There are a lot of small farms in the United States and 200,000-300,000 large-scale operations that dominate production of the major row crops. The newly formed Hudson Valley Farm Hub is “the only program in the U.S. that specifically focuses on addressing the growing gap in mid-sized farms – defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as farms with an annual gross income of $250,000-$1 million,” writes Eve Fox at Civil Eats. The hub occupies 1,200 acres formerly run by John Gill, a third-generation farmer. The farm was purchased by New World Foundation, led by Peter and Jennifer Buffet, relatives of investor Warren Buffet, and now “aims to promote resiliency in agriculture through a unique combination of farmer training, research and engagement,” says Fox.
The first group of trainees is expected in 2016 with graduation likely to occur a few years later, with plans to help them find land for their own operations to meet new or increased demand for a particular product. “Our goal is to make the pie bigger, not just split it into smaller pieces,” says Anu Rangarajan, former director of Cornell’s Small Farms Program.