Largest Individual and Family Owners
The Emmerson family, owners of Sierra Pacific Industries, is widely cited as the largest private farmland owner in the United States, with holdings exceeding two million acres, primarily timberland and ranchland in California and the Pacific Northwest. Other major family owners include the Reed family, whose ranching and farming operations span several Western states.
Corporate and Investment Ownership
Large private equity firms, pension funds, and agribusinesses also hold significant acreage. Entities such as Hancock Timber Resource Group and institutional investors manage substantial portfolios of farmland, often leasing it to working farmers. These corporate holdings are concentrated in the Midwest and Plains states, where row-crop agriculture dominates.
How Ownership Is Measured and Tracked
Farmland ownership data comes from USDA Census of Agriculture reports, land registries, and investigative journalism. Acreage totals can vary depending on whether analysts count only deeded land, leased acres, or timberland. For a detailed breakdown of major owners and acreage figures, see the USDA Economic Research Service.
