 The
dramatic expansion of industrial agriculture (or factory farming) has made it
increasingly difficult for small family farmers in the U.S to
stay in business. Instead, the food industry has become
dominated by a handful of giant corporations which benefit from
government policies that favor
large-scale production.
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| There are now nearly five million
fewer farms in the U.S. than there were in the 1930's. Photo
by Jason
Houston. |
Family farmers are being forced out of business at an
alarming rate. According to Farm Aid, every week 330 farmers
leave their land.i As a result, there are now nearly
five million fewer farms in the U.S. than there were in the
1930's.ii Of the two million remaining farms, only
565,000 are family operations.iii As
established family farms are shut down, they are not being
replaced by new farms and young farmers. Very few young
people become farmers today, and half of all U.S. farmers are
between the ages of 45 and 65, while only 6% of all farmers are
under the age of 35.
Some people ask whether these sorts of changes are
inevitable; they wonder if family farming is simply out-of-date
in today’s global economy. Or they may think: if
industrial agriculture can supply more food at a lower cost,
doesn’t that benefit consumers?
If food were like car parts or other consumer products,
it might. But because our health, our environment, and our communities are so greatly affected by
food production, the way food is produced and shipped matters
just as much as what’s in the food. For many people, the
connection between farm and fridge is vague at best. In an age
where a handful of corporate food processors determine most of
what we find in the supermarket, it is critical for consumers to
learn about where their food comes from and make their own
informed choices.
 Why are family
farms important?
In addition to producing fresh, nutritious, high-quality foods,
small family farms provide a wealth of benefits for their local
communities and regions.
Perhaps most importantly, family farmers serve as
responsible stewards of the land. Unlike industrial agriculture
operations, which pollute communities with chemical pesticides, noxious fumes and excess manure,
small family farmers live on or near their farms and strive to
preserve the surrounding environment for future generations.
Since these farmers have a vested interest in their communities,
they are more likely to use sustainable farming techniques to
protect natural resources and human health.
The existence of family farms also guarantees the
preservation of green space within the community. Unfortunately,
once a family farm is forced out of business, the farmland is
often sold for development, and the quality land and soil for
farming are lost.
Independent family farms also play a vital role in rural
economies. In addition to providing
jobs to local people, family farmers also help support small
businesses by purchasing goods and services within their
communities. Meanwhile, industrial
agriculture operations employ as few workers as possible and
typically purchase supplies, equipment, and building materials
from outside the local community. Rural areas are then
left with high rates of unemployment and very little opportunity
for economic growth.
Finally, family farmers benefit society by boosting
democratic values in their communities through active civic
participation,v and by helping to preserve an
essential connection between consumers, their food, and the land
upon which this food is produced.
The loss of small family farms has dramatically reduced
our supply of safe, fresh, sustainably-grown foods; it has
contributed to the economic and social disintegration of rural
communities; and it is eliminating an important aspect of our
national heritage. If we lose our family farmers, we'll lose the
diversity in our food supply, and what we eat will be dictated
to us by a few large corporations. Clearly, family farms are a
valuable resource worth preserving. Now, more than ever,
it’s important to realize that family farms are a valuable
resource worth preserving.
The Future of American
Farming
It's
not too late to save rural America and family farms! Over the
last several years, there has been an explosion of interest in
small family farms, local food, and the preservation of rural
communities and their heritage. Chefs, food lovers, citizens,
parents, activists, students and many others are coming together
to rediscover the benefits of eating sustainably-raised, locally
grown food.
There are organizations like Slow
Food that are encouraging people to slow down and enjoy
home-cooked meals made from wholesome foods raised sustainably.
Heritage
Foods USA and the New England Heritage Breeds Conservancy are
working to preserve genetic diversity in animals by
reintroducing breeds of farm animals that are near extinction. Chefs
Collaborative is an organization for chefs and people in the
food industry who promote sustainably-raised, locally grown and
artisanal food. Farm
Aid works to support and save family farms. These are only a few
of the many groups working to support sustainable agriculture
and family farms.
What You Can Do
- Purchase food directly from your
local family farmer at a farmers
market, at a farm stand, or through a food co-op or a Community Supported Agriculture
(CSA) system. Visit our Shopping
Guides section for more information.
- Ask the manager of your grocery
store to supply foods produced at local family farms. Download
“I care about where my food comes from!”
- a notecard you can give to your store manager.
- Donate money to Farm Aid – Since 1985, this
non-profit organization has worked to support America's family
farmers.
- If you shop at a farmers market or
buy directly from a farm, thank the farmer for providing you
with such wholesome and delicious food. As long as farming is
recognized as an important, rewarding profession, younger
people will be encouraged to become farmers.
Did You Know?
- According to the EPA, 3,000 acres of
productive U.S. farmland are lost to development every day.vi
- Between 1974 and 2002, the number of
corporate-owned U.S. farms increased by more than 46 percent.vii
- 82% of Americans are somewhat or
very concerned about the decreasing number of American farms. viii
- 85% of Americans trust smaller scale
family farms to produce safe, nutritious food.ix
- In the US, the average principal
farm operator is 55.3 years old.x
- Between 2005 and 2006, the US lost
8,900 farms (a little more than 1 farm per hour).xi
For More Information
- Visit Farm Aid.
Their web site outlines the challenges currently faced by
family farmers and describes the organization's efforts to
assist these farmers in their struggle.
- Take a look at the Communities, Workers
and Economics sections of
Sustainable Table for more information on the benefits of
family farms and the problems with factory farming.
Sources
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