The following article profiles the UC Small Farm Program, a major resource for California's small-scale farmers. The Small Farm Program began in 1979 with a state appropriation to Cooperative Extension to provide assistance to the more than three-fourths of California farmers who have limited resources and income. Of the 80,000 farms in California, more than 60,000 can be classified as small, regardless of which of several definitions is used. Although 10 percent of the state's largest farms produce more than 90 percent of its food and fiber, small farms have a tremendous impact on the state economy. They are responsible for much of the state's agricultural diversity and much of the leadership for sustainable agriculture, environmental quality and food safety.
Small farmers are a broad mix of ethnic and social groups.
A significant number of small farmers are Hispanic vegetable growers and organic farmers, although new groups with different needs have appeared on the scene, including the Hmong, Cambodians, Thai and Laotians who fled political unrest in Southeast Asia. More than 65 percent of small farmers live on their farms. The purpose of the UC Small Farm Program is to benefit small farmers and marketers and the natural and renewable resources they depend upon. It does this through a variety of educational means that are linked to research-based information in numerous academic disciplines ranging from pest management to marketing and engineering. The program's highest priorities are specialty crop production, direct marketing, organic and sustainable agriculture, entry-level farming, and ethnic farmers.