Massachusetts Farms: Agriculture History, How Farms Make Money and Strategy
Guide updated November 2026
Massachusetts farms are small in acreage and high in value per acre. The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 7,083 farms on 464,451 acres, selling $607.2 million in products, up 27.8 percent from 2017, and about three quarters of that came from crops including nursery and greenhouse. Cranberries, nursery stock, vegetables, fruit, dairy and direct-market products shape the state's farm economy.
| Farms and land in farms | 7,083 farms on 464,451 acres in the 2022 Census of Agriculture; average farm size 66 acres |
|---|---|
| Top commodities | Cranberries (named the number one agricultural commodity crop in 2024 by the state), nursery and greenhouse crops, vegetables, fruit, dairy, eggs |
| Market value of ag products sold | $607.2 million in 2022 ($458.4 million crops, $148.8 million livestock and products) |
| State agriculture department | Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) |
| Land-grant extension | UMass Amherst Extension (College of Agriculture, Food and Environment) |
| Farm Bureau | Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation |
Agriculture in Massachusetts: A Short History
Massachusetts agriculture began with colonial mixed farms, and the Connecticut River valley became known for fertile alluvial soils that still grow vegetables, potatoes, asparagus and nursery stock. Southeastern Massachusetts developed a distinct industry in cranberries, a native vine crop grown in sanded bogs that can be flooded for harvest. A.D. Makepeace Company, founded in 1854, is one of the long-running names in that industry.
Over the last century the state lost much farmland to development, and the 2022 Census shows farm numbers down 2.2 percent and land in farms down 5.5 percent from 2017. The response was policy as much as farming: MDAR's Agricultural Preservation Restriction program has protected more than 76,000 acres, keeping working land in production while owners keep the farm.
How Farms in Massachusetts Make Money
Commodity sales
The 2022 Census reports $607.2 million in sales, with crops (including nursery and greenhouse) at $458.4 million or 75.5 percent. The state says cranberries were the number one agricultural commodity crop in 2024, with about 11,500 acres of commercial bogs, more than 6,400 local jobs and over $1.7 billion in economic activity. Livestock, poultry and products added $148.8 million; layers were the largest inventory item at 182,630 birds, and cattle and calves totaled 33,093 head.
Value-added and direct sales
The average Massachusetts farm sells about $85,721 a year, which reflects many small farms, so many operators rely on direct markets, farm stands, CSAs, farmers markets and wholesale to restaurants. Examples on this site include a nursery that ships plants nationally, a potato grower and packer, and a grass-fed beef and maple farm.
Agritourism, leases and diversification
Dense population nearby makes pick-your-own, farm stores, tours and events practical. Farms can also lease land or sell development rights through the APR program to raise capital. Treat these as supplements to production, and check local zoning and food-safety rules first.
Agriculture Strategy for Massachusetts Farms
Soils, water and climate
Western valley soils are deep and well drained, suited to potatoes, vegetables and nursery stock, while the sandy, acidic soils and abundant water of the southeast suit cranberries. Hill farms in Franklin and Berkshire counties favor grass, hay, maple and livestock. A short growing season and variable weather reward season extension, irrigation planning and drainage work.
Production and risk
Diversify across crops and channels so one bad season does not sink the business. Crop insurance, FSA programs and NRCS cost-share are all available for Massachusetts operators, and MDAR has awarded over $6.5 million to 104 cranberry growers since 2020 for renovations covering 479 acres. Wet-harvest flooding and sanded bogs are examples of production systems built around regional water and sand.
Technology and inputs
Labor is the largest selected expense in the census at about $203.8 million of $640.3 million in total production expenses, so mechanization, packing-line efficiency and scheduling matter. UMass Extension publishes cranberry best management practices and integrated pest management guidance that help growers cut input costs and protect water.
Farm Business Strategy in Massachusetts
Margins and markets
With 66 acres on average, Massachusetts farms compete on quality, freshness and local branding rather than volume. Large operators win through scale in a single crop or through control of the supply chain, such as owning the packing line or a cooperative stake. Smaller farms can win by tightening direct sales and keeping customers across seasons.
