Small Farm, Big Dreams for Southern Utah Farmer By Matt Hargreaves, Editor, Utah Farm & Fork magazine
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nterprise, Utah – Nestled between the vast acreages of the southern states, sprawling ranches of the Midwest, the amber waves of grain in the plains, and plentiful orchards of the northwest are found many of the productive small farms and ranches that are the essence of America. While the size and growth of American agriculture are needed to feed our vast nation and others across the globe, the
quintessential small farm remains a valued contributor to the fabulous food machine in America. According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS), family farms of various sizes and ownership structures accounted for nearly 98 percent of U.S. farms in 2018, but small family farms accounted for 90 percent of all U.S. farms.
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Even more telling is the fact that “slightly more than half of U.S. farms are very small, with annual farm sales under $10,000.” The ERS goes on to say that the households operating these farms typically rely on off-farm sources for the majority of their household income. This illustrates the difficulty and pressure facing small farms today, and yet the cumulative impacts of these dedicated families are impressive and speak to the love they have in growing food for us all.
utah farm & fork
| fall
2020
