Resources
USDA Definitions
A farm is “any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold…. during the year.”
More than one-quarter of farms have no sales in a typical year,
at least another 30 percent have positive sales of less than $10,000.
“Very large farms” are defined as having gross sales of more than $500,000.
United Nations calls for major changes in our food, agriculture and trade systems.
...shift toward local small-scale farmers and
food systems recommended.
...urgent need to return to (and develop) more
sustainable, natural, and organic systems.
Statistics
From “America’s Diverse Family Farms” USDA publication.
85%
OF FAMILY FARMS HAVE OFF-FARM INCOME
5-7 YEARS
ON AVERAGE FOR A FARM TO BREAK EVEN
Small Farms are good for the local economy
Each dollar earned by small farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin cycles 2.3 times through the local economy, compared to 1.9 times for larger farms and only 1.6 times for the average rural consumer.