Diversified Systems

Diversified agricultural systems are inherently less risky, given they involve multiple crops and livestock. Their environmental benefits include improved water quality, increased soil health, enhanced soil carbon sequestration, and greater biodiversity. However, farmers of diversified agricultural systems — who tend to be small, beginning farmers and people of color — face significant barriers to success, specifically in the areas of risk management, access to finance, and technical assistance. 

Risk management options for diversified agricultural systems are scarce and available insurance products often do not offer sufficient coverage. It can also be harder for these farmers to access financial capital because their operations tend to be smaller and they lack peer support as well as technical assistance and collateral to secure loans.

AGree advocates for increased support for diversified farmers in the Federal Crop Insurance Program and expanded access to market infrastructure for all farmers. A few of the federal policy ideas AGree is developing and supporting include: Improvements to existing risk management tools like the Whole Farm Revenue Protection, the creation and strengthening of peer-to-peer learning networks, and existence of credit programs that serve diversified farmers.