I recently read an article published by Drovers CattleNetwork written by Editor Mary Soukup that made me think of you – yes, you – our readers. The article titled, “Farming and ranching – it’s a family business,” took a close look at the research put out by the USDA’s Economic Research Service on the number of U.S. family farms.
A family farm as defined by the USDA is, “any farm organized as a sole proprietorship, partnership or family corporation. Family farms exclude farms organized as nonfamily corporations or cooperatives, as well as farms with hired managers” (USDA, Economic Research Service 2007 Family Farm Report). Under this definition, the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s 2007 Census of Agriculture reported that family farms account for almost 96 percent of the 2,204,792 farms in the United States.” (Hey, that includes most of our readers.)
So, my idea of a family farm is right on target. When I picture a family farm I see one where the farmer or rancher works and owns the ground alongside his/her family. I picture a farm that has been in the same family for generations built on tradition and hard work. I picture the Ozarks.
USDA classifies family farms into three categories based on their gross annual sales not on their physical size. Of the 2.2 million farms in the U.S., approximately 1.9 million of these farms are classified as small family farms grossing under $250,000 annually.
With the number of small family farms, it makes sense that the USDA should offer support to these farmers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced new and expanded efforts to connect small and mid-sized farmers and ranchers with USDA resources that can help them build and grow stronger businesses. These new tools and resources available to small and mid-sized farmers include capital, risk management, food safety, educational resources and outreach, and locating market opportunities. If you are interested in more information about these resources contact your local USDA Service Center.
At Ozarks Farm & Neighbor we strive to represent all types of farms because small, medium and large farms make up the Ozarks. We are honored to share the stories of family farmers while offering pieces of advice and educational tips from industry experts. This issue is jam-packed with all that and more, from crops and fields to farming green techniques. I hope you enjoy it.
Best wishes,
