Question

questions: from family farm to factory farm

1. what is a family farm?

1. how does the usda define a family farm?

1. approximately how many full time farms are actually left in the u.s.?

1. what kind of farms have mostly disappeared since the 1970s?

1. today, just ____ of farms in the u.s. produce ____ of the food.

1. what is a factory farm, and what is another term for it?

Explanation:

1. Defined by family ownership/operation of farm assets and labor.
2. USDA defines it as a farm where the operator and their family own/control the majority of the farm, and the family is involved in daily operations.
3. Based on recent USDA data, around 2 million full-time farms remain.
4. Small, mid-sized family farms focused on diverse crops/livestock.
5. Industry data shows 10% of U.S. farms produce 75% of the food supply.
6. A large-scale, industrialized farm focused on high-volume, intensive production; also called a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) for livestock-focused ones, or industrial farm generally.

Answer:

1. A family farm is an agricultural operation owned, operated, and primarily managed by members of a single family, with the family providing most of the labor and owning the majority of the farm's assets.
2. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) defines a family farm as any farm where the operator (and their family) own or control the majority of the farm's business, and the family is actively involved in the day-to-day management and labor of the farm, regardless of the farm's size.
3. Approximately 2 million full-time farms are left in the U.S.
4. Small, diversified family farms (small-scale, mixed crop and livestock farms that supplied local/regional markets) have mostly disappeared since the 1970s.
5. Today, just 10% of farms in the U.S. produce 75% of the food.
6. A factory farm is a large-scale, industrialized agricultural operation that uses intensive, standardized methods to maximize production volume and efficiency, often prioritizing profit over traditional farming practices. Another common term for it is an industrial farm; for livestock-focused factory farms, they are often called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).