Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family's Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer

by Brian Reisinger

The hidden history of an economic and cultural catastrophe that is threatening our very food supply—the disappearance of the American farmer.

Taking on this story of heart and hardship, award-winning journalist Brian Reisinger weaves forgotten eras of American history with his own family’s four-generation fight for survival in Midwestern farm country. Readers learn the truth about America’s most detrimental and unexplained socioeconomic How the family farms that feed us went from cutting a middle-class path through the Great Depression to barely making ends meet in modern America. Along the way, they’ll see what it truly takes to feed our  accidents that can kill or maim; weather that blesses or threatens; resilience in the face of crushing economic crises, from inflation to COVID-19; and the tradition that presses down on each generation when you're not just fighting for your job, you're fighting for your heritage.

With newly analyzed data, sharp historical analysis, honest debate, and personal storytelling, Reisinger reveals the roots of a problem with stakes as high as they come. A vulnerable food supply, soaring prices for American families, environmental and ecological decay, farmer suicides, addictions, a deepening urban-rural divide, and more worries than ever about what’s for dinner. These are all becoming the hallmarks of a food system that has long stood as a modern miracle. Land Rich, Cash Poor offers the honest truth about these issues, and a candid look at what we can do about them—before it’s too late.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Food, History, American, Agriculture

272 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2024

Reviews

[Ivy Withers Esterly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have literally never read something that felt like someone took a look into my own life and wrote about it. Brian Reisinger did a phenomenal job interweaving his own family’s story of dairy farming in Wisconsin throughout the 20th and 21st century with the overarching national narrative of what was happening to small family farms. People need to read this novel and understand that this should be #1 on the list of everyone’s concerns because where will your food come from if the small family farmer completely disappears? What happens if these families can’t compete with major conglomerates and America’s farmland becomes concrete and skyscrapers? This is such a majorly important issue that is so often overlooked by not only politicians but by American citizens as a whole.

As someone who lives on a family farm that is also facing the struggles of farming in 2025, I have never felt so seen by any writer. There were points during this book where I thought “we had that same situation happen” and points where I cried because I could see these things happening to us too. Reisinger touches on everything from the pressures farmers feel to the guilt the next generation feels to carry on the family’s heritage. Thank you Brian Reisinger for writing this. I hope more people pick this book up and share his message.

[Annika]

This was so interesting. I am a true suburb girl at heart (born and raised in an incredibly stereotypical suburb (my high school flew its own flag right beneath the American flag), and therefore, I know very little about farms in any sense. I’ve discovered more about farming via TikTok/Instagram reels than I ever thought I would (god bless social media), and while I had a hunch I would really enjoy this book, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I learned and enjoyed reading it.

This book was wonderful. It was written with so much care, heart, and compassion and showed vulnerabilities I wish I read more often in other memoirs. In part memoir, part history of his family, Reisinger chronologically goes through the history of his family farm while showing the effects of farming due to the constant unknown and dysfunctional sway of the American political system. This farm, having weathered the worst storms, both nature and political, has manage to survive, but its present form does not resemble the way it did even a generation prior. I knew nothing about raising dairy cows and now I’ve just peaked into a completely different world. It was fascinating to learn more about a rural family farm that has survived and also why others aren’t as lucky. It cannot be empathized enough how essential our family farmers are and it’s such a shame we don’t do more to help support them and ensure their success. We lose the fight to big corporations every day and it deeply saddens me.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part memoir, part history of family farming in America, Reisinger tells the story of his family's history on the land in southern Wisconsin, from his great grandfather's arrival from Germany in the early 1900s, in tandem with the history of family farming in America, focusing mostly on the Great Depression and the various things that have gone wrong since.

Reisinger's history lessons should be helpful, especially to those who didn't grow up on a farm, and the choice to use his family's story to put a face to the problems facing farmers throughout the last century was smart. After spending his early career as journalist, Reisinger found his way into the public policy, first working directly for politicians, but has since worked his way out of partisan politics to issue-based advocacy, especially those issues most important to farm country. So while he may not have inherited the family farm, he's still very involved in influencing policy makers to halt the disappearance of the American farmer and to ensure that his sister can continue to farm his family's land.

