 When we’re children and think about farms, the “family farm” is probably what we imagined. We think about a working garden, open spaces, and a few animals that may provide food as well as companionship. However, in today’s world, the “factory farm” is more likely to be the reality. Farming is big business and keeping a farm running is an expense as well as a lot of work. Discover a few reasons why farming is becoming a lost art in the new generation. Farming is a LOT of WorkOwning and working a farm requires quite a bit of manual labor. Even a small farm that only requires a few employees requires supervision and management. Management alone can be time consuming and expensive. Add in the actual labor of working the farm and it’s a very daunting effort. The Farm has Gone Corporate Most of the products on the shelf today (even in many “farmer’s markets”) come from big corporate farms. The corporate farms can process things faster and produce more and bring it to the public for far less than a small farm can. However, quality isn’t always as good as from a family-owned farm. That is why supporting local farms is so important! Today’s Political Landscape Politicians on both sides of the fence have made it more difficult than ever on the family farm. Taxes are significant and regulations are harsh. While some regulation and taxation is necessary, too much has made it difficult on the small farmer. Profiting is DifficultGiven the reasons above along with the standard financial concerns do make it hard to earn a big profit as a family farm owner. That means that often it's hard to convince the next generation to take over the responsibility of the farm. When owning a farm is more work and less profit than owning another business or taking on a job outside the family, the odds of the farm selling increases.
While the family farm may seem like it is becoming a lost art, there are still a few amazing places out there. If you would like to experience the family farm life in a up close and personal manner, reach out to Hagen Family Farms. We operate two farm house VRBOs (farm house vacation rentals by owner), where you can enjoy the country life—just a few minutes from beautiful downtown Snohomish, Washington. Call or contact us to book a trip or if you have any questions about our family farm. We look forward to seeing you soon! |
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