Small Farms in the United States

Small farms account for 91 percent of all farms and 23 percent of agricultural production. There are large differences among small farms, however, because USDA statistics are based on a very broad farm definition. Most small-farm production occurs on small commercial farms with a gross cash farm income (GCFI) of at least $10,000. Most places counted as small farms, however, are much smaller than that; 60% of small farms have GCFI of less than $10,000, and 22 percent have less than $1,000. This book examines the differences between small and large farms and distinguishes between non-commercial farms and small commercial farms and their viability for the future in the United States.