HORTICULTURE

Detailed explanation-1: -The United States had 60 percent fewer farms and 85 percent fewer farmers in 2000 than in 1900, but 13 percent more farmland, primarily through irrigation and reclamation. and 4 million in 1960; the number has stabilized during the past two decades at around 2 million.

Detailed explanation-2: -So, yes, employment fell sharply. The estimated percentage of the labor force engaged in agriculture (pdf) fell from 41 percent in 1900 to 21.5 percent in 1930, to 4 percent in 1970, and to a mere 1.9 percent in 2000.

Detailed explanation-3: -Direct on-farm employment accounted for about 2.6 million of these jobs, or 1.3 percent of U.S. employment.

Detailed explanation-4: -In 1900, just under 40 percent of the total US population lived on farms, and 60 percent lived in rural areas.