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Indiana agriculture is evolving into a two-tier system: large farms and small farms. That's OK, however, because there's room for both in food production, says Purdue agricultural economist Chris Hurt.
Preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2002 Census of Agriculture indicates that the only farm categories with increases since 1997 are operations with 10-49 acres and those with 1,000 acres or more.
These findings aren't surprising, Hurt says. “What we see happening is large farms are trying to get larger as a strategy for driving costs lower and for trying to increase family incomes. They're doing that by using more technology and increasing efficiency through adaptation of that technology.”
Part of the growth in small farms is attributed to urbanites moving to the country and engaging in limited farming activities. The rest are professional farmers who are changing their business focus, he says.
Related links:
"Ag census shows numbers up for big, small farms in Indiana"
Indiana Agricultural Statistics Service
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Department of Agricultural Economics
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