The Upcoming Struggle of American Agriculture

With the average age of the American farmer getting close to 60 years old, there is growing concern for the future of agriculture in the United States.  There are numerous theories as to why fewer young people are going into farming.  These theories range from young people having no interest in farming, to it being too difficult to make a living on a family farm.

There has never been a time where it was more exciting to be involved in agriculture.  Advances in technology and new farming techniques have made crop and livestock production more efficient than ever before.  The reason why young people are not getting into agriculture is because it is not financially possible.  A new farmer cannot get started without a significant financial investment.  The financial barriers to entry can be insurmountable.  The only young people who are earning a living on farms today have been given a leg up by their parents.  They are either taking over their family farm, expanding the family farm, or branching out on their own and utilizing resources from the family farm to get themselves started.

I am a 6^th generation farmer.  For a few years I did run my own farming operation, and because I was able to rent equipment from my parents, I did turn a profit.  As everyone knows, in 2008 the economy took a nosedive.  Not long after that the land I was leasing was sold and I was suddenly without anything to farm.  Since I was a child all I ever wanted was to be a farmer like my Dad and Grandpa.  In order to do that I got an accounting degree and have to work in town to save money so that someday I might be able to buy an acre or two to call my own.  Expert agriculture analysts say fewer young people have an interest in a career in farming, but the truth is that unless parents have an operation they can hand over to their children, there is no way for them to get started.  

Every millennial I know who farms for a living is either an employee working for their parents, or they are starting their own operation by using resources on their parents farms.  Since young people cannot afford to buy the required land and equipment needed to run a farm, the future of agriculture in the United States will continue to consolidate into large corporate operations.

Young farmers are out there looking for a chance to jump into the drivers seat of production agriculture.  All we need is an opportunity.