This is a really hard one for me to rate because it's so personal. I too am the child of a midwestern family farmer, who grew up knowing that running the farm was never going to work for me at basically the same time as the author. Even though, like Reisinger, I'm the oldest, daughters aren't usually expected to run the farm, so I missed out on some of that pressure, but the inability to understand life off the farm has always been the main source of strain in my relationship with my dad.

Because I was so emotionally invested in the story, the later chapters where he presents information about the current state of family farming and possible paths to strengthening this part of the economy sort of blew by me and I might have to go pick this up in print to re-read those sections.

I will always advocate for more rural stories being told. I think lack of understanding of this quickly vanishing way of life is why policymakers on both sides of the aisle have contributed to the problem, but this was also a really enjoyable book. The author reads the audiobook, which you can tell is not his life's calling, but adds a level of authenticity. I recognize his farm accent, and you can hear the emotion in his voice at the most heart-rending parts of his family's story. If you need a story about rural America, this is a good one.

[Railey Silhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have an opinion about farming or how your food is produced in the US this book is a MUST READ.

A beautifully written testament to the American farmer following the personal story of a 4th generations family dairy farm in Wisconsin. Reisinger also goes through each decade starting in the early 1900s of the trials and tribulations that American farmers have faced over the last century.

What I love most about this book is it comes from a very neutral standpoint sited with facts and realities. There is fair and equal criticism of both sides of the political isle and the policies that have gotten us to where we are today in American agriculture. This book does a great job of explaining how fragile our food supply has become and what led us to having so few farmers left producing at such a large scale. I appreciate that there were no lame buzzwords, no finger pointing, and no b.s. (finally)!

[Daphne Holterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, as a retired dairy farmer. It was heartwarming yet raw and honest. I hope it sparks much discussion about agriculture and policies that affect rural America. Good luck farming, Malia!!!

[Tom Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A history of farm issues in the last 125 years along with the history of a family farm in southwest Wisconsin. Very well written and enjoyed the local farm story intertwined with national events and trends. Well done! I was taken in by the story and thoughts right from the beginning. Thank you to the author Brian Reisinger for sharing this Driftless Area story….

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well written and insightful for me. My favorite part of reading is gaining a window into the lives of those who are living in the setting. I knew farming was hard which this explains why but it also portraits the joys of this way of life. And why we should be concerned about declining numbers of family farms.

[Erin Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former farm kid who grew up on a small Wisconsin dairy farm, I can confidently say that this book absolutely hits the nail on the head. Never have I read a book that so eloquently conveys all the hopes, fears and challenges that small American farmers face in our country. And jackpot bonus, he accomplishes all this in an extremely nonpartisan way delineating the many difficulties farmers have faced throughout generations.

For all the author’s consternation about disappointing his dad and not taking over the family farm, his absence from it ultimately has done more for American farmers than his constant presence ever could. This book should be required reading for us all. And it conveys the true spirit of what it means to be a farmer, as only a farm kid could - when we lift others, we all rise.

[Joel Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I felt very connected to this book. I’d recommend it especially to anyone that is a part of a family farm. Helps explain the generational challenges a midsized family farm has faced over the years and the uncertainty of the future.

There are many parts of the book that our farm could relate to. Kudos to Brian for being able to put the words to paper and able to tell the stories from so many angles. Being an Iowa farm boy, I’ve always envied the state of Wisconsin and its beautiful terrain.

Thank you!

[Kyle Koenen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reisinger’s Land Rich, Cash Poor is a powerful and insightful exploration of the often-overlooked struggles of American family farms, blending historical analysis with personal storytelling that brings the harsh realities of rural life to the forefront. Reisinger does a masterful job of weaving his own family's multi-generational fight for survival with the broader story of how the backbone of America's food system—family farms—has been stretched to its breaking point. Highly recommended!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book! I feel like it should be required reading for any agricultural education program in high schools and colleges!

