Three generations of the Caywood family continue working their farm in Pinal County. Started in 1930, the operation is now women-owned, with the eldest generation in her 60s. A grandson is preparing to carry the tradition forward—one of the young producers looking to build a future in Arizona agriculture.

Their story mirrors the broader picture painted by the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Arizona is home to 16,710 farms and ranches spanning 25,525,087 acres, with an average size of 1,528 acres. The Caywoods represent several of the demographic categories the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service tracks every five years.

On KTAR’s Rosie on the House program, we explored these numbers and talked about what it means for Arizona and its agriculture. We call ourselves small (in agriculture) but mighty. The numbers below explain this. To listen to the entire radio show, listen below.

Arizona Farms at a Glance

More than half of Arizona’s operations (about 55%) are small—1 to 9 acres—often focused on specialty crops, vegetables, or direct marketing. At the same time, large rangeland and commercial operations sustain the state’s livestock, cotton, vegetable, and hay sectors.

Large family farms remain the economic engine. According to USDA NASS, 433 farms with annual sales of $1 million or more (just 2.6% of the total) accounted for 94% of Arizona’s $5.2 billion in market value of agricultural products sold — roughly $4.89 billion. Production is even more concentrated: 177 farms with sales of $5 million or more (about 1% of operations) generated approximately 83% of total sales. These mostly family-owned operations achieve the scale needed for vegetables and melons, cotton, hay, and livestock. Smaller farms make up the majority by number but contribute a much smaller share of total sales, often serving niche, direct-to-consumer, or part-time roles.

Arizona Farm Bureau recognizes that every form of farming matters—small and large, organic and conventional, traditional and biotech. The diversity of size and structure is a strength of our industry.

Who Owns and Operates Arizona Farms?

Family control remains dominant:

  • Individual or family operations: 13,844
  • Partnerships: 970
  • Corporations: 878 (many still family-held)
  • Other (estates, trusts, grazing associations, and American Indian Reservation lands): 1,018

This structure reflects both the enduring role of family farming and the significant presence of tribal lands and collaborative grazing arrangements across the state.

The People Behind Arizona Agriculture

There are 29,100 producers making day-to-day decisions on Arizona farms and ranches:

  • Male producers: 15,164
  • Female producers: 13,936
  • Average age: 60.1 years
  • Producers with military service: 2,148 operating 1,938 farms

New and beginning producers are entering the industry:

  • Young producers (35 and under): 2,102
  • New and beginning producers (10 years or less experience): 6,885 on 4,556 farms

About 42% of producers list farming as their primary occupation; many others combine it with off-farm work.

Diversity is a defining feature. Arizona has the largest number of American Indian or Alaska Native producers in the nation (16,913), and many of these operations are matriarchal. There are also 47 Black or African American producers and 85 USDA-certified organic farms reporting organic sales.

Economic Impact Beyond the Farm Gate

A November 2024 analysis by the University of Arizona’s Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics (Claudia Montanía, Dari Duval, George Frisvold and colleagues) builds on the Census baseline. In 2022 the full agribusiness system—on-farm production, inputs, support services, processing, and distribution—generated $30.9 billion in economic activity. That includes $20.2 billion in direct contributions and $10.7 billion in multiplier effects. The sector supported more than 126,000 full- and part-time jobs (involving more than 160,000 unique workers) and contributed roughly $12.2 billion to Arizona’s Gross State Product.

What This Means for Our Industry

The Census confirms that Arizona agriculture remains resilient and family-centered. Multi-generational operations like the Caywoods continue to steward land and produce food, fiber, and open space. Women are full partners in decision-making. Young and beginning producers are stepping forward even as the average age trends higher. Large-scale family operations deliver the bulk of commercial output that feeds and clothes Americans, while smaller and specialized farms add diversity and local market presence.

American Indian producers, veterans, and new entrants all contribute to a dynamic industry. Production concentration is a reality of modern agriculture; the challenge and opportunity for the next generation is to keep family ownership strong while adapting to markets, technology, water, and policy realities.

Caywood Farms is one data point in the Census numbers—and one more family helping put food on tables and fiber into the supply chain. Their multi-generational commitment is the story behind the statistics: hard work, continuity, and the determination to keep Arizona agriculture productive for the long term.