USDA released their every five year census of US agriculture Wednesday. Keith Good at Farmpolicy.com immediately noted the significance of one of the department's findings.

The latest census figures show a continuation in the trend towards more small and very large farms and fewer mid-sized operations. Between 2002 and 2007, the number of farms with sales of less than $2,500 increased by 74,000. The number of farms with sales of more than $500,000 grew by 46,000 during the same period.

This new data helps support the notion that the flawed policy of federal farm subsidy payments, funded by taxpayers, is accelerating the consolidation of farms into the hands of bigger and wealthier operations. Our data shows that just a narrow band of farms, 10%, receives over 70% of total farm subsidy payments.

When funds are doled out based on land ownership and not need, then the big guys get bigger, and other farms, in this case medium sized operations, struggle to survive.

The fact that the numbers of small farms are increasing is good news, despite a huge inequity percentage wise in federal support compared to large commodity farmers. Imagine the difference real support could mean for the organic and localvore movements.

Secretary Vilsack's concerns over the loss of medium sized farms are encouraging, especially how he views conservation playing a role.