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Although it is true that there are fewer total farms, about 98 percent of remaining farms are still
family operated - USDA
Farm families are dedicated to a lifestyle and tradition of hard work. Being an independent full-
time farmer is not a realistic goal without some background in farming practices, animal care,
agronomy, etc. These skills are developed over the years with a combination of education and
first hand experience.
Start-up costs are huge and the learning curve is hard to overcome without generations of
wisdom and experience to guide you. Farm incomes are not steady or predictable. Farming
has always been a risky business, dependent on market swings, without a guaranteed source
of income.
Taking these challenges into account, it's clear that farming isn't a career chosen for the profit.
Farming is a way of life for many families. The desire to live off of the land, work with livestock,
and raise a family with a good work ethic can be fulfilled when farming. These underlying values
in agriculture have remained true today, even through all of the change and technological advances.
As we've addressed there are also many challenges with this lifestyle, no guaranteed income, long hours and strenuous manual work. Values, tolerance for risk/stress, along with assets such as knowledge, land, and equipment, are often passed down through generations.
As farms have grown in Ohio they remain owned and operated by families. The formal business structure, like choosing to be incorporated, may be different than in years past, but families are still the driving force in Ohio agriculture.
The rest of the world is changing the way they do business farmers are too, but our values have remained the same; pride in our work, respect for the land and our animals, and commitment to family and community.
family operated - USDA
Farm families are dedicated to a lifestyle and tradition of hard work. Being an independent full-
time farmer is not a realistic goal without some background in farming practices, animal care,
agronomy, etc. These skills are developed over the years with a combination of education and
first hand experience.
Start-up costs are huge and the learning curve is hard to overcome without generations of
wisdom and experience to guide you. Farm incomes are not steady or predictable. Farming
has always been a risky business, dependent on market swings, without a guaranteed source
of income.
Taking these challenges into account, it's clear that farming isn't a career chosen for the profit.
Farming is a way of life for many families. The desire to live off of the land, work with livestock,
and raise a family with a good work ethic can be fulfilled when farming. These underlying values
in agriculture have remained true today, even through all of the change and technological advances.
As we've addressed there are also many challenges with this lifestyle, no guaranteed income, long hours and strenuous manual work. Values, tolerance for risk/stress, along with assets such as knowledge, land, and equipment, are often passed down through generations.
As farms have grown in Ohio they remain owned and operated by families. The formal business structure, like choosing to be incorporated, may be different than in years past, but families are still the driving force in Ohio agriculture.
The rest of the world is changing the way they do business farmers are too, but our values have remained the same; pride in our work, respect for the land and our animals, and commitment to family and community.
Download the PDF here!
Information provided by: National Pork Board
