Purdue Extension Resources for Diversified Farming and Food Systems

According to the last U.S. Census of Agriculture (2022), 95% of all U.S. Farms are family-owned. Small family farms (according to USDA, farms with Gross Cash Farm Income [GCFI] of less than $350,000) accounted for 85% of all U.S. farms.

Measured by size alone, 802,000 farms (42% of all farms) in the U.S. have less than 50 acres. In Indiana, that percentage is 47%, and in Whitley County, 48%.

Many of Purdue Extension’s efforts to reach producers operating small and specialty crop farms fall under one “umbrella” program called Diversified Farming and Food Systems (DFFS). Other Purdue Extension programs may also have a portion of their efforts reaching this audience.

Access the website at: https://www.purdue.edu/dffs/. DFFS programs include: Urban Agriculture, Organic Agriculture, Food Systems, Beginning Farmers, and other areas. Note that some of these initiatives deal with diversified farming with no regard to size.

Urban Agriculture is at: https://extension.purdue.edu/anr/_teams/dffs/urban_ag/index.html. Urban agriculture can be many things - a schoolyard chicken coop and vegetable garden teaching students healthy habits, a vacant lot growing food for neighborhood families, a church garden feeding the hungry, or an entrepreneur's acre supplying restaurants and farmers’ markets. Urban agriculture improves food access in some food-insecure areas and helps boost fruit and vegetable consumption.

Organic Agriculture resources may be accessed at: https://extension.purdue.edu/anr/_teams/dffs/organic_ag/index.html. Their resources are concentrated on insect, weed, and disease management, along with related organic agriculture events, news, and information. The Purdue Extension Organic Agriculture program coordinates extension and collaborative research programs in organic agriculture in Indiana.

Food Systems information can be accessed directly at: https://extension.purdue.edu/anr/_teams/dffs/food_systems/index.html. The Purdue Food Systems program uses an interdisciplinary approach to collaboratively create educational materials and workshops, while engaging community members to build local economies. The program supports small, diverse farms and value-added food businesses in Indiana.

Beginning Farmers may find information at: https://extension.purdue.edu/anr/_teams/dffs/beginning_farmer/index.html. Of course, beginning farmers are just as the name implies – farmers just starting out with little or no experience. Facing a steep learning curve, this audience benefits from many types of resources – Extension programs, farmer-to-farmer contacts, farm tours, agency contacts, and resource libraries.

Purdue Extension in Whitley County will be assisting with a Beginning Farmer state-wide virtual training Jan. 8-Feb. 26. Go to https://extension.purdue.edu/anr/_teams/dffs/beginning_farmer/programs/signature_program.html for more information. The cost is $90, and includes a workbook. Register by Jan. 5.