It probably would not surprise you to hear that most profitable American farms are large industrialized operations. That’s just how things work. But it might surprise you to find out that an overwhelming majority of farmers—based on the definition of the word—are not part of those big-industry outfits. Most American farms are tiny. And nearly all tiny American farms lose money. From the latest USDA report :. Most farm households earn all of their income from off-farm sources—median off-farm income is projected to increase by 3. What, exactly, do farmers hustle on the side? Well, for starters:. Some farmer grow flowers or plants, while others create a steady stream of value-added products, which are often more shelf-stable, and cost more than raw ingredients. The list of possibilities range from jam and pickles to bath products, wool, seeds, and decorative gifts.