Data Sources
The USDA, Economic Research Service's (ERS) Major Land Use (MLU) series is the longest running, most comprehensive accounting of all major uses of public and private land in the United States. The series was started in 1945. The annual update utilizes data from the most recent USDA, Census of Agriculture combined with survey data obtained from USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Scope/Coverage of the Data
The MLU annual update provides national cropland-use estimates, published annually going back to 1910. The data are reported in Summary table 3: Total cropland used for crops.
Methods and Definitions
Definitions, sources of data, and estimation techniques have varied little over time in the Major Land Uses series. The following definitions and explanations of the data are for the most recent year, but generally apply to all previous years as well.
Total cropland used for crops—The sum of three of the cropland components, including (1) cropland harvested, (2) crop failure, and (3) cultivated summer fallow—represents the land used as an input for crop production. Sources for this data are U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Census of Agriculture and Crop Production annual summary. The Census of Agriculture is published every 5 years, with data typically available 2 years after the census is conducted. The Census of Agriculture provides a more detailed look at crop acreage harvested, particularly in terms of minor crops. The Crop Production Annual Summary is an annually released data product, which is used to update total cropland and its constituent parts annually. While this product contains information on fewer crops than the Census of Agriculture, the product is updated annually and contains acreage planted, in addition to acres harvested.
Cropland harvested—The difference between (1) total crops harvested and (2) double cropped. Cropland that was harvested more than once in a single year (i.e., double cropped) is only counted once. Represents the land area on which crops are grown.
Total crops harvested—Includes all row crops and closely sown crops; hay and silage crops; tree fruits, small fruits, berries, and tree nuts; vegetables and melons; and miscellaneous other minor crops. Also includes land used to produce Christmas trees. Acreage harvested more than once in a single year (i.e. double cropped) is counted multiple times. Represents the land area harvested.
Crop failure—The difference between the area planted, with the intention of harvesting and the area harvested. Thus, the acreage planted to cover crops and soil-improvement crops (not intended for harvest) is excluded from crop failure and is considered idle. Consists mainly of the acreage on which crops failed because of weather, insects, and diseases; also includes some land not harvested due to lack of labor, low market prices, or other factors.
Cultivated summer fallow—Cropland that is located in subhumid areas of the western region that is cultivated for one or more seasons to control weeds and accumulate moisture before small grains are planted. This practice is optional in some areas but is a requirement for crop production in the drier cropland areas in the West. Other types of fallow (such as cropland planted to soil-improvement crops but not harvested and cropland left idle all year) are not included in cultivated summer fallow but are included as idle cropland. Occasionally referred to in this report simply as summer fallow, fallow, or fallowed.
Double Cropped—The difference between total cropland and total cropland harvested in the Census of Agriculture to remove double counting from cropland harvested. Soybean double cropping data, available annually, are used to build annual estimates.
Strengths and Limitations
Summary table 3 is the sole source for annual cropland used for crops, calculated using the Census of Agriculture and crop production summary products produced by USDA, NASS. These data are highly useful for studying national trends in cropland acreage over time. Caveats include that Alaska and Hawaii weren’t included in cropland acreage estimates until 1949, and total crops harvested and double cropped acres aren’t available prior to 1950.
Additional Resources
For more information on how the Major Land Uses estimates compare to other Federal land-use and land-cover datasets, see Land Use and Land Cover Estimates for the United States. For citations of the previous MLU reports, see Major Land Use Reports Since 1948. For more information on the annual update, see the Documentation for 5 Year Update.
Recommended Citation
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2026). Major land uses data product.