for the first time ever, the 2022 census collected data on urban agriculture, on-farm food processing, and farmers markets—signs of how the agency is adapting to reflect new kinds of farms and farmers .

🧑‍🌾 You Might Be Surprised Who Counts

You don’t need 500 acres or a herd of cattle to be a farmer. According to the USDA, you just need to grow and sell at least $1,000 of agricultural products annually.

That’s how farmers like these make the list:

1. Urban hydroponic growers turning warehouse space into clean, efficient leafy greens.
2. Backyard beekeepers selling honey and teaching about pollination.
3. Veteran farmers finding healing and purpose through land stewardship.
4. Educators and nonprofits managing school gardens or teaching compost systems.
5. Mushroom growers using sawdust and lab techniques instead of soil or sunlight.

Some are off-grid homesteaders. Others are selling to top chefs in Dallas. Many are building diversified businesses that include education, agritourism, and product sales to make the numbers work.

🎓 Why People Choose to Farm Now

While some producers inherit land, many are starting from scratch—with limited capital and a mission-driven mindset. What’s drawing them in?

1. Food justice & sovereignty: Growing culturally important crops, reducing food insecurity, and feeding neighbors.
2. Sustainability & climate action: Using regenerative or no-waste methods to restore land and reduce harm.
3. Connection to land: Reclaiming ancestral practices or finding healing through working with nature.
4. Education & enrichment: Hosting field trips, youth programs, cooking classes, and more.

Some are part-time farmers juggling other jobs. Others are building full-time, financially viable operations—but often by combining traditional agriculture with education, agritourism, or product development.

🧭 Real Examples You Can Visit in Texas

Delve works directly with small and mid-sized farms across Texas—including many that defy stereotypes.

You can meet:

1. A hydroponic grower in Houston building a clean-food future inside a warehouse
2. A veteran-turned-farmer running goat tours and candle-making workshops
3. A former public school teacher who now manages a compost education center in Fort Worth
4. A Black-led urban farm that fights food insecurity and honors the legacy of Opal Lee
5. A female fiber artist raising rare sheep and teaching woolworking in Burleson

These aren’t just places to learn—they’re stories you can step into. Experiences range from educational tours and cheese-making to worm composting and felting classes. Each one offers a connection to the people behind your food—and a chance to rethink what a “farmer” looks like.

👉 Browse Delve’s farm experiences across Texas

🔍 Why This Matters

Farmers shape what we eat, how we use land, and what our communities value. When we expand our understanding of who counts as a farmer, we also expand who can participate—and who can lead.

Small farms still face major challenges. But they're also where the most innovation, diversity, and education is happening. And they’re the reason Delve exists.

Curious to meet a real farmer? Come visit. You might find one who looks a lot like you.

📚 Sources

1. USDA Census of Agriculture (2022), U.S. Summary and State Data
2. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_US/usv1.pdf
3. USDA ERS (Economic Research Service). “Beginning, Young, and Small Farmers.”
4. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/beginning-young-small-farmers
5. USDA NASS. “Highlights: Farms and Land in Farms 2023 Summary.”
6. https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/5712m6524/t722hj76n/hh63w532d/fnlo0224.pdf