(Radio Iowa) – U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says small and mid-sized farms are part of the country’s muscular core and specialized farming is how they’re likely to flourish.  “The notion of getting big or getting out runs counter, I think, to the heritage of this state and to the heritage of American agriculture,” Vilsack says. Vilsack spoke to a crowd in Des Moines this (Thursday) morning. He pointed to 2022, which was a record year for farm income, with just seven-and-a-half percent of U-S farms got 89 percent of that income.

“Are we comfortable with a situation where income continues to be concentrated, with the understanding that folks who are large scale production agriculture have enormous risk financially and do an enormous service to the country and the world,” Vilsack asked, “or are we big enough and smart enough and innovative enough to basically create another alternative option so that folks can have a choice?”

Vilsack argues production of local foods or the use of farming practices that businesses and consumers are willing to pay a premium for as the way for small operators to find success.