Go big or get out

Over the years, corporate farms seem to have taken over an inordinately large number of family owned farms. Cost efficiencies, economic power, and centralized decision making may have been the key to taking over MA and PA operations. So a defining question arises. True or false, “the only recourse for farmers is to get bigger or get out.” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that's not true in many cases, and he told a National Press Club event that the keys to making a totally false revolve around markets. More, better and new. He said on the more side, we need to develop… More local and regional food opportunities. to Give smaller farmers more market power so more markets and better Markets. To the extent that we have more competition, that's a better market. And that's why it's important for USDA to look at ways in which we can create opportunities for more small processing facilities for livestock producers. And finally, Vilsack says we should be encouraging totally new markets such as carbon markets. For small and mid-sized producers, Their land can sequester carbon as well as anybody else's land. They may have the capacity with a cooperative digester, with renewable energy to reduce their costs or to produce energy for the grid, which creates a new revenue stream. And Vilsack said he's going to do all he can to foster more, better and new markets for farmers.