Peat Production In The United States, By Size Of Operation

This table presents detailed information on peat production in the United States, categorized by the size of operations based on annual output in metric tons. It highlights the number of active peat-producing operations within each size category for the years 2022 and 2023, alongside the corresponding production volumes in thousand metric tons. This data is significant as peat serves various industrial and agricultural applications, including soil conditioning, horticulture, and as a fuel source. Understanding production distribution by operation size helps stakeholders assess industry capacity, market trends, and the economic impact of peat extraction on regional and national scales.

Analysis of the data reveals that the largest operations, those producing 23,000 metric tons or more annually, maintained steady production with four active operations yielding 218 thousand metric tons in both 2022 and 2023. Medium-sized operations between 9,000 and 22,999 metric tons saw a slight decline in production from 88 to 79 thousand metric tons, despite stable operation counts. Notably, the 5,000 to 8,999 metric tons category experienced a reduction in both active operations, dropping from three to two, and production, which decreased from 20 to 13 thousand metric tons. Conversely, smaller operations producing between 1,000 and 4,999 metric tons increased in number from seven to nine, with a modest production rise from 16 to 17 thousand metric tons. The smallest category, under 1,000 metric tons, remained unchanged in both operation count and production. Overall, total peat production in the United States declined from 343 thousand metric tons in 2022 to 329 thousand metric tons in 2023, despite a slight increase in the total number of active operations from 25 to 26.