![]() ![]() This means, as a farm watcher, you may find farmers doing field work very early in the morning or late at night. During planting or harvest time, for example, the delay of a day or two can affect the value of the crop, costing the farmer hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Many farming activities are dependent on season and weather conditions and can be very time sensitive. Other types of farm production are important, but none individually account for more than 10 percent of total cash receipts. Poultry farms, including layers and broilers, account for about 22 percent of Pennsylvania farms, while field crops account for 13 percent. But these 1,421 farms made up more than 52 percent of all Pennsylvania agricultural product sales in 2017.Ībout 26 percent of cash receipts on farms come from dairy production (see pie chart). The largest farms-those with annual sales over $1 million-account for just under 3 percent of all Pennsylvania farms. These farms most often conform to popular images of “family farms.” The largest incorporated farms, in contrast, are nothing like the “corporate farms” often denigrated in popular culture-these farms are incorporated for tax or legal reasons, but most are entirely family owned and run. Off-farm jobs provide important and needed supplemental income on many of the medium-sized farms. Generally, only these large farms are able to provide enough income for the farm family to survive. These farms account for the vast majority (92 percent) of Pennsylvania’s agricultural production. In fact, the majority of such farms actually lose money each year.Ībout 21 percent of Pennsylvania farms have more than $100,000 in annual sales. Just over half (51 percent) of the farms have less than $10,000 in annual sales-a level that some people consider “hobby” or part-time farms, in part, because they generally do not provide enough income by themselves for the farm family to survive. Farm size varies dramatically in Pennsylvania. If all else fails, any signs at the end of the farm lane with the farm and farmer’s name can provide valuable information.Įven with an excellent guidebook, accurately identifying farms can be a difficult process, particularly for the amateur. Depending on the type of farm, acreage can range from a few acres to several hundred acres. Technology has led to farms’ ability to increase or maintain production on less acreage and often with fewer structures and equipment needs. ![]() How to Identify FarmsĬareful attention to detail is necessary for correct identification of farm type the number and size of fields, shape and size of buildings, type of machinery, and activities being done, as well as the species of plants and animals present, are all helpful clues. Agriculturally related support activities, such as custom planting and harvesting, employ an additional 13,506 people, and food processing firms directly employ another 75,400 people. 8 billion worth of commodities and products in 201 7. 3 million acres of land and providing direct livelihood to 124,269 people. More than 53,000 farms currently operate in Pennsylvania, using 7. Many of its farms sell directly to consumers. Pennsylvania is the sixth largest milk-producing state in the United States, the eighth largest producer of eggs, the third largest producer of nursery and greenhouse products, and the largest producer of mushrooms. The types of farm activities occurring in Pennsylvania generally are not exclusive to this state, but the range and type of such activities are especially important in the Commonwealth. Farms are relatively abundant in Pennsylvania and commonly can be found by watchful observers in both rural and suburbanizing parts of the Commonwealth. A temperate climate, relatively long growing season, good soils, and easy access to markets make Pennsylvania prime habitat for agriculture. This guide focuses on common farm activities found within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the largest agricultural state in the northeastern United States. Many farm-watching guides divide North America into several distinct geographical regions based on habitat, soils, length of growing season, political boundaries, and milk marketing orders. It will help you understand the farms and farm activities you may observe in your own community and gain a deeper appreciation for agriculture. This guide is intended as an amateur's introduction to farmology-the study of farms and farming. Identifying and observing farms and farm activity provide endless joy and are pastimes that can make living in or visiting the country even more pleasurable. Thousands of people in the United States enjoy the hobby of farm watching. ![]()
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