A U.S. Department of Agriculture report says American farms have grown larger over the past three decades, but it’s still family farmers who are running them. John Newton, American Farm Bureau Federation Director of Market Intelligence, says family farms have taken advantage of opportunities to improve their operations:
Newton says advancements in technology help family farmers raise more animals and grow more crops with fewer people involved and less inputs, like crop protection tools. This efficiency helps farmers feed a growing population:
Newton says there has also been consolidation in several segments of agriculture, including farm machinery and chemical companies: