(ThyBlackMan.com) Black farmers make up only a small percentage of total farmers in the US. For a majority of these professionals, farming is a part-time occupation. The growing worldwide demand for food, however, may dramatically change the business of farming. Farmers that add technology to their operations may see sharp increases in their business profits in years to come.
The current state of black farmers
The 2012 census provides some great detail on the status of black farmers in the US. That census reported 44,629 black farmers, which represented 1.4 percent of all farmers in the U.S. On average, the typical black farmer is older (almost 62 years old) than average U.S. farmer. 66% of black farmers work off of the farm, and the majority of these professionals do not earn their primary source of income from farming.
The average black farmer has less farming land than the national 
average. The most common type of farming operation for this group is beef cattle production. Farming crops is the second most popular operation.
How the black farmer operates
The typical farm operates on a very small profit margin. Profit margin is defined is the (total profit) / (total sales). A farm may operate on a profit margin of 5% of less. If the farmer only earns 5 cents per dollar of sales, that farmer cannot generate any excess profit to reinvest into the business.
Fortunately, many farmers can buy used equipment to operate their businesses. For example, a farmer may buy used Kubota tractors or John Deere combines. These are well known manufacturers that offer quality used equipment at reasonable prices.
The typical farmer sells either crops or livestock. The prices for these products can change drastically for one year to the next. These fluctuations make it difficult for a farmer to predict their total sales in dollars.
Most farmers borrow money to buy seed and other supplies, and then pay off the loans when they harvest. If the prices are constantly changing, it can be difficult to repay the loan.
Farming can be a risky business to operate.
A growing demand for food
Worldwide demand for food will increase sharply in the coming decades. Forbes reports that the production of food must increase 70% by the year 2050. Given the limited number of farmers and available farmland, the process of farming must change to meet the demand.
To meet this growing demand with their limited resources, farmers can use technology, which is referred to as smart farming. The goal of smart farming is to maximize the crop yield or livestock raised by a farm operation.
How to farm more productively
Like any consumer, a farmer can perform a detailed web search before making any purchase decisions. Operating a farm requires decisions involving huge sums of money. Farm equipment, for example, can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Internet helps the farmer make a more informed purchase decision.
Technology allows a farmer to analyze which type of crop will produce the highest crop yield per acre. Part of this analysis is based on soil mapping.
Tech tools allow a farmer to determine what type of soil they have, and how to match that soil with the right type of crop. Finally, technology can provide tools to closely monitor air temperature, humidity and any signs of plant disease.
Black farmers face many challenges. The growing worldwide demand for food, however, presents an opportunity for farmers to increase profit. Technology can help a farmer maximize the use of their land, equipment and other resources.
Staff Writer; James Perry
