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Almost half of America's land is looked after by farmers.

In the past, most people in the USA worked on the land. Now, only about one in a hundred is involved in farming.

Although many industries are now dominated by multinationals, America's farms are still mostly run by farming families.

Outlook is following five families as they work through the agricultural year.

Griffieon family farm - Iowa

Craig and LaVon Griffieon live in Ankeny, which is north of Des Moines.

Their children are the sixth generation to farm on the site.

They raise corn, soyabeans and livestock on their 1,100 acres.

But the Griffieon's disagree about the future of farming.

While Craig is keen to get the maximum yield from the land by using chemicals and genetically modified crops, his wife, LeVon, gardens without pesticides and wants the farm to become organic.

Pecusa family - Hopi Reservation - Arizona

The Pecusas are a Native American family who have been farming in the Hopi area for at least four generations.

They farm using traditional methods, planting and harvesting by hand.

They're able to grow corn and beans in desert land in America due to their use of ancient dry land farming techniques.

All the crops they grow are for their own use and for the community.

Davis Pecusa was awarded the title of 'Farmer of the Year' by the Hopi Tribe Council.

His youngest son, David, recently left his job as a kitchen manager so he could pursue his love of farming full-time.

Good Humus Produce - California

The Main family started farming in 1976 and bought their 20 acre farm in 1983.

They grow fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers and are committed to organic farming methods.

They deliver their produce to farmers markets, wholesalers and local people who take part in the Community Supported Agriculture scheme.

The Main family also opens their farm to the public and local school and community groups. They say they want to teach and inspire the next generation of farmers.

Wise family farm - North Carolina

Eddie and Dorothy Wise have a 106 acre farm near Whitakers. They raise hogs.

Eddie is a fourth-generation farmer, but the first to own his own farm. Although African Americans are central to the story of agriculture, very few black families have been able to buy their own land.

He started farming full-time after retiring from the Army in 1991.

The Wises have 250 hogs which they sell to a pork processor in the area. The pork gets sold at a premium in local supermarkets.

The Wises think that having a specialist niche is the only way to compete with large farms which mass-produce hogs for meat packing companies.

Hager Brothers Farm - Massachusetts

Chip and Sherry Hager look after a 700 acre dairy farm in Colrain. They run it with other members of their family.

The Hager Brothers Farm has around 110 cows. They've also needed to diversify, so have reared 25 Herefords for beef and planted 12,000 maple trees for syrup sugar.

The family runs a small shop where local people can buy produce and the farm is staffed by young people from the surrounding area.

The family's working day runs from 4am - 7pm. The Hagers feel that it takes a lot of dedication to run a farm.

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Background to Five Farms

The Five Farms series features families with very different agricultural styles. Documentary series producer Wesley Horner explained to Outlook's Ritula Shah why farming is such an important issue in modern America.

Contact us

Do you work in a family business? Have you got a farming background? We'd love to hear your story. Please get in touch with the Outlook team using the form below.