The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers any farm a “small farm” if it has less than $250,000 in annual gross sales, but that definition is too broad to provide a sense of what Florida’s small farms are really like.So FAMU and UF surveyed small farmers statewide, and about 300 responded. The results shed light on producer demographics and confirm that small farms make important contributions to local economies.
In terms of land, 64 percent of the participants farmed 50 acres or less.
Their motivations varied widely. Many participants—39 percent—reported that farming was moderately important or very important as a primary source of income, and 52 percent relied on farming for supplemental income. Farming was a part-time occupation for 44 percent.
Other popular reasons included maintaining a family tradition, wanting to own a business and enjoying the farming lifestyle.
Altogether, the participants produced 35 items. The most common were beef cattle (produced by 33 percent), horses (17 percent), goats (16 percent), vegetables (14 percent) and flowers or bedding plants (11 percent).
Other enterprises included hay, fruits, herbs, poultry, aquaculture, beekeeping, timber and pine straw. Crop diversity is essential to farm sustainability, and 45 percent of the participants reported producing two or more items.
Challenges facing Florida’s small farmers include marketing their crops at a profit, finding affordable materials and supplies, obtaining reliable information, and complying with state and federal regulations.
To address these issues, regional small farm conferences are held throughout the state. This summer, the first statewide conference will provide small farmers a forum for exchanging ideas and an opportunity to learn about strategies to improve the sustainability of their farms.