Agricultural census highlights increasing farm concentration in Missouri

The 2022 Agricultural Census and the Farm Bill Debate

The 2022 agricultural census provides valuable context for the continuing farm bill debate. One key finding is that the share of agricultural production that occurs on the largest farms continues to increase.

Farm Numbers and Average Farm Size

1. The census reports that Missouri had 87,887 farms in 2022, and many press stories have focused on how that total has declined over time. Missouri has had a net loss of about 20,000 farms since 2007, for example.
2. Counting farms and reporting the average farm size doesn’t tell the full story. USDA counts as a “farm” any operation that could market $1,000 or more in agricultural products in a typical year. Thus, the reported figures include a lot of very small operations that account for a tiny fraction of farm sales.

Impact of Small and Large Farms

• For example, 63% of Missouri’s farms had less than $25,000 in agricultural product sales and government payments in 2022. Those farms account for just 2% of the total value of Missouri farm product sales and payments. Changes in the number of these very small operations can have a big impact on the reported number of farms, but very little impact on agricultural production.
• On the other hand, just 3,502 Missouri farms had more than $1 million in agricultural product sales and government payments in 2022. However, those large operations accounted for $10 billion in farm product sales, two thirds of the $15 billion state total.

Trends in Agricultural Production

1. Comparing these numbers across time can be a bit misleading. Prices for many farm products were at or near all-time records in 2022, so there were at least a few farms that recorded a million dollars in sales in 2022 that probably have less than that in a normal year.
2. Still, it is clear that an increasing share of production is occurring on the largest farms. For example, the number of farms of 2,000 acres or more increased from 1,331 in 1997 to 2,454 in 2022.

Farm Bill and Agricultural Subsidies

The farm bill covers a wide range of programs, but most federal spending on agricultural subsidies is focused on a few major crops and the dairy sector. Beef cattle, hog, and poultry producers receive only modest amounts of support from farm bill programs, although they have benefited from disaster and pandemic aid programs that are authorized separately.

Missouri’s Cattle Industry

• Missouri has a lot of cattle and a lot of cattle producers. Almost half of the farms in the state reported having at least some cattle in 2022, far more than reported producing any of the crops eligible for farm commodity programs and crop insurance.
• For comparison, 18% of Missouri farms produced soybeans in 2022, and even fewer produced corn and other crops. Just 1,704 Missouri farms had dairy cows in 2022, a decline of more than 50% since 2002. Farm programs are very important to grain, oilseed, cotton, and dairy producers, but the number of Missouri farms selling those products is falling.

Potential for Specialty Crops

Some have argued that there is great potential to increase Missouri production of fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops. Those products account for a much smaller share of farm product sales in Missouri than they do elsewhere. Less than 2% of Missouri farms report fruit and vegetable sales, and far more land in Missouri is used to produce rice than all fruits and vegetables combined.

Pat Westhoff is director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri and a professor of agricultural and applied economics. The opinions expressed here are his own and do not reflect official positions or endorsements of the University of Missouri.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The issues highlighted in the article are related to agricultural production, farm sizes, and the distribution of resources in the agricultural sector. These issues are directly connected to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), as agricultural production plays a crucial role in ensuring food security. The article also touches upon economic growth and employment in the agricultural sector, which aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Additionally, the article discusses the need for responsible consumption and production practices, which relates to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Finally, the article mentions changes in the number of farms and their impact on agricultural production, which is relevant to SDG 15 (Life on Land) as it focuses on sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, particularly women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers.
• SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
• SDG 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
• SDG 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

Based on the article’s content, the following targets can be identified. Under SDG 2, the target is to double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. SDG 8 focuses on achieving full and productive employment in the agricultural sector, which includes supporting farmers and ensuring equal pay for work. SDG 12 aims to reduce food waste and losses along the production and supply chains. Finally, SDG 15 emphasizes sustainable land management practices, including the restoration of degraded forests.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of small-scale food producers and their agricultural productivity
• Employment rates and income levels in the agricultural sector
• Food waste and losses along the production and supply chains
• Extent of deforestation and forest restoration

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators related to the identified targets. However, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards these targets. The number of small-scale food producers and their agricultural productivity can be used as an indicator for SDG 2. Employment rates and income levels in the agricultural sector can be used as indicators for SDG 8. The amount of food waste and losses along the production and supply chains can be used as an indicator for SDG 12. Finally, the extent of deforestation and forest restoration can be used as an indicator for SDG 15.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: columbiatribune.com

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