To the editor,

Numerous local communities have held public hearings and have considered operating ordinances for agriculture in Pierce County townships. A concern often mentioned is the dwindling number of active farms (both big and small) and the concept that larger farms force smaller farmers out. A review of statistics from USDA and Census of Agriculture shows a near steady percentage drop in number of farms annually for decades. Of note, highly profitable years, as in milk prices being above average cost of production, the “retirement rate” does not decrease significantly nor does the rate of farms exiting increase due to slim or unprofitable years. 

Farmers, both small and large, produce ag. Commodities that have prices determined by supply and demand. Farm managers are the drivers of staying profitable and remaining as farmers. Farm attrition is closely related to the aging of individual farmers and a local affordable labor supply as well as their ability to manage through substantial risks, such as weather, production prices, etc. Cliches of years past were “never have more cows than your wife can milk” or the fact that farmers tend to sell their herds after the last child (labor supply) graduates from school.  Industrial advances, technology and AI will continue the trend of fewer commodity farmers and surviving farmers increasing their size of crop acres or livestock numbers.

A healthy industry allows both big and larger farms to exist and prosper. Without larger farms food prices would be many times as expensive and have a reliance of increased food imports. If farming was super profitable everyone would be a farmer. Commodity prices usually are near the cost of production of the commodity, in other words, margins are very thin.

A promising trend is that the number of small farms are expected to increase substantially with many “niche” farms emerging. These are small scale farmers that do direct marketing, turn their raw commodity into value added products, engage the public with “pick your own” or on farm experiences, ag tourism, know your farmer, specialized produce such as organic, non GMO, non rbst; more stores and consumers buying locally produced foods, CSAs more common, producing on the farm yogurts, bottled milk, small batch specialty cheeses, small scale baking goods, handmade candles, soaps, etc. These are farm units that are creating higher margin products instead of battling low margin commodity farms. Likely unknown, recent Farm Bills have USDA/Farm Service Agency conversation programs that actively support new starting out small farm production utilizing grants, low interest loans, or tax credits. Organizations such as Marble Seed, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Professional Dairy Farmers and UW-Extension have numerous educational programs to help starting farms.

Agriculture can coexist with CAFOs and smaller farm units. We need to not overregulate and stifle either of these farms.

Wally Franta

River Falls