Who owns organic farmland? Small family farmers hold the largest share

Small family farms play a leading role in U.S. organic agriculture, operating over 40% of all certified and transitioning organic land. And the majority of organic acres in the U.S. are directly owned and managed by farmers rather than rented or leased to landlords or investors, according to data recently published by USDA-ERS.

For additional context, the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture shows 39% of total U.S. conventional farmland (non-organic) is either rented or leased, and that figure has held fairly steady in the 38%-43% range for decades, according to USDA.

Midsize and large family farms account for 19% and 24% of organic land, respectively, while nonfamily farms operate less than 15%, split between owned and rented acres.

This data comes from the USDA Economic Research Service report America’s Farms and Ranches at a Glance, published February 2026.

To market products as organic, producers must be USDA-certified unless their annual gross sales are under $5,000. Certification requires adherence to National Organic Program (NOP) standards, including a three-year transition period during which land must be managed organically but cannot be marketed as certified.