Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

America's new farmers: Where do we find them and how do we help them?

Back to Leopold Letter Spring 2010

By MARY ADAMS, Outreach and policy coordinator

“Who is the next generation of farmers?” asked Neil Hamilton, director of the Drake University Agricultural Law Center and longtime Leopold Center advisory board member. His challenge opened “The Drake Forum: America’s New Farmers: Policy Innovations and Opportunities,” held March 4-5 in Washington, D.C.

The conference attracted an eclectic mix of nearly 200 U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, local community organizers, energized new farmers, rural development specialists and state government representatives. Participants agreed that access to land and credit pose critical barriers for new and beginning farmers nationwide. The challenge is to make government policies (existing and potential) work for both lenders and landowners. New farmers need training and education, especially in financial management. 

The conference opened with a speech from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who reminded the group that rural America makes up one-sixth of the United States, yet rural incomes average $11,000 per year below those of urban residents. At lunch, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) spoke about the increasingly critical relationship between food and health issues. Conference organizer Neil Hamilton commented, “We are quite pleased they both made the special effort to speak to the Forum. It shows how important they feel about the need to help support America's next generation of farmers.”

The Leopold Center was one of the conference sponsors, through funds from the Policy Initiative that support an ongoing land tenure and sustainability project at Drake University. Center director Jerry DeWitt moderated a lively panel, “Hearing from New Farmers –What Critical Obstacle Do They Face?” The panelists argued that the government needed to invest in farms, not just in farm products (commodities), and reframe the job description to make farming more appealing to young people. Having health insurance and retirement benefits available would make farming a far more attractive career choice.

Speakers agreed that the nation lacks an overarching public policy on land access, tenure and sustainability. Regional variations can be significant, according to the parade of new farmers from New England, California, Kansas, Oregon and Iowa that the event showcased.

“My goal was to use the ‘power to convene’ to organize a national event to generate a more robust discussion of new farmer issues,” Hamilton said. “I believe we accomplished these goals and in so doing tapped a rich vein of bright, energetic young people from across the nation who want to be part of America's food system.”

There was no shortage of ideas for enticing and supporting new and transitioning farmers to repopulate the stagnating countryside. Suggestions ranged from New Farmer Agents, a Farm Corps (similar to Ameri-Corps, only for national service in rural areas), and more government assistance/incentives to help retiring farmers shift land ownership, to providing broadband Internet access for all rural areas. Aspiring farmers need mentors, either through apprenticeship opportunities or via land-link programs that encourage land transfers. With significant amounts of land coming out of the Conservation Reserve Program, would land contract programs be the best way to channel some of that land to new farmers rather than to expand already-large operations?  What about college loan forgiveness programs for those with college debts who want to farm?

A panel on “New Farmer Communities,” moderated by Janie Simms Hipp, senior advisor to USDA Secretary Vilsack for tribal relations, gave the audience a refreshing view of what America’s future farm population might look like.  The executive director of the Yale Sustainable Food project told about channeling some of Yale’s $8 million annual food budget to local farmers, much to the delight of university food service chefs. A Hopi farmer from Arizona explained how they “dry” farm sustainably with only six to 10 inches of rain annually. An African-American family farmer from Arkansas lamented the gap between profits for white ($300/acre) and black ($152/acre) farmers, and suggested a new mix of tax credits and policies to help bridge the gap. A Latino farmer from the Central Valley of California joined with the director of the ALBA project to explain their successes in training immigrants to start farming and succeed with small acreages and modest investments. 

Weldon Sleight, a Nebraska agricultural college dean, argued that land ownership is the key to keeping kids on the farm. His technical institute in Curtis focuses on an entrepreneurship program that teaches students the art of ownership by partnering with businesses and farmers. The students learn how to “do business” thanks to the school’s 100-Cow Program and the 100-Acre Program. Their school experiences make it easier for them to get FSA loans later on.

Bill Even, the South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture and a Drake agricultural law school graduate, argued for the need to “connect society to the soil.” He preached a message of positive vibes: Diversity is needed, welcome all to agriculture. Don’t badmouth anyone or any sector of agriculture. Say “yes, if” not “no, because.” He noted that current regulations need to be retrofitted to accommodate the unique needs of new farmers.

Back to Leopold Letter Spring 2010