4. US Ag: Farm Size & Structure Flashcards
What is the USDA definition of a farm?
A farm is an operation that sold $1,000 or more of food
No single measurement or characteristic, broad range of structures
What factors go into defining farms?
Size
Type/style of production
Products sold
Type of business/ownership
Customers/buyers
Business organization
What terms are used to describe farm size?
Land
Investment
Revenue
Number of animals
What terms are used to describe farm type/style of production?
Conventional
Organic
Natural
Biodynamic
Animal housing type
What terms are used to describe farm products sold?
Commodities
Processed
Beef, dairy, hogs, poultry, etc
What terms are used to describe farm types of business/ownership?
Sole owner
Family
Partner
Incorporated
What terms are used to describe customers/buyers?
Direct sales
Commodity marketplace
What terms are used to describe business organization?
Independent
Cooperative
Integrated
Producer/distributer
What is concern about food terms and consumers?
Consumers frequently do no understand descriptions
Assumptions/associations often inaccurate
Marketing confuses these terms
Consumers easily misled (affects purchasing decision, food safety risk exposure)
What factors go into determining farm size?
Number of acres
Number of animals
Number of full-time workers
Assets and equity
Revenue and profit
Define: Retirement Farms
Small Family Farms
Operator retired
Define: Residential/Lifestyle Farms
Small Family Farms
Other major occuption
Define: Limited-Resource Farms
Small Family Farms
Gross sales <$100,000 or total income <$20,000
Define: Farming Occupation/Lower-Sales Farms
Small Family Farms
Sales <$100,000, but major occupation
Define: Occupation/Higher-Sales Farms
Small Family Farms
$100,000 to $249,000