Land, credit and succession
Land is expensive and farm average age is high; the state reports the average producer is 58.7 years old. Farmland protection through the APR program, long-term leases and early succession planning are central. Talk to MDAR, your FSA county office and a farm credit lender about options, and involve an attorney and tax adviser before transferring land.
Marketing and diversification
Pair a core product with one or two additions that use the same land, labor and equipment, such as maple with beef, plant stock with asparagus, or packing for neighbors. Use state and association programs, including specialty crop grants announced by the administration, to fund marketing and equipment.
Farm Insight: Massachusetts Trends to Watch
Watch the interplay of land values and conservation. Cranberry growers report maintaining more than 60,000 acres of open space, and large landowners combine farming with conservation restrictions and development. Operators who understand land value, APR options and cooperative marketing have more choices than those who farm only the crop.
The census shows 23 farms of 1,000 acres or more and about 4,890 farms of 1 to 49 acres, so the state is a market of niches. The elite operations profiled here show how scale, specialization or stewardship can stand out in that setting.
A state with 66-acre average farms and a cranberry bog that turns the autumn landscape red has plenty of material. At farm.FM we love farm satire about New England stone walls, pasture that is mostly rock, and a harvest where the crop floats. Our farm humor and ranch humor staff are proud of any state that grows a berry by flooding the field, and our farm jokes about farmers markets and fall foliage are always affectionate.
For context, farm.FM is the nation's first satirical farm site and the home of Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers. Its contributors each keep an archive, and this one is a good sampler of ranch humor and farm jokes.
Elite Farms and Ranches in Massachusetts
These 4 operations are profiled in full, with history, how each makes money, lessons for other farms and published contact details.
Elite operations in Massachusetts
- A.D. Makepeace CompanyElite operation. Wareham, Massachusetts. A.D. Makepeace Company of Wareham, MA, founded 1854, is described as North America's largest cranberry grower. History, bogs, revenue streams, lessons, contact.
- Nourse FarmsElite operation. Whately, Massachusetts. Nourse Farms of Whately, MA, a berry plant nursery in business almost 90 years, selling 40M+ plants a year. History, operation, revenue streams, lessons, contact.
- SWAZ Potato FarmsElite operation. Hatfield, Massachusetts. SWAZ Potato Farms (Szawlowski) of Hatfield, MA, founded 1910, grows potatoes on 1,500 acres and packs for other growers. History, revenue, lessons, contact.
- Wheel-View FarmElite operation. Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Wheel-View Farm of Shelburne, MA won the 2022 New England Leopold Conservation Award. Grass-fed beef, maple and cider: history, revenue streams, lessons, contact.
Who to Contact in Massachusetts: Agriculture Offices and Associations
- MDAR agricultural facts and statistics - State figures for farms, acres, sales and preserved land
- UMass cranberry best management practices - Land-grant guidance for cranberry growers
- USDA NASS 2022 Census, Massachusetts - State-level Census of Agriculture tables
- Massachusetts Farm Bureau - State general farm organization
- Massachusetts Cranberry Month - State figures on cranberry acreage and economic impact
- Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association - Cranberry producer association
- UMass agriculture organizations - Directory of Massachusetts farm groups
- USDA Farmers.gov - FSA, NRCS and risk management program information
Massachusetts Farming FAQ
How many farms are in Massachusetts?
The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 7,083 farms on 464,451 acres, with an average size of 66 acres.
What is the top agricultural commodity?
The state named cranberries the number one agricultural commodity crop in 2024, from about 11,500 acres of bogs.
How does Massachusetts protect farmland?
MDAR's Agricultural Preservation Restriction program has protected more than 76,000 acres.
Who can I contact for help?
Start with MDAR, UMass Extension, the Massachusetts Farm Bureau and your local FSA and NRCS offices.
Massachusetts farms range from cranberry giants to hill-country beef and maple producers. Use this guide with the profiled operations below to compare strategies and find the right contacts.