Multi-Dimensional Motivations and Experiences of Small-Scale Farmers

Abstract

Preconceived notions exist about small-scale farmers in the U.S. Beyond research on new and beginning farmers, few empirical studies have learned directly from small-scale farmers in the U.S. about their perspectives and experiences. By analyzing semi-structured interviews of small-scale farmers in Indiana, this study develops an in-depth understanding of the multi-dimensional motivations and experiences of small-scale farmers and the interconnected, multi-scalar challenges they face. The lack of social infrastructure to support small-scale farmers becomes paramount as they contend with dilemmas of engaging in pluriactivity, securing reliable labor, and navigating relationship building with consumers and peers for both short-term profits and long-term social capital. This study contributes to understanding how small-scale farmers’ motivations, experiences, challenges, and strategies interact to shape their relationship to the land, their farming enterprise, and their perception of and position in the larger agro-ecological-social-economic system, and highlights the need to improve social infrastructure to support small-scale farmers.

Keywords:

• Small farm
• small-scale farming
• pluriactivity
• farmer motivation
• civic agriculture
• alternative agriculture

Acknowledgement

We thank Dr. Kevin Gibson for his leadership and support throughout the project. We thank Dr. Tamara Benjamin and Dr. Linda Prokopy for their support and guidance. We are grateful for all the small-scale farmers who volunteered their time and offered their knowledge through participating in our interviews. Without their help, this study would have not been possible. We also thank various Purdue Extension educators and specialists for their valuable insights. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to the Local Growers Guild for their support and interest in this study.

Additional information

Funding

We thank the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture for their funding support for this study [Grant No. BFRDA-2015-70017-22878; Project No. IND011276G2].