June 4, 2019 - If you are from Texas or living within its boundaries, you know that it is big and rapidly growing and has a lot to offer. From a booming oil and natural gas industry to more cattle and poultry than any other state, Texas is a leader in job opportunities and production agriculture. We often think of the agriculture industry as some massive conglomerate that only exists to make a buck. The agriculture industry takes a lot of heat and misconceptions are cast frequently. According to pop culture press, our industry is one that lacks sustainability and leaves a lot to be desired in terms of eco-friendliness. Our industry’s farmers’ intelligence and proficiency in feeding a growing population is always in question and food safety and quality concerns make national news headlines faster than most any other topic. However, what consumers fail to realize is that a hefty portion of common misconceptions could not be more inaccurate.
Here in east Texas, we are no stranger to the family farm. Family and small farms are vital to our rural economies and well-being as not only a community, but as a nation. They support the competitiveness and sustainability of rural and farm economies, and also aid in protecting and enhancing natural resources and the environment, providing a nursery for the development of new enterprises and marketing systems, and maintaining rural populations.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, more than 90 percent of farms in the U.S. are classified as small, which means the gross cash farm income is equal to or less than $250,000. Fourteen percent of all Texans are involved in agricultural-related work. Family farms represent 98.6 percent of all farms in Texas, which is just a little higher than the U.S. average. Family farms make up 96 percent of the United States farm production system. In fact, less than 1 percent of farms are corporate farms. Family farms are the heartbeat of American agriculture. That being so, it is sometimes surprising to hear that the most recent statistics indicated that Texas is ranked third behind California and Iowa for agricultural receipts with $23.5 billion, of which about two-thirds comes from livestock products and one-third from crops. In comparison to other states’ records, Texas is an incredible contributor to the overall agricultural sustainability in our nation and we have our local and family farms to credit that feat to.
Rural communities value and appreciate the importance of agriculture in the great state of Texas and it is our responsibility as consumers to support our local agriculture industries. East Texas is known for its cattle and calf production, broiler industry, oil and natural gas, and logging. Where a thriving agriculture industry exists, the need for quality agriculture education is paramount. The more we can know about the industry that makes our world go ‘round, the more we can contribute to it. Of course, we aren’t all farmers and we do not all have the acreage to sustain livestock or row crops, but we do all have one thing in common to contribute – support.
Family and small farms are scattered throughout our rural communities. Texas’ robust production agriculture industry would not be possible without our local farmers who strive to raise and harvest to best quality food possible. Sustainability across the agriculture industry is improving and the family farmer is responsible for that. E.H. Derby once said, “A fertile soil alone does not carry agriculture to perfection.” Agriculturalists of all types and kinds know this to be true. Hard work and perseverance is only half the battle. The other half is comprised by following strict government regulations at every point in production, battling consumer misconceptions and pop culture trends, hoping mother nature controls her attitude, choosing the best cattle genetics to improve carcass yield, planting your crops within a time-crunched window, defending the practices implemented in the raising and harvesting of your livestock and crops, and ensuring a skeptical population that your contribution to a flourishing industry meets all quality standards set by both the USDA and the average consumer.
Local farmers across the state of Texas share similar frustrations and it falls on local communities to support its’ local agriculture. Stop and buy a bag of local produce, shop your local farmers market, help your neighbor till a row and plant some seeds, educate someone who is just passing through of the importance of Texas and local agriculture. One small show of support can begin a shift in misconceptions, and the family farmer deserves that. To learn more about the family and small farms’ impact on Texas and American agriculture, visit http://texasfarmbureau.org/usda-releases-diverse-family-farms-report/.
