Final answer:
Unable to determine the exact percentage of family-owned dairies in the USA without direct data. Text indicates a historical and current significance of dairy farming and family farms in the US. The role of dairy farms is key to America's agricultural industry and identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question regarding what percent of USA dairies are family-owned does not provide a direct answer within the given information, thus I am unable to provide a specific percentage. Nonetheless, the provided text indicates a strong presence of family farms within the US farming landscape, which, according to the USDA and other sources like the World Development report cited by OurWorldInData.org, suggest that a substantial portion of the dairy farms in the US would likely be family-owned.
It is important to note that dairy farming is prevalent across the US with localized milksheds supporting the demand in various regions. The improvement in refrigeration and transport speeds has expanded these milksheds, allowing for efficient distribution of perishable goods such as milk over greater distances from production centers to population hubs.
Furthermore, the philosophical considerations and the evolving American values towards farming highlight a shift in public understanding and connection to the food production process, indicating that while the percentage of those employed in agriculture is low, the role of farming, including dairy farms, remains crucial to the American economy and identity.