[Beachbumgarner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year at this time, I was visiting my niece's farm in rural MN when this book, "Land Rich, Cash Poor" came across my email feed. After reading the description, I thought, "At last! Someone has written a book about the history of family farming from the inside. Someone who has lived it!" I had been listening to conversations all week about the dry weather and it's effects, about neighbors who were going to need help come harvest, and about those friends or neighbors who were having to sell off pieces of acreage to keep going, or sell out completely because they couldn't. It's a hard conversation for farmers to have because due to all of the uncontrollable variables--weather, pricing, costs, government stipulations--failure always seems possible, if not imminent. Which is why this book is so important: once we know the history of anything, disaster can be prevented.

One of the aspects Reisinger captures so well is that, unlike many other businesses or occupations, farming is a way of life, and you have to love it to make it work. There's you and the land and the people you love, the animals and crops that depend on you, and in the end, the dinner tables all across the country that require your success. A farm runs 24 hours a day, with no days off, and needs extra attention when animals get sick, or are in labor, or go missing or get lost. There is no OT pay--it's all part of the commitment. And yet, despite giving it their all, many farmers have lost their farms at rates unknown in other businesses. Reisinger puts this all in historical context.

Reisinger's interwoven family history of 4 generations to personalize the documentation of a century of farming history was a brilliant touch. From the Depression, the Dustbowl, the grain embargo, the Farm Crisis of the 70's, 80's, and then again in 2010, through to the Covid pandemic, his research was incredibly good and his writing style kept the information moving and poignant at the same time:

Pg 101: The Farm Crisis of the 1980's is commonly referred to as a perfect storm of economic, geopolitical, and government forces. In reality, the storm was not a temporary mix of bad weather, but the confluence of those booming forces and a completely unknown technological threat all battering the American family farm for longer than history remembers. It was a singular disaster in America's story not only for the severe financial ruin farmers faced--although that was reason enough--but also for the cruelty of how preventable it was."

I want to thank Brian Reisinger and his publisher for the free copy they sent as the result of a contest. I've saved my thank you for last because often, when people see a 5 star review and a thank you in the first line, they tend to think of the review as payback and move on. I assure you that is not the case here. I loved this book for it's comprehensive history and research, for the stories of 4 generations of farmers and how they coped in their time, but mostly for the passion for the subject that Reisinger imparted on every page, including his end section which offers possible solutions to some of the technical, marketing and revitalization issues taking place in rural areas right now. I hope that everyone who cares where their food comes from will pick up this book. Every meal we sit down to started with a farmer somewhere.

[Chris R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Land Rich, Cash Poor is a brilliantly written fusion of a well-researched analysis of the political, social, and economic forces that have led to the decline of the American family farm over the past century, and a deeply personal story of a farm family working hard to stay afloat amidst all of it

In today's polarized environment, it is difficult to find a book that transcends easy political labels
and bias. Reisinger achieves this and writes from his background as a journalist, presenting both sides of the arguments fairly.

I did not know his political background before reading the book- only near the end did I discover he worked for conservative figures such as Lamar Alexander, Ron Johnson, and Scott Walker. As someone on the political left, I never once felt alienated by the way arguments were presented. I got the impression Reisinger was interested in being a bridge-builder across the red-blue divide because the future of all of us depends on creating a better future with our family farmers.

As someone from a German-American, Midwestern farm family, who now lives a very different life in a big city, I found myself nodding (and at times chuckling) along with the stories that reminded me of my own family. I never want to be disconnected from that part of me, and I am grateful this book sparked curiosity and connection with where I came from.

I am compelled by the idea that a healthy, real democracy depends on healthy farms and healthy rural communities, along with small businesses, associations, and communities of all stripes. While Reisinger strays away from making many overtly political arguments, one of my biggest takeaways was the danger of unchecked, consolidated power. I found myself particularly inspired by groups like the American Agriculture Movement and the response to the Farm Crisis of the 1980s.

The line that hit me the hardest was on Page 217.
"All of them are complex humans acting rationally within a system that incentivizes the same damaging ends"

It is up to us to change the system to not incentivize those ends- if we do not, Reisinger makes clear, we will all pay the price. But, if we succeed (and Reisinger provides a guide to this), we will all do better.

