United States

Country Context

The United States’ agricultural sector is one of the most productive in the world, yet its benefits are unevenly distributed. Although 92 percent of farms in the U.S. are small or midsize operations, they tend to operate on extremely tight profit margins. This precarity affects more than the farmers themselves; it affects the stability of local and regional food systems and can limit access to healthy, locally produced food.

Small and midsized farms often carry a higher debt ratio than large farms and rely on off-farm income to make ends meet. Rising input costs, limited access to land and financing, gaps in technical support, and increased consolidation with few buyers controlling much of the market make it tough for smaller farmers to stay in business.

Our Response

Heifer USA supports small-scale and midsized farmers and ranchers across the United States by providing education, resources and connections that help them build sustainable livelihoods through regenerative agriculture. Regenerative practices offer farmers an alternative that can reduce input costs, build resilience to a changing climate, and support the production of healthy food and livestock. We provide training and technical support that promote healthy soils and resilient farms, and all the benefits that come from these practices. This work is grounded in science-based approaches that support farmers as they build rich soils and conserve water and biodiversity.

We are based at the Heifer Center for Regenerative Agriculture, a 1,200-acre working ranch in Perryville, Arkansas, that serves as the anchor for our work. The ranch is a training ground and demonstration site that brings farmers together for hands-on learning, peer exchange and problem-solving. It delivers practical tools and infrastructure that benefit rural communities, sustain farmer livelihoods and contribute to a more resilient U.S. food system.

Our primary objective is helping families achieve a sustainable living income, our measure for the amount of money required for a decent life — including safe shelter, nutritious food, clothing, education and health care — while also reaching additional benchmarks for economic and climate resilience.

The United States Signature Program  

Heifer International’s work is organized at the country level into signature programs focused on large-scale and measurable impact achieved by building partnerships at all levels. Each program supports farmers through time-bound projects designed to increase their household income.  

Regenerative Agriculture  

 Heifer’s signature program in the United States, Regenerative Agriculture, advances farmer-led approaches that nurture soil health, strengthen local food systems and build resilient farm businesses. We provide spaces for farmers and ranchers to see and learn about regenerative principles and apply them on their land.