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Stats about Beginning Farmer’s in MA (USDA census):

Beginning Farmer Demographics

• Massachusetts’ Beginning Farmers make up 26% of principal farm operators in MA (7,691 total farms in 2007). They make up 38% of all second farm operators (3,615 total) and 47% of all third operators (676 total).
• Beginning Farmers account for a little over half the racial diversity of MA Farmers.
• Women account for 39% of the beginning farmers in MA, though they make up only 29% of farmers overall in MA.

Beginning Farming Operations

• 42% of beginning farmers operate small farms (those from 1-9 acres).
• The highest number of beginning farmers in MA operate farms whose primary industry is Aquaculture and other animal production. This includes animals such as horses, alpacas, and rabbits.
• 37% of beginning farmers in MA make less than $1,000 in sales each year, slightly higher than the MA average of 31%.
• 15% of beginning farmers primarily lease land.

The USDA definition of beginning farmers includes all farmers with less than 10 years in business in their current operation. These statistics come from the USDA census and use that definition. Beginning and perspective farmers may be underrepresented.