[Stacey Conrad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author’s family has owned land in Wisconsin since the early 1900s. He tells the history of his family and farm economy in the United States.

The writing in this book uses lots of “flourish” laden language when Reisinger is telling family stories. It’s like he never met a metaphor, or adjective he didn’t love. But then there are times that are quite compelling. He made me cry when he told of his great grandfather writing to his oldest daughter, a nun, telling her of things he wouldn’t say to anyone else. His hopes, doubts, worries, and news of the farm. In chapter 7 Reisinger leans heavily on wind and storm metaphors. It’s one of the themes he really uses throughout the book.

P.79 “The American farmer became the little guy in a world of big business, big government, and increasingly bigger forces that would eventually set in on all sides.”

P. 88-89 “It’s a truthful refrain that generally farmers of all sizes are “price takers, not price makers.”

At times Reisinger’s writing is almost pontificating, and full of numbers, and I got lost and skimmed some of the factual portions. But yet when I read this statement, I felt left hanging. P. 112 “In 1981 interest rates hit a historic high never reached in recorded history before or since.” And? What was the rate? He doesn’t bother to tell us, and the endnotes are just references. This was frustrating. I realize his purpose was to discuss issues for farmers and propose some solutions. But I like the family history aspect of this book the best. He used those personal stories well. I could have read much more of that.

[Melissa Kibler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very whiny. Author clearly has daddy issues and self esteem issues from failing to become a farmer. Author points out all the already known issues of farming and has very unattainable ways to solve them. (Just solve capitalism)

Book Club Notes:
- Author has so many problems from family sourced guilt. The pressure for the eldest son to take on the farm regardless of their abilities or dreams.
- The author tries to normalize the abusive practice of having children to use as farm hands. (Projecting much?)
- Farm children historically had few ways for getting away from their family farms: joining the military, joining the convent or getting married were the easiest options.
- Author whines about children not wanting to take over the farm from the parents. As if selling to strangers is so horrible.
- Farmers putt work before the education of the children.
- Land contract: sell land to the next generation for a price that will be slowly paid off over the years. Gives the older generation a source of income in retirement and keeps the next generation from being financially secure.
- Farmers are suicidal when things start to go bad because they have the mindset the the land has to be passed on so they are not just failing themselves but their future generations. If we break up the abusive cycle of generational farming, this would be less of an issue.

[Jill Lucht · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who grew up on a 70-cow dairy on the other side of the state from the author, this book completely gutted me. Our family’s dairy farm succumbed to market forces in 2019. The land has been split six ways - two new hobby farms raising beef (one with the farmhouse and dairy barn, the other with the heifer barn), sold through land contracts to wonderful families unrelated to us; the “other place” for someone’s new home/woodlot/rental field, also unrelated to us; my parents’ retirement home; fields rented out to large, corporately-owned/non-family farm dairy up the road; woodlot and one field sold to an Amish family for a homestead and maple syrup operation. Honestly, I was never as attached to the land as I was to the herd. They were the BEST girls. We all ruined our bodies milking in a stanchion barn, but I loved being that close to the animals. Always loved it better than milking in a parlor, which I’ve also done. I come down pretty hard on the “lack of competition/fair markets/large-scale CAFOs” as what destroyed our farm and our community, but I’m going to discuss further with Mary Hendrickson, one of the scholars interviewed for the book. Whatever the mix of causes, you can bet it has everything to do with capitalism and the unequal distribution of power in the dairy-and every other-industry in the US.

[D.J. Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Reisinger is a natural storyteller. From his journalism days on, he is masterful at weaving heartfelt narratives into complex issues. This novel blends personal stories with hard-hitting data, giving readers a raw, unfiltered look at the evolution of the American farm.

While I don't have a farming background, I was still able to understand the world and its broader importance to our society. Reisinger pulls you in with his personal accounts of his time on his family farm, and keeps you engaged as he shares the wider scope of farm life. He takes readers on a journey from the 1900s to today, showing how time, policies and the environment have played pivotal roles in farming. He also shows how vital farms are to our world.

