We Are Proud to Support the Nation's Largest Network of U.S. Family Farmers and Ranchers:Traditional U.S. family farmers and ranchers are disappearing. “According to Farm Aid, every week 330 farmers leave their land. As a result, there are now nearly five million fewer farms in the U.S. than there were in the 1930's. Of the two million remaining farms, only 565,000 are family operations,” (Sustainable Table, March 19, 2008). At Niman Ranch, we understand that people who own the land they're working and living on have a greater stake in protecting the long term health of their land and the welfare of their animals than absentee industrial operators. We are proud to support the nation’s largest network of U.S. family farmers and ranchers – more than 650 and growing. In this way, we are helping to strengthen rural America and reverse the destructive trend of industrial agriculture. In addition to providing a market for livestock, the Niman Ranch network provides a mechanism for farmers and ranchers to communicate and learn from one another about best practices for their animals and land. We are inspired by and proud of the families that are part of Niman Ranch - many of whom are second generation partners in our network. Family farmers and ranchers are the keepers of traditional farming knowledge, information that is vital to protect and pass on to future generations. While space doesn't allow us to show all of our farmers and ranchers, we are proud to feature a number of them on this page monthly - keep checking back! |