Local is the way to go. Mass production farms are losing to the heightened stability and appeal of local farms. As the movement for local food increases, small-scale farms are introduced with new ways to fund and maintain daily farming activities. Things like the slow money movement which channels money into small-scale food operations, local restaurants ans stores buying local, and consumer awareness allows for the industry to be a bit more predictable and profitable.

Now, a new funding source emerges on the scene to help local farms. Community by Design, inspired by the slow money movement, started near Portland, CO by Narendra Varma who invest $2 million in a 56-acre project last year. Community by Design acts as a vehicle for financing local, organic food production through groups like Slow Money– which currently received $4 million out of the total $18 million raised by Slow Money in the past two years.
What do you think of the future of local farms vs. mass production farms? Do you think that the economic outlook for these farms will stabilize in the next 5 years?

The Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium recently launched a new program called The Identifying Wisconsin branded Official ID in a collaborative effort by industry officials and producers to accurately trace data about each animal and the farm they come from.
This new program is currently self-funded by Wisconsin livestock producers