What is a family farm?

A family farm is any farm where the majority of the business is owned by the operator and individuals related to the operator, including through blood, marriage or adoption, by definition according to the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture typology report.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture Farm Typology report primarily focuses on "family farm".

According to the survey, in Nebraska there are

• 49,969 family farms in Nebraska that grow corn, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, barley, other grains (including oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas), garden vegetables, fruits and tree nuts, berries, nursery and greenhouses, Christmas trees, cattle, milk, hogs and pigs, sheep, goats, wool, horses, poultry and eggs and aquaculture.
• 17.6% of farms are considered small farms with gross cash farm income (GCFI) of $150,000 or less
• 10.5% are moderate sales with GCFI between $150,000 to $349,000
• 15.3% are mid-size family farms with GCFI between $350,000-$999,999
• 8.0% are large and very large with GCFI greater than $1,000,000
• $108,593 is the average net cash farm income
• 31% of family farmers have an off-farm occupation
• 22,914 family farms have hired or contract labor
• $478,972,000 is paid in property taxes annually by these family farms

Additional findings in the report include:

• 97% of U.S. farms are family owned
• 88% of U.S. farms are small (less than $350,000 gross cash farm income)
• 66% of dairy sales come from the 3% of farms that are large and very large
• 18% of primary operators on family farms stared in the last 10 years

This report shows that "factory farms" are non-existent even though groups such as HSUS, ASPCA and others still use the term in their blogs and on social media.  On my next blog I will talk about factory farms and why they don't exist.  

Do You Have What it Takes to Farm?

More than 90% of American farms are family owned.  They raise the crops that are made into food, feed, fuel and fiber; however, most Americans have never stepped foot on a farm.  "Farmland", a film by James Moll, takes you into the lives of farmers and ranchers in their 20's that operate their agriculture business.

Recently, Farmland became available for purchase at Walmart and on Walmart.com.  It documents the hard-work, passion, commitment it takes to grow crops, produce and raise livestock.  In many cases, these farms have been in the family for generations

Award-winning director, James Moll, takes you into the lives of farmers and ranchers.  See their passion, hard-work and dedication first hand.


Dave Loberg is  fifth generation corn and soybean farmer from Nebraska that farms with his mother and custom feeds 500 head of cows for a local dairy operation.  He also runs an irrigation business.



Leighton Cooley a fourth generation poultry farmer from Georgia that farms with his father and also grows hay and has a cow-calf operation.



Brad Bellah a 26 year old sixth generation cattle farmer with cattle in Texas and Colorado.  He holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture communications from Texas Tech University.





Sutton Morgan is a fourth generation farmer from California that grows, packs and sells onions and potatoes. Also grown on his farm includes melons, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuces, chard, kale and alfalfa.





Margaret Schlass is a first-generation certified naturally grown vegetable farmer who grows and markets her own produce through community supported agriculture programs and to restaurant owners.

Ryan Veldhuizenis a fourth-generation farmer from Minnesota who raises hogs and grows corn and soybeans.

Next week as we celebrate National Ag Week, I challenge you to visit a local farmer and spend a day in their shoes.