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# GRAPHIC: Large family farms produced most beef, hogs and dairy in 2020
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/graphic-large-family-farms-produced-most-beef-hogs-and-dairy-in-2020/
- Published: 2022-01-19T18:43:55.000Z
- Updated: 2022-01-19T18:43:55.000Z
- Description: Large family farms in the beef industry are more likely to operate feed lots, according to the USDA.
- Author: Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
- Tags: Agribusiness, Data Harvest, TP::Explainer, graphic of the week, USDA, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

Large family farms — ones bringing in more than $1 million a year — produce most of the cattle and hogs in the country, [according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data](https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=102991&ref=investigatemidwest.org).

A majority of farms in the U.S. are considered small, or having an [annual income less than $250,000](https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2010/05/18/small-farms-big-differences?ref=investigatemidwest.org). But the large-sized farms tend to produce much more.

With beef, the large-scale family farms are more likely to operate [feed lots](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/pork-lobbyist-helping-lead-nonpartisan-group-working-against-state-animal-welfare-laws/), which concentrate a large number of animals into a relatively small space, according to the USDA.

***\[Read more: [Independent cattle ranchers continue fight against national checkoff program](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/independent-cattle-ranchers-continue-fight-against-national-checkoff-program/)\]***

But it's a different story for poultry.

About half of the country's poultry output comes from small family farms. These farms [typically contract](https://www.investigatemidwest.org/amid-price-fixing-indictment-for-poultry-processors-growers-say-they-continue-to-struggle/) with large chicken processing companies to raise birds to maturity.

*\*Scroll over the bars to see the percentages\**

*Top photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture*