As we wrap up Black History Month and move through Women’s History Month, we continue to have a conversation about the future of agriculture in our country – more specifically the prospect for new small farmers.
Here is the question: Beyond the noise, smoke screens, and speeches, who actually gets a real opportunity at building a lasting legacy in it?
A Century of Decline
The data tells a clear story about who has been able to sustain a future in farming. In 1920, Black farmers made up roughly 14% of all U.S. farm operators—nearly one million farms. Today, after a century of systemic barriers, unequal lending, and exclusionary policies, that number has plummeted to just over 1.4% (or roughly 46,000), according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture (Black Producers, 2022).
Indigenous farmers face a parallel struggle for representation and resources. They currently make up only about 1.7% of U.S. producers, and the vast majority of the agricultural output generated on currently designated Native lands is actually done by non-Native operations, not to mention that all land was formerly inhabited or controlled by Indigenous people before colonization.
And while women now make up roughly 36% of all U.S. producers, a closer look indicates that this growth has largely been concentrated among non-minority women. Black women currently represent just around 0.36% of all U.S. farmers (roughly 5,000 individuals).
What Does “Small Farm” Actually Mean?
The USDA defines a “small farm” as an operation bringing in less than $350,000 in annual sales (Farm Structure and Organization, 2026). This $350,000 revenue threshold covers a very large group of famers, and is not representative of what makes up a “small farm”, as customers understand and experience it.
Here’s the reality:
- The vast majority of Black, Indigenous, and other minority farmers operate small-scale farms, yet together they own less than 2% of U.S. farmland today. That’s a significant drop from a century ago, when Black farmers alone made up about 14% of all farmers (USDA NASS, 2024; USDA ERS, 2023).
- Despite this decline, these growers represent a powerful, underused economic engine. Research shows that small, diverse farms often produce more food per acre than large monocultures because they grow multiple crops and raise animals together, making better use of the land (Rosset, 1999).
- This efficiency also strengthens local economies. A study of California food producers found that small farms selling directly to consumers generated $1.86 in local economic activity for every dollar spent, compared to $1.42 for conventional large-scale operations (Hardesty et al., 2016). That extra value stays in the community—supporting jobs, local businesses, and long-term resilience.
The Massive Subsidy Gap
Federal farm support is a massive investment. According to data compiled by the Environmental Working Group from USDA records, basic commodity subsidies alone totaled roughly $279 billion between 1995 and 2024. When including disaster aid and conservation programs, that total rises significantly
Farms with gross sales ≥$250,000 (~8% of farms in the early 2000s) received approximately 78% of commodity program benefits in 2004 (USDA ERS, 2006). More recent cumulative data (1995–2021) indicates the top 10% of payment recipients received over 78% of commodity subsidies (Environmental Working Group, 2023).
At the same time, the small and minority farmers who actually need the buffer are left largely unsupported.
Who Actually Benefits (and How)?
Large-scale farms receive the biggest share of government support, especially through crop insurance. Here is how it works:
- Taxpayers cover about 60% of the cost of crop insurance premiums. In 2020 alone, government-backed insurance payouts reached $14.5 billion (USDA RMA, 2021).
- This acts as a powerful safety net. When large scale farms face droughts, floods, or price drops, the government helps cover the loss. This support helps them survive bad years and often gives them the money needed to expand.
- Meanwhile, small and minority farmers often struggle to use these programs. Even with the government discount, the remaining cost can be too high. Many also face barriers like complex paperwork or lack of land ownership, making it harder to qualify for the help they need.
The Real Return on Investment for Large Operations
The data shows that federal agricultural programs are powerful tools for building strong, resilient businesses. However, right now, these tools work best for those who already have size and established connections.
Because they can consistently access subsidies and insurance, large operations are able to:
- Build a stable foundation that keeps the farm running even during bad growing seasons.
- Grow with confidence, knowing a safety net protects them from total loss if they try new methods.
- Invest in the future, putting money into better technology, infrastructure, and processing facilities.
- Manage financial risk, knowing federal backing helps when weather or markets turn against them.
This proves the system can work to sustain agricultural businesses. The goal now is to ensure small and minority farmers get the same chance. They face the same risks as large operations but often lack access to the same protection. To build a truly resilient food system, support should be based on the needs of the farmer, not just the size of the farm.
Real Access to Resources – Not Just Theory
To be clear, pointing this out isn’t about demanding “handouts.” It’s about building a system that actually works for everyone. The U.S. government routinely supports key industries when things get tough—or when an industry has a strong lobby.
- During the 2008 financial crisis, the federal government spent over $700 billion rescuing banks and automakers to stabilize the economy (Congressional Research Service, 2021).
- Industries like oil and airlines regularly receive loan guarantees, tax breaks, and emergency funding.
- In agriculture, lobbying heavily shapes who benefits. During the last major Farm Bill negotiations, more than 500 groups and companies hired lobbyists to advocate for their interests, and many of the final provisions reflected the priorities of the most well-funded voices (OpenSecrets, 2018).
Through low-interest loans, direct payments, and insurance, the government has long supported large scale agricultural operations. But unlike other sectors, farm programs rarely focus enough support on helping new farmers, women, or minorities break into the industry and build something that lasts.
Reversing the Decline
As we move from Black History Month into Women’s History Month, the data tells a clear story: the number of Black farmers, women farmers, and specifically Black women in agriculture has dropped drastically over the last century, and those numbers are still falling today. In 1920, Black farmers made up about 14% of all farmers; by 2022, that number had fallen to just 1.4%. Indigenous farmers represent only about 1.7% of producers today, and all racial minorities combined make up less than 5% of the farming population (USDA NASS, 2024).
A resilient agricultural system cannot rely on a shrinking, limited group of large operators. It requires a surge of new, diverse entrants.
A Path Forward
We are not asking to tip the scales. We are simply asking to remove the artificial barriers that protect the biggest players while locking out everyone else.
A sustainable agricultural legacy requires:
- Opening up access to land and capital for Black, Indigenous, women, and minority growers.
- Making sure subsidies and insurance actually reach the people who need them to build a lasting foundation.
- Backing true innovation and long-term sustainability, rather than just funding the way things have always been done.
None of this is possible without accurate data. Right now, gaps in how the USDA counts farmers makes it challenging to see who is being left out (USDA NASS, 2024). We can use better numbers to build better policies. We will explore this specific issue of data collection and measurement in a future post, because getting the numbers right is important to fixing the system.
What You Can Do
The upcoming farm bill is going to dictate the reality of American agriculture for years.
Current Status:
- The 2018 Farm Bill (Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018) has been extended through September 30, 2026, via P.L. 119-37, passed in November 2025.
- The House Agriculture Committee advanced a new farm bill proposal, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), on February 13, 2026 (Text – H.R.7567, 2026)
- The Opportunity: Because a final bill has not yet passed both chambers, we are currently in the vital window for negotiation and reconciliation.
Action 1: Structural Change – ask your representatives to prioritize:
- Expanding real, tangible support for beginning, small, Black, Indigenous, and women farmers.
- Make programs accessible so all qualified growers can afford to participate, not just the largest ones.
- End extra advantages for massive operations unless they are actively helping the entire community thrive (Congressional Research Service, 2023).
Action 2: Individual Support – Your daily choices matter more for small growers:
- Make it a routine: Buy directly from local growers and makers whenever possible. Support platforms like your local farmers markets, that are building a sustainable, food system from the ground up.
- Support the whole ecosystem: Farmers’ markets need more than just produce. Buying from local artisans, meat producers, and bakers keeps the entire community fed and thriving (USDA ERS, 2023).
- Amplify their reach: Recommend your favorite local farmers—especially women and minority-owned businesses—to friends, family, and coworkers. Share their updates, leave reviews, and bring friends to the market.
Every time you intentionally direct your money toward these businesses, you are laying the groundwork for an agricultural legacy that lasts.
Sources:
Congressional Research Service. (2021). Federal rescue of the financial system and auto industry during the 2008 crisis. Washington, DC: Author.
Congressional Research Service. (2023). The Farm Bill: A primer. Washington, DC: Author.
Environmental Working Group. (2023). Crop insurance subsidies. Washington, DC: Author.
Environmental Working Group. (2023). Updated EWG Farm Subsidy Database shows largest producers reap billions, despite climate crisis. Washington, DC: Author.
Hardesty, S., Christensen, L. O., McGuire, E., Feenstra, G., & Ingels, C. (2016). Economic impact of local food producers in the Sacramento region. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
OpenSecrets. (2018). Farm Bill’s corporate farm subsidies remain intact after extensive lobbying. Washington, DC: Author.
Rosset, P. (1999). On the benefits of small farms. Food First Backgrounder, 6(4). Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2006). Government payments. In R. A. Hoppe (Ed.), Structure and finances of U.S. farms: 2005 family farm report (Economic Information Bulletin No. 24, pp. 28–31). Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2023). Agricultural land ownership by race/ethnicity. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2023). Local food systems and consumer demand. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2023). Precision agriculture in the digital era: Recent adoption on U.S. farms. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. (2024). 2022 Census of Agriculture: Black producers highlights. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. (2024). 2022 Census of Agriculture: Demographic profiles. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Risk Management Agency. (2021). Summary of business 2020. Washington, DC: Author.