African Community Housing & Development (ACHD)’s Post

AGE OF US FARMERS: NOT A PROBLEM — by Carl Zulauf The older age of US farmers remains a topic of concern. The 2022 Census of Agriculture confirms that US farmers continue to age, reaching an average age of 58.1 years old in 2022. However, US farmers are also becoming younger relative to the US population, and the age distribution of US farmers is consistent with more farmers entering the profession when economic returns are good. In total, this evidence is not consistent with the US having either a farmer aging or a farmer replacement problem. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eF2J2crT #farmers #age #population #aging #returns

Demographic Shifts in US Farming: The landscape of US farming has undergone a notable shift over the past 60 years. As highlighted in the below article, the average age of US farmers has slightly decreased relative to the general population, reflecting a younger demographic entering the profession during periods of economic prosperity. Progressive vs. Traditional: Today’s farmers blend time-honored traditions with progressive approaches. They are adopting innovative technologies and sustainable practices, balancing respect for the land with the need for efficiency and environmental stewardship. Analytical vs. Intuitive: Modern farmers are increasingly analytical, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize yields and manage resources. Yet, their intuitive connection to the land remains a guiding force in their decision-making. Technological Evolution: The integration of advanced technology in agriculture has revolutionized farming operations. From precision agriculture to automation, farmers are equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century while providing food, feed and fuel for a growing and diverse population. As we celebrate the evolving demographics of farmers, let’s acknowledge their adaptability and resilience. The fusion of tradition and innovation ensures that farming remains a dynamic and vital part of our economy and society. #Agriculture #Growth #Innovation Reference: farmdoc daily Thanks for sharing Scott H. Irwin!

Lowest number of farms in over 100 years. Lowest number of farmers. Heartee Foods & FarmAnywhere has increased that number by a dozen GlobalGAP certified farms, and a few dozen new farmers in 2023. #farmers #farms #agtech #entrepreneurship #farmersfeedcities

Good data from the USDA Census of Ag Survey: --1.9 million farms, lowest since 1850 -- 40% of farmers are over 65 in 2022 (up from 33% in 2017) -- 1m "beginning farmers" (ie, less than 10 years’ experience) -- Beginning farmers average age is 47.1 years vs. U.S. average of 58.1 years. -- 9% of farmers are under 35. -- 6% of farms have more than $1m in sales. Those 105,384 farms are 31% of farmland and generate 75% of sales. -- 75% of US farms have sales of less than $50,000 a year. -- 95% of farm operators are white. https://lnkd.in/gJfgr3PH

"This indicates a hollowing out of mid-range farming operations, and an increasing fragmentation of farming between very small farms and very large ones. This trend is concerning both because it reflects a heavily skewed and consolidated land market and because it may make it even harder to compete in the farm sector. Furthermore, it is likely that the demographic and economic profiles of farmers owning and operating these farms are very different." Missouri Foundation for Health through our Food Justice initiative is centering producers and other partners who are part of resisting the trend of consolidation in our food system in pursuit of equitable and sustainable food systems. We appreciate the ways HEAL Food Alliance is keeping these issues centered at the National level as well.

Ok, so I’ve had a one track mind about the impact of the Endangered Species Act on farming since April of 2022 but numbers like this underline that every additional cost, restriction and obstacle moves farmers away from farming. As proposed, the EPA ESA herbicide strategy alone (not counting the Vulnerable Species, insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide strategies) may cost *just* