There are currently about 2 million American farms. About 95% are owned, rented or operated by individuals and families, while about 5% are corporate farms. The term “family farm” does not necessarily equate with a small farm, nor does a “corporate farm” necessarily mean a large-scale operation owned by a multinational corporation. Many of our country's largest agricultural enterprises are family owned. Small farms, accounting for 90% of the total, are those with annual sales less than $350,000. Despite the predominance of these small farms, there is strong evidence of a trend toward concentration in our nation’s agricultural production. In addition to consolidation, small farms are facing increasing pressure from large factory farms operated by multinational corporations that, because of their buying power and size, often dominate the marketplace.

Critics of large factory farms say they confine thousands of animals in cramped, unsanitary conditions thereby placing the safety of our food at risk. Large farms also pollute our air and water, harm the welfare of animals and exploit workers, extract wealth from rural communities, increase the risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria and have a stranglehold on our food supply.

Proposed Legislation: H.R.6718 - Farm System Reform Act of 2020
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Ro Khanna (CA)