Where Did All The Farms Go?

Marcy Timblin, Communications Director, Kaniksu Land Trust

If you are a person who eats food, chances are, some of it comes from farms.

I am and I was surprised to learn that farms in the U.S. have declined by 7% since 2017. In Idaho, where I live, that number is even higher.

The 2022 Census revealed that Idaho lost 2,119 farms including 144,000 acres of crop and pasture land since the last census in 2017.

Those numbers could make us lose our appetites. But, remember this: the conservation work we are doing together is protecting the lands and livelihoods of families who own farm, agriculture, and forestry land in North Idaho and Northwestern Montana. This is not a losing battle.

KLT's mission of caring for the lands and people of the Kaniksu Region today, tomorrow, and forever means understanding the role of conservation in our daily lives. Together, this is what we do: we protect the special places that feed our souls (and our bellies). 

There has been a lot of press coverage on this sobering news. If you want to see the numbers and some insight into them, take a look at the local publication, Co-Op Country Round Up, March/April 2024 page 7. READ MORE