Gerard Scimeca – Chairman, CASE
April 26, 2019
The 5-year Agriculture Census was released this month, giving an update on the state of U.S. agriculture as of 2017. The Ag Census is produced by the Department of Agriculture every 5 years, and its comprehensive breakdown of American farming and ranching provides crucial information about the state of U.S. food production for economic and public policy planning.
One thing is clear from the most recent census is that many farmers are experiencing higher than expected challenges, from weather, environmental regulations, and foreign competition. While U.S. farming remains robust and secure as the world’s bread basket, areas of concern are showing from the most recent data.
The number of farms is down 3.2 percent, and the total acreage of land used for farming is down 1.6 percent. Medium sized farms are disappearing or consolidating, leading to an increase in the number of farms sized 2,000 acres or more. The loss of arable land used for U.S. farming was a concern voiced by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
The 2017 Ag Census highlights a strong position on U.S. trade, where America continues to help feed the world. Predatory practices by some nations, such as those that subsidize their domestic sugar industry with billions in subsidies, require continued vigilance to protect American farmers and U.S. economic interests. While little can be done to assuage events beyond the control of farmers, such as heavy flooding in the Midwest recently, U.S. policy can continue to protect farmers and consumers through commonsense policies that do not bend or cower to nations that remain determined to undermine American interests through aggressive and unfair trade practices.
America’s family farmers deserve no less.
