What is a small farm? Can it survive?
Many of us have been heartened to learn that the number of small farms in the U.S. is increasing for the first time in a century. The latest Census of Agriculture reports more small farms in 2007 than in 2002.
But the USDA, which tracks such things in reports such as the recent Small Farms in the United States: Persistence Under Pressure, offers a less optimistic message.
According to the authors of that report, defining a small farm is not so easy to do. As they explain:
USDA defines a small farm as an operation with gross cash farm income under $250,000. Within that group are commercial and noncommercial farms. The number of small commercial farms – with sales of $10,000 to $250,000 – actually fell between 2002 and 2007….
In fact, all of the growth occurred among farms under $1,000 in sales…Most of these operations are better described as rural residences; the households on these farms – and on many other small farms – rely heavily on off-farm income.
Although most (91%) of U.S. farms are small, farms earning $250,000 and above account for 85 percent of the market value of agricultural production.
I’m surprised by these figures and wonder whether the USDA data capture the young farmers I keep hearing about who are producing for farmers’ markets and CSAs. The ones I meet tell me they are making a living. If so, I hope that means they are doing better than $1000 per year. If not, we need the USDA to work with them to make sure they do. Small farms grow food, not feed. We need more of them.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Marion Nestle and ABCD Design, LindaMarshall. LindaMarshall said: RT @marionnestle The number of small farms in the U.S. is increasing for the first time in a century. http://bit.ly/bKGK1i [...]
I wonder if the farms making under $1000 are “homesteaders”. Lot’s of people are starting farms but are using the products themselves or bartering for other goods. I know of one blogger who says she cannot sell her eggs due to local laws. But, I would consider her operation to be a small farm even though they are self sustaining.
[...] What is a small farm? Depends. [...]
[...] What is a small farm? Depends. [...]
[...] Food Politics: What is a Small Farm? Can it Survive? Did you know: “Although most (91%) of U.S. farms are small, farms earning $250,000 and above account for 85 percent of the market value of agricultural production.” I did not. [...]
[...] Marion Nestle tackles the USDA definition of the “small farm” at her Food Politics blog. [...]
[...] Food Politics: What is a Small Farm? Can it Survive?Did you know: “Although most (91%) of U.S. farms are small, farms earning $250,000 and above account for 85 percent of the market value of agricultural production.” I did not. [...]
Dr. Nestle,
Your quote from the summary (“In fact, all of the growth occurred among farms under $1,000 in sales…”) perpetuates either the authors’ poor analytical skills or their inability to write clearly. Look at Table 3. The vast majority of growth was in less than $1000 but there was small growth in 3 other categories and significant growth in the $250,000-$499,999 category.
I was a part-time market gardener in 2007 and, as I recall, I gave up on completing the census because its questions were so poorly worded and multiple choice answers so inadequate to describe what I was doing. I was in the $1,000 – $2,499 category.
The ERS is simply reflecting the USDA’s disinterest in specialty crops and ignorance of the local, healthy food movement.
And to discuss trends in the Spring of 2010 based on data from 2007 in the burgeoning small ag field is ludicrous.
The answer to your second question is “Small farms can survive but only if the food safety legislation (S 510/HR 2749) that you so strongly advocate is substantially changed or defeated because its “industrial-size-fits-all,” “science-based” rather than scientific approach to food safety regulation will result in the final industrialization of agriculture and the destruction of the only sector of agriculture which is attracting new blood.”.
You’re absolutely right that we need more of us but, bluntly put, there won’t be because too many of our “friends” are like you, Dr. Nestle. They are astonishingly ignorant of what it is required to actually grow healthy food for local consumption.
We need people to come down from their “ivory towers,” give up their sentimentality about us and get their hands dirty actually doing the work for growing, harvesting, packing, processing, distributing and retailing local, healthy food instead of showing their hubris by telling us how things “should” be done.
As always, I will happily defend everything I have written to any and everyone. All that is needed is to write me at healthyfoodcoalition@gmail.com or call me at 828/669-4003, 8 AM – 8 PM, Eastern Time, Monday – Saturday.
[...] Food Politics: What is a Small Farm? Can it Survive? Did you know: “Although most (91%) of U.S. farms are small, farms earning $250,000 and above account for 85 percent of the market value of agricultural production.” I did not. [...]
[...] Food Politics: What is a Small Farm? Can it Survive? Did you know: “Although most (91%) of U.S. farms are small, farms earning $250,000 and above account for 85 percent of the market value of agricultural production.” I did not. [...]