Capital Press: Number of WA farms increase, OR farms decrease
Mixed results for small farms in the Northwest
Capital Press reports that the number of Washington farms has increased by 9 percent, based on a comparison of census data between 2002 and 2007. Moreover, the average size of farms decreased by 11 percent, from 426 acres to 381 acres. There is also more diversity reported among agriculturalists which offers a positive sign for the state's agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, in Oregon, the same census period shows fewer overall farms (1,500 fewer, to be exact) and fewer acres in production. Moreover, the number of small farms decreased while the average farm size remained about the same. Interestingly, the sales value of organic production in Oregon greatly increased - from under $10 million in 2002 to over $88 million in 2007 - even though the number of farms reporting direct sales decreased (in contrast to a national increase).
Nationally, the Census of Agriculture shows an overall 8 percent increase in small farms (under 180 acres), whereas large farms (over 2,000 acres) increased by just 3 percent. Could small farms be making a comeback? Are organic sales becoming dominated by large farming operations? In Oregon it would appear that there is more work to be done...
Read "Washington: Number of farms increase"
Read "Oregon: Fewer farms, more sales"
Read "Census: Farms grow"
