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Alabama Farms and Ranches: Agriculture History, How Farms Make Money and Strategy

Guide updated November 2026

Alabama farms numbered 37,362 in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, on 8,629,101 acres of farmland, and sold $9.04 billion of products. About 81 percent of that value came from livestock, poultry and their products and about 19 percent from crops, which makes Alabama a livestock and poultry state first.

Alabama agriculture at a glance
Farms and land in farms37,362 farms on 8,629,101 acres in 2022; average size 231 acres (USDA NASS)
Market value of ag products sold$9,035,897,000 in 2022, up 51 percent from 2017
Livestock versus cropsAbout $7.29 billion livestock and about $1.75 billion crops in 2022
Average sales per farm$241,847 in 2022, up from $147,334 in 2017
Land-grant extensionAlabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University and Alabama A&M)
Farm BureauAlabama Farmers Federation (Alfa)

Agriculture in Alabama: A Short History

Alabama's farming story begins with the cotton economy of the 19th century, which was centered in the Black Belt, the crescent of dark prairie soils across the middle of the state. That economy rested on enslaved labor, and its end and the later boll weevil infestation forced a long shift toward other crops and livestock. Over the 20th century, peanuts in the Wiregrass, timber across the state, and later poultry reshaped the farm economy.

Today Alabama agriculture looks very different. The 2022 Census shows 37,362 farms, down 8.0 percent from 40,592 in 2017, while land in farms was nearly flat and average farm size rose from 211 to 231 acres. Fewer, larger farms and higher sales per farm are the pattern. The Black Belt, once cotton country, now carries cattle, catfish ponds, row crops and timber, as shown by operations such as Givhan Land and Cattle Co. in Dallas County.

How Farms in Alabama Make Money

Livestock and poultry lead

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, livestock, poultry and products accounted for roughly $7.29 billion of Alabama's $9.04 billion in sales. Broiler production is the engine of that total, and contract growing for poultry integrators is how many Alabama farms earn their income. Beef cattle are the next major livestock enterprise, with cow-calf herds spread across the state.

Crops

Crop sales were about $1.75 billion in 2022. Cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn, wheat and hay are all grown across the state's different regions, and the Tennessee Valley, the Black Belt and the Wiregrass each favor different crop mixes. Examples of crop and cattle combinations include Haynes Farm in Cullman County and Cornutt Farms in Marshall County.

Timber, catfish and diversification

Timber is a major land use and income source, and some profiled farms, such as Langley Farms in Chambers County, run logging crews alongside cattle. Catfish ponds in the Black Belt add an aquaculture stream, as at Givhan Land and Cattle Co. Farms that add enterprises with different price cycles tend to be more resilient.

Agriculture Strategy for Alabama Farms

Soils, water and climate

Alabama has a long growing season and generous rainfall, but rainfall is uneven in summer and dry spells can cut corn and soybean yields. Storage-backed irrigation, such as the reservoir-fed system at Dee River Ranch in Pickens County, is one way larger farms manage that risk. Cover crops and no-till help protect the erodible soils of the Piedmont and Tennessee Valley, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System publishes regional guidance.

Production and risk

The state's livestock lean means forage is the foundation. Good pasture and hay management lowers winter feed cost, which is one of the largest expenses for a cow-calf herd. Crop insurance and USDA disaster programs help with weather losses, and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service offers cost-share conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP. Check farmers.gov for current program rules and deadlines.

Technology and inputs

Precision tools, electronic animal identification and computerized irrigation are in use on larger Alabama operations. The cost of equipment is high, so many farms start with one targeted tool, such as soil sampling and variable rate fertilizer, before buying more.

Farm Business Strategy in Alabama

Margins and markets

With average sales per farm of $241,847, many Alabama farms operate on thin margins. Selling feeder calves in uniform load lots, as Haynes Farm does, is one way to earn a better price. Poultry growers have the stability of a contract but depend on a single integrator, so they should understand contract terms and house upgrade costs before borrowing.

Land, credit and succession

Leasing is the practical route to scale in Alabama, as shown by Cornutt Farms, which farms ground owned by about 42 landlords. Farm Service Agency loans and Farm Credit lenders serve beginning farmers, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System offers farm business planning resources. Succession matters: Haynes Farm is raising a seventh generation, while Dee River Ranch is owned by a large sibling group and relies on clear roles.

Marketing and diversification

Alabama farms can reach local buyers through Alabama Grown and farmers markets, sell to regional feed yards, or add timber, hay sales or aquaculture. Awards such as the state Farm of Distinction help farms build a reputation and can lead to peer learning and new customers.

Farm Insight: Alabama Trends to Watch

Three trends stand out. First, consolidation: the 8 percent drop in farm numbers between 2017 and 2022 alongside a rise in average size suggests fewer, larger farms will keep absorbing neighbors' land. Second, sales growth: market value of products sold rose 51 percent in that period, though readers should remember that inflation in prices accounts for part of the increase. Third, diversification across crops, cattle, timber and fish remains a common feature of Alabama's award-winning farms.

Farmers planning a move should talk to their county Extension office and the Alabama Farmers Federation before making large investments. Both organizations know local conditions and programs, and the Farm of Distinction finalists are a good place to see how peers handle similar choices.

Alabama is the kind of state where a farmer can explain the difference between a Black Belt clay and a Wiregrass sand without being asked, and then offer you a boiled peanut. For farm satire in the same friendly spirit, drop by farm.FM, where the farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes are written by people who respect a good tractor and a better pickup. We promise the jokes are gentler than August in Dallas County.

farm.FM calls itself the nation's first satirical farm site, and between the headlines it spins Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers; a good place to start reading is this farm.FM columnist's archive.

Elite Farms and Ranches in Alabama

These 5 operations are profiled in full, with history, how each makes money, lessons for other farms and published contact details.

Elite operations in Alabama

Who to Contact in Alabama: Agriculture Offices and Associations

Alabama Farming FAQ

How many farms are in Alabama?

The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 37,362 farms on 8,629,101 acres, with an average size of 231 acres.

What is Alabama's biggest agricultural sector?

Livestock, poultry and products, which made up roughly 81 percent of the $9.04 billion in 2022 sales.

Who should an Alabama farmer contact for help?

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System for production and business advice, the Alabama Farmers Federation for the farm organization, and USDA offices for loans and programs.

Which Alabama farms are profiled here?

Haynes Farm, Dee River Ranch, Givhan Land and Cattle Co., Langley Farms and Cornutt Farms, all Alabama Farm of Distinction winners.

Alabama farms combine poultry, cattle, row crops, timber and fish in a way that few states match. Explore the profiled operations below to see how award-winning Alabama farms make their strategy work.

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