Many thanks from Matthew J. Lohr, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for publishing this list of the 10 top misconceptions about farming, farmers and agriculture.
#10 - Small Farms are Unimportant - In many ways, small farms are the backbone of agriculture. They range in size from 3 to 150 acres or so, but they probably do the best job of any farms to provide local food. Many small farms sell directly to the consumer through roadside stands, on-farms sales, farmers' markets and events. They are at the heart of the Buy Local movement and not only provide food but also provide that all-important one-on-one relationship between farmer and consumer. They are also one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture.
#9 - All Large Farms are Corporate Farms - Nearly 97% of our farms are family owned and operated. Many family farms are incorporated for business purposes or to ensure an orderly transition from one generation to the next, but incorporated is not the same as corporate. The vast majority of our farmers live on the land they work, and they have a very special bond with the land that may go back several generations. Their roots run deep.
There isn't anything about farming I don't like. 
