“This survey is a wake-up call.”
That’s a quote from Thomas J. Vilsack, the U.S. secretary of agriculture, talking about our latest Census of Agriculture, which was recently released.
What got his attention?
Here’s some statistics from the 2022 Census:
- The number of farms in the US dropped almost 7% since 2017 – a continuing decline from past censuses
- The number of farmers >65 is up 12%, a continuing trend, which also means more farms will be changing hands soon
- Wisconsin lost 6,272 farms and 533,952 acres of farmland from 2017 to 2022
- That’s roughly one in 10 farms and nearly one in three dairy farms
- Each of the 12 states in the Midwest region lost farms since 2017, except Iowa, which had a slight increase
And yet, in twenty years, the number of farms with more than 1,000 milk cows increased by 393%. Farms are consolidating, or rather, big farms are eating little farms.
In fact, 5,000+ acre farms were the only size category of farms to increase in number.
Farm loss affects more than farmers. Big farms are industrial farms, where machines replace people power. While efficiency goes up, jobs go down.
Local economies suffer.
Ag-support businesses, like meat processors and feed mills close.
Schools close.
Families move away.
This is the root of rural community collapse.
The fact that big farms now run 42% of the farmland in the country, invites the question:
Is this the future we want?
What are we going to do about it?
Ok, so the numbers are there, and not so pretty.
The good news: we have a choice.
We CAN do something about it.
As Julie Keown-Bomar, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, said: “It’s a choice we’re making about what kind of farm systems and food systems we want. It’s not inevitable that we have to continue in this direction.”
The truth is – farms, communities, economics – they’re complicated, and there’s plenty of issues to tackle.
Yet, as FoxRAP sees it, there’s 3 big ones we can do right here, in our own community:
- Buy local
- Make space for young and beginning farmers
- Keep small, working farms as small, working farms
This ag census was not eye-opening for us. It was validating.
It’s no coincidence that FoxRAP’s programs focus on farm viability, especially:
- Increasing community access to local farm products
- Increasing farmland access for emerging farmers
- Transitioning small, working farms to the next generation
Yet, we can’t do this work alone. We’re a community-based organization and this is work for the whole community.
How you can Join the effort
If you are (understandably) concerned with the results of the latest ag census, here are some ways you can make a difference:
- Buy local. Source as much of your eggs, veggies, flowers, soap, etc. as you can manage from our local farms. We are working hard to make local farm products more accessible to all. In the meantime, supporting any small, local business keeps dollars in our community. That adage: buying local buys a child a team jersey, while shopping at a big box store buys a CEO a second home – it’s not wrong.
- Create land access for a beginning farmer. See our story on why this is so important and how it’s easier than you think.
- Start a farm transition plan today. Resources to help folks tackle this tricky-yet-oh-so-crucial job are increasing everyday. Check out UW-Extension transition workshops and tools. Read about why it’s helpful to start early or find more resources here.
As always, give us a shout if you have questions or can’t find what you’re looking for.
Remember: it takes all of us to build strong communities.
As Secretary Vilsack says: “This survey isn’t just about agriculture. It’s a map and a guide to a better, more hopeful future.”
Foxhead Regenerative Agriculture Project 