American Farm Numbers Down and Ag Equipment Growth Expected
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**The number of farms in the U.S. fell by 15,000 in 2025, continuing a decline in the nation’s agricultural landscape.
According to USDA’s annual Land in Farms report, the total number of farms dropped to about 1.865 million last year, down from 1.88 million in 2024.
The decline spanned nearly all size and sales categories, with smaller operations posting the largest losses.
**The U.S. ag equipment market expects steady growth over the next several years, driven by demand for precision technology and automation even as farmers face tight margins.
A new industry outlook projects rising investment in GPS-guided machinery, autonomous equipment and data-driven tools designed to cut fuel, labor and input costs.
As farm income remains under pressure, manufacturers are focusing on high-tech upgrades rather than large volume sales of traditional machinery.
**The U.S. government is elevating agriculture’s national security priority, a shift officials say reflects growing concerns about foreign ownership of farmland, supply-chain vulnerabilities and global food instability.
The plan calls for tighter scrutiny of foreign investment in U.S. farmland, stronger domestic production incentives and closer coordination between the Agriculture, Defense and Homeland Security departments.
Farm groups welcomed the move they say underscores the importance of protecting domestic production and rural economies.
