Preliminary data from the 2012 Census of Agriculture shows a diminishing middle class in farming, so U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack said the agency plans to expand efforts to connect small and mid-sized farmers and ranchers with USDA resources. By making these concentrated efforts, Vilsack hopes to help these farmers and ranchers build stronger businesses, grow their operations and expand to reach new and larger markets.
Efforts include improved access to USDA resources, revised risk management tools that better fit the needs of smaller farmers, additional support for hop houses and expanded collection of valuable news information, according to a USDA news release.
More information about these tools and resources are available on the USDA’s Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources page.