Family Farms Are The Backbone

COMMENTARY

• Family farms play a huge role
  • 2.6% of farms account for 94% of production
  • Overwhelming 96% are from family owned farms spanning generations
• Many families have farmed the same land over generations despite urban development
• Both organic and conventional farms thrive in Arizona
• Small organic farms provide a niche market for chefs and restaurants
• Male to female farm ownership is nearly equal across the state

The Navajo Effect

COMMENTARY

• Discussion of ‘The Navajo Effect’
  • Indigenous communities where women hold leadership farming roles in the Navajo and Hopi tribes
  • Contributes to a nearly balanced split between male and female farm operators
• Farming in Arizona
  • Average age of farm operators is 60 years old
  • Encouraging signs of new, diverse into farming exist
  • Entry barriers include land availability, water rights and labor shortages
  • Specialized farm realtors helps beginning farmers locate manageable land with water resources
• Diverse Agriculture
  • Beef cattle
  • Specific crops like alfalfa, cotton and corn
  • Livestock like pigs, turkeys and lambs
• Pests and disease awareness like the screw worm and Mexican grey wolves

Farming Innovations

COMMENTARY

• • Sustanable water filtration thru innovative farming design
  • Precision agriculture employs GPS, drones, and sensors for targeted crop treatments like removing weeds and irrigation efficiency
  • Tvel Aerobotics uses drones with scanners to selectively pick and grade apples to harvest
  • Agritourism events like pumpkin picking and farm dinners create multi-generational family connections and additional farm income

“LaserWeeder has resulted in about a 20 to 30% yield improvement for us.”

– Jordan Hungenberg, Owner, Hungenberg Produce

Hear how Hungenberg Produce is increasing conventional crop yields by 20–30%, producing healthier crops that are weeks ahead, and reducing hand-weeding crew… pic.twitter.com/hSNgTd5nxg

— Carbon Robotics (@carbon_robotics) July 22, 2026

We’re at the forefront of reinventing fruit harvesting. Witness the AI revolution sweeping through the orchard as our robotic fruit-picking systems expertly pick apples in Italy this season, part of our collaboration with #Kubota.https://t.co/TgHE3O6ThV

— Tevel Aerobotics (@TevelAerobotics) November 10, 2023

RESOURCES

• • Join The Arizona Farm Bureau With Membership Benefits
  • Fill Your Plate.org for finding Farmers Markets, Recipes, Visiting A Farm and more!!