The Surprise of What Small Farmers Really Need
From One Bite is Everything by Dana DiPrima
May 21, 2026 · 12 min · Episode 165
About this episode
Dana DiPrima explores the unexpected needs of small farmers based on grant applications and project submissions.
What do small farmers actually need? After reviewing nearly 900 farmer grant applications through the For Farmers Movement — along with 45 new project submissions from the Friend of a Farmer Choice Awards — a very different picture of American farming begins to emerge. One you might not expect. In this solo episode of One Bite is Everything , Dana pulls back the curtain on the hidden infrastructure quietly holding small farms together and explores what farmers are actually asking for help with. Because it’s probably not what most people think. Consumers often imagine small farms needing better marketing, more exposure, prettier packaging, or social media support. But the applications reveal something far more practical — and far more revealing about the state of food in America today. Farmers are asking for water systems, fencing, walk-in coolers, irrigation, processing equipment, high tunnels, rotational grazing infrastructure, feed systems, and the operational tools that make survival possible. Again and again, the applications point to one thing: small farms are often operating one missing piece of infrastructure away from real vulnerability. Dana shares what surprised her…
People in this episode
Host: Dana DiPrima
Topics covered
- small farmers
- infrastructure
- food systems
- grant applications
- resilience
- climate adaptation
Keywords
- small farmers
- infrastructure
- grant applications
- food systems
- resilience
- climate adaptation
- water systems
- processing equipment
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: For Farmers Movement, Friend of a Farmer Choice Awards
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