Land Rich, Cash Poor

“An anthem to the family farm in America … The book follows a procession of efforts by other authors laboring to explain America’s farm troubles but few are as lyrically written or as deeply and personally detailed.” —Jeff Rowe, The Associated Press Book Review“This deeply personal tale of a family farm—and family—teetering on the brink succeeds by showing us this is not a rural crisis, this is an American crisis bound to touch city mice and country mice alike. The dramatic elements strike to the bone, the history and context establish a complexity not addressable by simplistic politics, and by avoiding sentimentality and caricature, Reisinger leaves us with a green shoot of hope.” —Michael Perry, New York Times-bestselling-author of Population: 485“In rich and lyrical prose, Brian Reisinger tells the engrossing story of his family’s 100-year quest to establish and preserve the Wisconsin dairy farm that has sustained four generations of Reisingers in body and soul. He shares the moments of joy, disappointment and doubt that define modern farm life in America and he digs deep to discover his own place in that world. Land Rich, Cash Poor is a beautiful book. You won’t want to put it down.” —Peter Slevin, contributing writer for The New Yorker, author of Michelle Obama: A Life“A convincingly argued and often poignant take on the decline of the American farmer … Reflecting on his family’s farm in southern Wisconsin, the author emphasizes how his own experiences are part of the larger “story of the disappearing American farmer.” Since the nation’s founding, per Reisinger, “America’s identity became intertwined with the family farm.” Within less than a century, from the 1930s to today, family farming has declined by almost 70 percent. Combining a personal memoir with a broader consideration of American farming, the book’s astute analysis of public policy and economic trends highlights “a devastating hollowing out of rural America reverberating across the country,” from orange farms in Florida to dairy farms in Wisconsin to almond farms in California. Bipartisan in his critique of politicians from both sides of the political aisle, the author suggests that the decline of family farmers threatens the vitality of rural communities and the nation itself. As farms are increasingly consolidated under the umbrellas of giant corporations, they are, according to Reisinger’s well-grounded argument, more prone to disease, invasive pests, and other disasters that would have previously been isolated in smaller farms in the past. As of 2022, more than 43 million acres of farmland are owned by foreign investors who don’t live on the land they farm, which the author connects to rising “ecological decay.” While much of the book’s analysis of the current state of American farming is dire, the concluding chapter offers a multipart-plan to revitalize the industry via research and development, more competitive government policies, and the exploration of new market opportunities.” —Kirkus“An excellent book on the variety of struggles faced by family farmers.“ —Stephanie Mercier, economist and senior adviser to the Farm Journal Foundation“A beautifully written and very personal story of the multigenerational struggles of one family owning and operating a small family dairy farm in Wisconsin. The author, Brian Reisinger, uses his family’s experience to call attention to the alarming reduction in small to mid-sized farms in America, and the impact that loss has on America’s food security. With no easy answers available, he does offer suggestions as to what America can do to help farms survive and preserve the valuable tradition of family farms in America. This is a must read for anyone interested in one necessary component in helping Make America Healthy Again.” —U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (Wisconsin) “A highly personal story of the disappearing American farmer. Well worth reading for those who care about what we eat and where it comes from.”  —Mike Gousha, Emmy-award-winning journalist and PBS documentarian“A call from rural America, Brian Reisinger’s love of family, farming and Wisconsin shines through as he unspools a four-generation saga of hard work on a hard land set against the backdrop of relentless economic change.” —Bill Glauber, National Headliner Award-winning journalist“A truly honest and affecting overview of one family’s multi-generational fight to hold on to their calling in the face of economic instability, industry pressures, and everyday complications. Reisinger does a wonderful job of pulling readers in with writing that is conversational, and we get a real sense of the inextricable link between the people and the profession through his own history, as well as through the broader issues affecting small farms. Biographies can be tricky when we do not know the writer or know of them, but as Reisinger is tied to the backbone of what made America so economically and socially strong since its infancy, I really could not put this book down. And I’m a city girl who lives in London, so that says quite a lot. The standout is Reisinger’s portrayal of his sister Malia in a male-dominated field. Overall, this is a deeply human story about the resilience needed to sustain both a family and a struggling farm, with great ideas on what can be implemented to save them. Very highly recommended.” —Jamie Michele, Readers’ Favorite Book Award (*Five-Star Review)“[A] beautifully told, unflinching account . . . digestible data and spectacular prose.” —Maggie Ginsberg, Madison Magazine“Land Rich Cash Poor manages to weave a rich, century-long compelling family tapestry while binding it up with cold-eyed assessments of the external forces that pushed all farm families to the brink—or over it. By consulting agri-business leaders, advocates and farm economists, he presents a well-defended thesis as much as a love story for the land.”—Brad Todd, CNN contributor and co-author of The Great Revolt“Fills me with admiration for the resilience of Wisconsin farmers … Reminds us not only how physically demanding farming is, but also how dangerous it can be, with harrowing accounts of falls and accidents to adults and children. As Reisinger describes the lives of ancestors, farming also can be isolating and lonely, especially for taciturn men who feel the emotional weight of this perilous occupation… . If you’ve complained about the post-COVID increase in food prices, spending some time with Reisinger’s book will help you understand what and why you’re bemoaning.” —Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel“Only a farm boy could tell this story this well. Brian Reisinger’s Land Rich, Cash Poor is a remarkable portrait of how rural families live, work and struggle with issues that confront most families. A fascinating glimpse of American life.” —Lamar Alexander, author and former U.S. senator“In a book that is both prodigiously researched and deeply personal, Brian Reisinger examines America’s farming crisis through the lens of his own family’s farm. The result is informative, highly readable, infuriating, and heartbreaking. His farming ancestors would be proud.” —Doug Moe, national award-winning journalist and author of Tommy: My Journey of a Lifetime (with Tommy G. Thompson) and The Right Thing to Do“Land Rich, Cash Poor: My Family’s Hope and the Untold History of the Disappearing American Farmer helps the reader, rural and urban alike, to appreciate what is going on in rural America as we see fewer and fewer family farms. Author Reisinger helps us understand the importance of this issue, in a compelling narrative.” —Jerry Apps, national award-winning historian and author of On Farms and Rural Communities“As the number of family farms dwindles, author Brian Reisinger shares a poignant account of his family’s agricultural heritage in Wisconsin spanning four generations. He reflects on the joys and hardships that come with farming, and his deep attachment to land first chosen by his great-grandfather. Reisinger also sheds light on the challenges that threaten to erase this cherished legacy, and sincerely vows ‘I am here to share this with you because I will forever be a farmer’s son.’” —Sara Rath, author About Cows, The Complete Cow, The Complete Pig

Brian Reisinger is an award-winning author and rural policy expert who grew up on a family farm in Sauk County, Wisconsin. His writing has appeared in USA Today, Yahoo News, Newsweek, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, PBS/Wisconsin Public Radio, and many other publications. Reisinger’s debut book Land Rich, Cash Poor won Book of the Year from the nonpartisan Farm Foundation, and his writing has also won awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, first place in the Seven Hills Literary Contest, and a Solas Award. He has given a TEDx talk on threats to our food supply, and discussed rural issues on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, CNN, Fox News, farm radio, and more. Reisinger worked with his dad from the time he could walk, before entering the worlds of business journalism and public policy, then going on to work as a columnist and consultant. He serves as senior writer for Midwestern-based Platform Communications and lives with his wife and daughter, splitting time between Sacramento, Califorinia-America’s “farm-to-fork capital,” near his wife’s family-and the family farm in Wisconsin.