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fully understand the business side of agriculture . A few quick numbers reveal the majority of “ corporate farms ” are actually family businesses . Of the 2.1 million farms in the U . S . in 2015 , 5 percent were incorporated , and from that 5 percent , 4.5 percent were family-owned . And 98 percent of those family corporations had fewer than 10 shareholders .
Creating farm corporations opens up more opportunities for direct family involvement in farming , and allows for non-blood relatives to take up the business as well . Younger generations will not have to walk away from farms that have been in their families for decades . Corporate farming can make it more attainable for young farmers and ranchers to get their start . It is very difficult , if not impossible because of initial capital investments , to be a first-generation farmer or rancher . The ability to use the corporate structure is one way to bring upcoming generations back into production agriculture and ranching instead of pushing them away .
As you can tell , I am a believer in opportunity , but opportunity must come with protection . Protections need to be in place to make sure that large industrial businesses do not overtake agriculture . We don ’ t want to lose the heritage and work of previous generations in agriculture . Corporate farming options need to stay in the hands of those working in the soil to raise crops and livestock , rather than allow for energy- and product-based companies to control or impede the daily work of a farm or ranch . By providing all business structure options for farms and ranches , we can preserve an agricultural heritage that we , U . S . farmers , so proudly stand for . But with limited business options , we run the risk of losing our family farms and reducing the number of people directly involved in agriculture .
As I sit reflecting on all that I have been blessed with and desire to pass on to future generations , I recall our farm ’ s motto : “ Honoring the past , working today , preparing for the future .” The time is now to prepare for the future , to keep farms and ranches up and running , and to bring new farmers in , maximizing agriculture ’ s
potential to build businesses that last for generations to come .
Katie Heger , dedicated advocate for agriculture , blogs at hegerfamilyfarms . wordpress . com and shares at Heger Farms on Facebook . Katie and her husband farm corn , soybeans and wheat in central North Dakota .
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West Virginia Farm Bureau News 23