Oct
24
Young growth not replacing old in critical profession
By JOYCE SCHENK
Business Writer
This is the last of a three-part series dealing with current issues in agriculture.
More than a third of all the country’s farmers are within 10 years of retirement.
Data from the federal government indicates that farmers older than 65 outnumber those younger than 35 by more than three to one nationwide.
This sobering information shows an industry in crisis.
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau report, the average age of the Florida farmer is 57.
Given these statistics, the topic of farm transition – the shifting of the business to the next generation of farmers and ranchers – has become a huge issue in maintaining the strength of the farming industry.
A tough row to hoe
It’s not just that many older farm and ranch operators simply can’t afford to retire – although that is the case. Mostly, it’s that those with sons and daughters find their offspring aren’t interested in continuing the family farming business. Numbers of farm-raised young people are choosing college and a different career path.
Much of their generational hesitancy is due to the unpredictability involved in operating a farm.
Here in Southwest Florida, such threats as hurricanes, droughts and, occasionally, even freezes have contributed to the uncertainty of farming profitability.
Unless a would-be farmer inherits the land, it’s hard to make money in farming.
And, when inheritance is involved, it brings with it a new set of deterrents. According to such regional authorities as Gene McAvoy, multi-county extension director and vegetable specialist, “The biggest obstacle for the transfer of farming property is the estate tax.”
Although discussions have been ongoing to make changes in this often-prohibitive financial burden, little has been done to correct the problem.
Given these difficulties, even if a farmer has an interested heir, the passage of the business can be complicated.
Contributing to the obstacles is the fact that farmers tend to wait too long to discuss succession. Agricultural advisors encourage farmers to begin thinking of transition of their assets in their 40s, rather than in their 70s.
Unfortunately, many farmers keep going until they die. At that point, if the family hasn’t established a plan for the transfer of the property, they can face some hard choices about fair distribution of the estate.
Fields of dreams
With the costly problems of taking over an operation by inheritance, and the rising price of acreage, young farmers are caught in a squeeze when they try to begin farming.
An alternative is the concept of leasing land. Although the ever-encroaching spread of home sites makes leasing large tracts a challenge, creative farmers can still find multi-acre spreads to plant.
Farming authorities have come to recognize leasing as a better way to make money in the business.
A growing number of states have established plans to facilitate farm transfer. Methods involve assistance packages such as loans, grants and scholarships favoring young farmers. In addition, such programs as “Farm Link” in states ranging from Virginia and Wisconsin focus on putting together young people interested in farming with older farmers ready to leave the field.
The federal government, too, is taking an active role in the situation. In fiscal year 2009, the government’s $18 million Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) will seek those across the nation who are interested in entering a career in farming or ranching. This program, administered under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will make available competitive grants to new and established local and regional training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiatives that address the needs of beginning farmers and ranchers.
Breaking up the fallow ground
An encouraging event in the farm transition picture was the recent meeting of the Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers. More than 150 members of this important group gathered in Orlando in July 2008 for a conference specifically aimed at those farmers between the ages of 18 and 35.
The two-day program addressed such concerns as financial management, handling interpersonal conflict and the complex process of generational succession – transferring ownership of family farming operations to the next generation.
Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick said of the gathering, “The Young Farmer and Rancher programs at both the state and national levels are aimed at building future leaders for the industry and the Farm Bureau.”
In addition to the assistance provided by entities like the Florida Farm Bureau, scholarships are being made available by various farming organizations. Such segments of the farming community as the state’s citrus growers are offering help to upcoming young people interested in entering specific specialties.
The work of youth-based programs like 4H continues to encourage young people to learn and grow in a variety of leadership areas. A major focus for the 4H organization has, traditionally, been agriculture.
Today, 4H serves more than 6.5 million, ages 5 to 19, in more than 90,000 clubs. Many of these young people have undertaken agricultural projects, seeing them through from start to finish. Such training is invaluable for those who want to move on to farming as a career.
Harvesting future hope
An interesting change currently showing growth involves young people who have had a farming connection in the past, and who are now leaving other careers to return to the farms.
The Japanese have coined the term “U-turn farmers” to indicate those who have a background in farming, but are new to the operation of a farm.
Some of those returning to the agricultural scene are being drawn into a facet of farming gaining momentum in our region, the specialty-crop farm.
Robert Halman, Collier County Extension Agent reported this group of farmers is concentrating on high output from small farms.
Many of the specialty crop farmers are younger people, looking for a new lifestyle, according to Halman. In addition, increasing numbers of retirees are entering this picture, starting a new career.
“The economy here can support specialty crops,” Halman said. “Restaurants are using them, and farmers’ markets are growing in popularity.”
Farming is the country’s lifeline. Without a doubt, the farming lifestyle is one of the most important in America. And the “grow local” movement is inspiring a new generation of farmers.
Whether they come into farming to operate a small, specialty farm, to run a farming operation on leased land or to keep the family farm business going, today’s young farmers are continuing a tradition that is vital to the nation, the state and their own community.
There are just not enough of them to fill the need.
Comments
One Response to “Florida’s worst crop failure: new farmers”
Leave a Reply
-
Subscribe Now
Get 26 issues of Southwest Florida Business Today! [by major credit card] We'll help you stay on top of your business game. Subscribe Now!
Thank you for writing about this important issue. I think people might be very disappointed in the future if there are no new farmers to replace the exiting ones.