Preservation of the family farm

Farming is a way of life for many, but the number of family farms and farmed acreage in Arkansas has been decreasing. Several organizations are stepping forward to address the issue.

“The family farm is rarely passed down as it once was generation-to-generation,” said Susan Koehler, farmland preservation manager for Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (NWALT). “Many existing farmers are farming through their retirement for several reasons. They may not have heirs who want to farm, they may not have the finances to fund retirement, and they can be reluctant to let go of a lifestyle they have grown to love.”

The role of NWALT is to preserve farmland, and provide access and support to farmers. The organization manages NWA Farm-Link, a free service that allows both owners of farmland and farm seekers to connect with each other or resources.

Northwest Arkansas is known for its livestock production. Not so long ago, the area was also known for its orchards, nuts, and specialty crops. With the growing popularity of farmers markets in our area, fruit and vegetable production is increasing. However, there is still an unmet demand for these crops at a wholesale scale, and many young farmers are interested in going in that direction.

To address this, the Walton Family Foundation funded a feasibility study in 2017 to figure out what barriers prevent the growth of more fruits and vegetables in our area and how to overcome them.

As a result of the findings, the foundation worked with local partners to establish the Northwest Arkansas Food Systems initiative, designed to help small- and mid-size farmers to grow more fruits and vegetables locally.

The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food offers handson Farm School and Apprenticeship programs for those wanting to learn how to create a farm business by growing fruits and vegetables for local and regional markets.

“Many new and beginning farmers have the passion to farm, but they are struggling with knowledge, experience and access to capital that challenge their success in farming,” said Heather Friedrich, assistant director for the Center.

Farmers state that they would be happy to grow more fruits and vegetables if they had the markets to sell them. This means creating additional markets beyond the local farmers markets.

The Walton Family Foundation is funding the development of the Market Center of the Ozarks, a 45,000-squarefoot facility set to open in Springdale in 2024. The center will help connect locally grown farm-fresh food with wholesale and direct-to-consumer markets.