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About our Classification System and this Section:  Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting |
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Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Section
The Section as a Whole
The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Section comprises establishments primarily engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats.
The establishments in this Section are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees, or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization. When a landowner has one or more tenants, renters, croppers, or managers, the land operated by each is considered a farm.
The Section distinguishes two basic activities: agricultural production and agricultural support activities. Agricultural production includes establishments performing the complete farm or ranch operation, such as farm owner-operators, tenant farm operators, and sharecroppers. Agricultural support activities include establishments that perform one or more activities associated with farm operation, such as soil preparation, planting, harvesting, and management, on a contract or fee basis.
Excluded from the Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing Section are establishments primarily engaged in agricultural research and establishments primarily engaged in administering programs for regulating and conserving land, mineral, wildlife, and forest use. These establishments are classified in Industry, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; and Industry, Administration of Conservation Programs, respectively.
Crop Production
Industries in the Crop Production Sub-Section grow crops mainly for food and fiber. The Sub-Section comprises establishments, such as farms, orchards, groves, greenhouses, and nurseries, primarily engaged in growing crops, plants, vines, or trees and their seeds.
The industries in this Sub-Section are grouped by similarity of production activity, including biological and physiological characteristics and economic requirements, the length of growing season, degree of crop rotation, extent of input specialization, labor requirements, and capital demands. The production process is typically completed when the raw product or commodity grown reaches the "farm gate" for market, that is, at the point of first sale or price determination.
Establishments are classified to the crop production Sub-Section when crop production (i.e., value of crops for market) accounts for one-half or more of the establishment's total agricultural production. Within the Sub-Section, establishments are classified to a specific industry when a product or industry family of products (i.e., oilseed and grain farming, vegetable and melon farming, fruit and tree nut farming) account for one-half or more of the establishment's agricultural production. Establishments with one-half or more crop production with no one product or family of products of an industry accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production are treated as general combination crop farming and are classified in Industry, All Other Crop Farming.
Industries in the Crop Production Sub-Section include establishments that own, operate, and manage and those that operate and manage. Those that manage only are classified in Sub-Section, Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry.
Animal Production
Industries in the Animal Production Sub-Section raise or fatten animals for the sale of animals or animal products. The Sub-Section comprises establishments, such as ranches, farms, and feedlots primarily engaged in keeping, grazing, breeding, or feeding animals. These animals are kept for the products they produce or for eventual sale. The animals are generally raised in various environments, from total confinement or captivity to feeding on an open range pasture.
The industries in this Sub-Section are grouped by important factors, such as suitable grazing or pasture land, specialized buildings, type of equipment, and the amount and types of labor required. Establishments are classified to the Animal Production Sub-Section when animal production (i.e., value of animals for market) accounts for one-half or more of the establishment's total agricultural production. Establishments with one-half or more animal production with no one animal product or family of animal products of an industry accounting for one-half of the establishment's agricultural production are treated as combination animal farming classified to Industry, All Other Animal Production.
Forestry and Logging
Industries in the Forestry and Logging Sub-Section grow and harvest timber on a long production cycle (i.e., of 10 years or more). Long production cycles use different production processes than short production cycles, which require more horticultural interventions prior to harvest, resulting in processes more similar to those found in the Crop Production Sub-Section. Consequently, Christmas tree production and other production involving production cycles of less than 10 years, are classified in the Crop Production Sub-Section.
Industries in this Sub-Section specialize in different stages of the production cycle. Reforestation requires production of seedlings in specialized nurseries. Timber production requires natural forest or suitable areas of land that are available for a long duration. The maturation time for timber depends upon the species of tree, the climatic conditions of the region, and the intended purpose of the timber. The harvesting of timber (except when done on an extremely small scale) requires specialized machinery unique to the industry. Establishments gathering forest products, such as gums, barks, balsam needles, rhizomes, fibers, Spanish moss, and ginseng and truffles, are also included in this Sub-Section.
Fishing, Hunting and Trapping
Industries in the Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Sub-Section harvest fish and other wild animals from their natural habitats and are dependent upon a continued supply of the natural resource. The harvesting of fish is the predominant economic activity of this Sub-Section and it usually requires specialized vessels that, by the nature of their size, configuration and equipment, are not suitable for any other type of production, such as transportation.
Hunting and trapping activities utilize a wide variety of production processes and are classified in the same Sub-Section as fishing because the availability of resources and the constraints imposed, such as conservation requirements and proper habitat maintenance, are similar.
Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry
Industries in the Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry Sub-Section provide support services that are an essential part of agricultural and forestry production. These support activities may be performed by the agriculture or forestry producing establishment or conducted independently as an alternative source of inputs required for the production process for a given crop, animal, or forestry industry. Establishments that primarily perform these activities independent of the agriculture or forestry producing establishment are in this Sub-Section.
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