Progress report for FNE24-090
Project Information
Affordable land access is the number one barrier for small-scale and beginning farmers. For example, in the past century, the United States has seen ownership among African American farmers go from 14 percent in the early 1900s and drop to 1 percent in 1997. In Maryland the numbers are slightly above the national average, though still not representative of the Maryland population.
Majority of farmers who own their land obtained land through intergenerational wealth and in the context of economic disparities and an overall lack of representation in regional agriculture. This research project aims to understand the opportunities and challenges in Maryland of farmers who lease farm land and have faced challenges with access to land. We will conduct an oral history project, conducting interviews with farmers and understanding the different pathways taken towards farming and land ownership.
This project aims to explore the following objectives:
- To study and strengthen farmer’s understanding of land loss and the importance of land ownership for long-term farm viability
- Understand the challenges farmers in Maryland face in obtaining land ownership disseminated across various demographics
- To explore the potential mechanisms to increase farmer land ownership in Maryland
Land access is one of the largest barriers for young, beginning, and small-scale farmers. According to the USDA, there is close to 2 million acres of farmland in the state of Maryland, with only approximately 10,000 acres of farms having African American producers. In addition, between 1900 and 1997 there was a 98% decline in the number of African American farmers across the United States. Lack of land access and ownership ties directly to having a lack of food for the many demographic populations that live across the county/state/country levels.
Beauty Blooms Farm seeks to increase land access pathways for small-scale and beginning farmers. Documenting the story behind land loss and the current land access and ownership challenges farmers face is the first step in this process.
In order to document and address these unique concerns, we seek to conduct oral histories to build community and solidarity amongst farmers in Maryland.
Sharing stories and experiences can create a network of support and collaboration that helps farmers navigate the land access and ownership challenges collectively faced. By sharing stories and building community, we hope to improve the pathways towards land access. This would enable beginning farmers and future generations to continue building on the legacy of farmers in Maryland. Oral histories improve the quality of life for farmers by preserving knowledge, fostering community, and preserving cultural heritage.
In addition, the stories and experiences shared through oral histories can raise awareness about the unique struggles and triumphs of farmers. This can help educate the wider community about the importance of farmers in American agriculture and the need for policies and support.
This project addresses the need to document beginning, and small-scale farmers’ experience in land access and ownership. For example,
Cooperators
- - Technical Advisor
Research
Conducting an oral history project is a qualitative research method. I will conduct one-on-one interviews with African American farmers in Maryland, asking similar questions to each in the context of a conversation. Thus, having a historical context of land loss and ownership barriers is vitally important prior to conducting the interviews. In order to contextualize the narratives I collect, time will first be spent conducting thorough research on the history of land loss and ownership barriers in agriculture. This will help me develop informed interview questions and to correlate findings with key historical factors.
Depending on the results of interviews being conducted, scope and techniques may change throughout the project to ensure we stay focused on the original objectives. The research will be inductive through dialog and interaction to discover patterns and themes in a comprehensive manner. The sample of farmers interviewed will be purposeful and non-random.
While conducting the interviews, we will follow the best practices for conducting an oral history project as outlined below:
- Project interviewees will discuss and come to agreements on the following before the interview takes place: scope, format, rights and permissions, long-term preservation plan, access and ownership, metadata requirements, restrictions on use, any additional considerations
- All oral history interviews will partner with a legal release to delineate restrictions on access and the use of each interview
- Transcriptions will be provided of all interviews to aid the discoverability and accessibility of the interviews by allowing users to fully text-search an interview
- Redundancy and backups are critical
Below is an initial draft of some questions we plan to ask each farmer in order to achieve better context and understanding for each objective. These questions serve as a starting point, and will be adapted based on the interviewee's responses to delve deeper into their unique experiences and perspectives.
Objective 1: To study and strengthen farmer’s understanding of African American land loss and the importance of land ownership for long-term farm viability
- In order to strengthen farmer’s understanding of land loss and the importance of land ownership for long-term farm viability, an overview of the historical factors that have contributed to land loss in agriculture, both nationally and in our region will be provided.
- In order to study farmer’s understanding of land loss and the importance of land ownership for long-term farm viability, the following questions will be asked:
- Why is land ownership essential for building generational wealth and preserving a farming legacy?
- How can educational programs and outreach efforts help raise awareness about land loss issues and empower farmers to navigate these challenges?
- What are the long-term environmental and cultural benefits of maintaining ownership in farmland?
- In what ways does owning land grant access to vital resources, such as government programs, technical support, and marketing opportunities?
- How does land ownership contribute to community and economic development, such as job creation and local food production?
- Why is land ownership crucial for long-term economic stability in farming?
- How does land ownership impact a farmer's ability to secure financing, access credit, and make long-term investments?
Objective 2: Understand the challenges farmers in Maryland face in obtaining land ownership disseminated across various demographics
- Potential questions include:
- Have you personally experienced challenges related to land ownership or access to land in your farming journey?
- What are some of the most significant barriers or challenges that you faced when trying to acquire or maintain land in Maryland?
- How have economic factors, such as access to capital, credit, or resources, influenced your ability to purchase and maintain land in Maryland?
- Can you share specific stories or examples of instances where these barriers became particularly evident in your experience or the experiences of those you know?
- What role has the local community played in supporting or hindering your efforts to own or access land in Maryland?
- How does owning your land affect your autonomy and decision-making as a farmer?
Objective 3: To explore the potential mechanisms to increase farmer land ownership in Maryland
- Potential questions include:
- Are there any initiatives, programs, or strategies that you or your community have implemented to address the challenges of land loss and ownership?
- What policy changes or support systems do you believe would be most effective in addressing these issues?
- How does the loss of farm ownership affect the broader community in Maryland, including issues like food security and economic development?
- How can individuals, organizations, or policymakers work to address land access barriers and support the farming community in the state?
- How can farmers collaborate with other stakeholders, such as agricultural organizations, land trusts, and community groups, to address land loss and promote land ownership?
Spring 2025 Update:
I have conducted extensive research into t land loss and the challenges to landownership in agriculture. This work has enabled me to develop well-informed interview questions with the intention to draw meaningful connections between the findings and key historical factors.
In addition, I have studied oral history best practices, to ensure the methods used can reach a broad and diverse set of practitioners, including community organizers, storytellers, policymakers, and others. I have crafted a legal agreement to retain the right to access and use the content of the interviews, metadata plans to ensure content, context, and provenance are recorded, etc.
I am currently conducting interviews with farmers.