It's remarkable how compelling this novel is. It's a must read for anyone who is curious about how farming shapes our society and the pitfalls of taking it for granted. Actually, it's a must read, period.

[Katy O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifelong Wisconsin resident currently living in farm country, on a farm that is no longer being farmed, I was the perfect audience for this book. While we only own a little over 40 acres, my husband and I always joke about being land rich and cash poor, given the state of our ancient farmhouse that the insurance company has deemed much less valuable than our acreage!

I really appreciated Reisinger's neutral approach to the nuanced political and economical issues presented, and loved how he wove his personal story of his family and family farm throughout the book. I'm recommending this to my school district's agriculture teachers immediately!

Source: public library hardcover

[Ashley Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bittersweet, but good read nonetheless. A great read for both those directly involved in the agriculture industry and those who aren’t. Bigger doesn’t always mean better. Creativity will become ever more important to keep the small farms operating in years to come. Americans taking pride & interest in where their food comes from is a great start. A quote from the book that stuck out & hit home to me was, “A larger number of small business ensures greater competition in a market, naturally incentives more decisions to be made locally & gives citizens faith in both a market economy & a democracy”.
Highly recommend everyone read this.

[Jeanne Blasberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a new farmer in southwest Wisconsin, I read this book as a cautionary tale as well as motivation to keep doing what we are doing - trying to create a model for a mid-sized farm based on a regenerative, diversified operating plan. This story is told well. It is both personal and family memoir as well as a history of the ups and downs of the societal and geopolitical issues that have greatly impacted the American farmer over the past hundred years. Required reading for the frustrated citizen wondering how we got to this point!!

[Tyler Katzenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Land Rich, Cash Poor" masterfully illustrates the rollercoaster last century for America's farming sector through the deeply personal story of one family's determination to save a way of life threatened by consolidation. That personal touch is what animates the book – especially for people like me, who left the family homestead in pursuit of a dream career, only to dream of returning home. If you haven't paid attention to the forces eating up the land where generations of family farmers planted their livelihoods, you certainly will after reading this book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say enough good things about this book. Such a beautiful, heartfelt book. I received it as a gift from someone who grew up on a farm in Arkansas, and it really resonated with her. I grew up on a farm in Wisconsin, and I felt like this book told the story of my family and all the other farming families in our community. It gives a thoughtful summary of how we got here, actionable steps to fix it, and why this is such an important issue. Food security is a national security issue, and I appreciate that the author is sounding the alarm on this very important issue.

[Wes Boucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Land Rich, Cash Poor is an incredibly informative book that truly captures the spirit of rural Wisconsin. As someone who grew up in Wisconsin, I especially enjoyed reading about the author’s family story, which brought me back to many personal memories of my own family farm. I recommend this book to everyone, whether or not you have connections to a farm or rural America. This book is not just about Wisconsin, it’s a true American story.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was amazing and heartbreaking. How so much of our society relies on these families for our food and they are just under supported and underfunded. This gave great insight into the plight of the American farmer and makes it clear how the food issue in our country can get a whole lot worse if we don’t fix what’s going on. Thankful to Brian and his family for sharing their stories.

[Kayla Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story way more than I anticipated. As someone who grew up and now lives in a rural Wisconsin farm town, this book helped me understand and appreciate the lives of so many friends, family, and others in my community.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very poignant read, helped me to better understand the forces at play for farmers locally as well as history in my own family our farming past. Very well written and thought-provoking. Highly recommend reading!

[Ryan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptionally balanced, reflective and important book for the times we live in. By sharing his family's experience, Brian Reisinger helps tell the story of the modern family farm to a world that needs to hear it. I hope it is read widely, and heeded.

[Jamie Schechinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sad to report I never finished this book. The values, the stories, and learnings in this book are so important. The agriculture industry is hurting in many ways. However the style and length of this book was too much for me.

[Cassie Sonnentag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw. Gut-wrenching. Eye-opening.

No other words needed. God bless the American farmer.

[Kristen Los · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging take on challenges to the family farm.