Vanishing Fields: Why Supporting Local Farms Matters More Than Ever
When we bought our farm in May 2024, we weren’t following a long family tradition of farming. We didn’t inherit land or grow up feeding chickens before school. Instead, we chose this life because we wanted to be part of the change we want to see in the world. We wanted to grow real food, take care of the land, and contribute to our local community in a meaningful way. But what we didn’t fully realize at the time was just how endangered small farms like ours really are.
In the last 30 years, farmland in the U.S. has been disappearing at an alarming rate. According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, over 75 million acres of farmland have been lost since 1997. That’s not just open space being paved over; it’s family farms shutting down, fertile soil being lost to development, and local food systems becoming weaker. Every acre that disappears makes us more dependent on industrial agriculture and imported food, pushing us further away from the sustainable, local food sources that so many of us are fighting to protect.
Why the Loss of Farmland Matters
The decline in farmland isn’t just a problem for farmers—it’s a problem for all of us. Here’s why:
Food Security and Quality
Every acre of lost farmland means less local food being grown. When food production shifts away from small farms and into industrial-scale operations, we lose the ability to eat fresh, high-quality food grown close to home. Instead, we become more dependent on large corporations, imported goods, and a supply chain that prioritizes efficiency over nutrition and taste.
Environmental Consequences
Small farms play a crucial role in maintaining soil health, water conservation, and biodiversity. When farmland is developed, it’s not just the crops that disappear—the rich ecosystems, pollinators, and wildlife that rely on these spaces also suffer. Additionally, local farms often use more sustainable practices than large-scale operations, meaning their loss contributes to greater environmental degradation overall.
Beyond that, the industrialized food system that replaces small farms has its own devastating environmental costs. Grocery stores rely on a vast global supply chain that demands massive infrastructure—from cargo ships transporting food across oceans to trucking fleets crisscrossing the country, all contributing to carbon emissions and pollution. Warehouses, cold storage facilities, and distribution centers require enormous amounts of energy, further straining resources. Every apple shipped from another continent, every box of greens trucked across the country, represents an avoidable environmental footprint that wouldn’t exist if more food was produced locally. Supporting small farms means cutting down on this unnecessary waste and keeping food production sustainable and close to home.
The Power of Supporting Local Farms
It can feel overwhelming to think about these issues on a national scale, but the good news is that there’s something each of us can do. Supporting local farms is one of the most effective ways to protect farmland and strengthen local food systems. Here’s how:
Buy Directly from Farmers
Every dollar spent at a farmers’ market or directly from a local farm makes a tangible impact. Unlike grocery stores where farmers get just a fraction of the retail price, buying directly ensures they receive full value for their work, allowing them to stay in business.
Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program
CSA programs allow consumers to invest in a farm’s growing season upfront in exchange for a weekly or monthly share of the harvest. This helps farmers plan ahead, reduces financial risk, and strengthens the connection between food producers and consumers.
Support Local Restaurants That Source Locally
Many independent restaurants prioritize locally grown ingredients. Choosing to eat at these places instead of chain restaurants helps keep money within the community and encourages more businesses to support local farms.
Advocate for Farmland Preservation
Local and state policies can make a huge difference in whether farmland gets protected or developed. Supporting zoning laws, conservation easements, and other preservation efforts helps ensure that farmland remains farmland for future generations.
Why I Chose to Farm
I didn’t grow up farming, but I saw the importance of small, local farms and knew I wanted to be part of the solution. Farming isn’t easy. It’s early mornings, long days, and a constant learning curve. But it’s also deeply fulfilling. Watching my orchard grow, seeing chickens roam freely, and knowing that the food I produce will nourish my community—it makes every challenge worth it.
I chose this path because I believe we can do better. I believe in food that’s grown with care, land that’s managed responsibly, and communities that support their local farmers. But I can’t do it alone. Farmers like me need people like you—people who choose to buy local, to ask where their food comes from, and to advocate for a better food system.
Be Part of the Change
Farmland loss isn’t inevitable. It’s the result of choices—choices made by policymakers, developers, and consumers. Each of us has a role to play in shaping the future of our food system. By making small but meaningful choices—where we shop, what we eat, and how we engage with our communities—we can help protect the farms that sustain us.
If you care about eating real, healthy food—not something that’s been shipped thousands of miles and covered in preservatives… If you want to protect the environment, reduce pollution, and keep farmland from turning into endless concrete and asphalt… If you believe that food should be grown with care, not just for profit…
Then make the choice to support them. Because once farmland is gone—once it’s buried under asphalt, covered in concrete, and transformed into another subdivision, shopping center, or highway—it’s gone forever. You can’t unpave a parking lot, and you can’t bring back the soil that was built over generations. Those fertile fields that once provided fresh food, supported local economies, and sustained ecosystems will be lost for good. And with them, we lose the chance to create a food system that prioritizes sustainability, quality, and community over mass production and corporate profit. The choices we make today will determine whether small farms like mine continue to feed families and protect the land—or whether they become just another story of what once was. We can’t put the genie back in the bottle, but we can stop it from slipping through our fingers now.
About the Author: Mike Roberts is the co-founder of Green Star Grove, a small farm in Granbury, Texas, dedicated to sustainable farming and local food production. Passionate about preserving farmland and rebuilding local food systems.
For more information about Green Star Grove, visit GSGrove.com.
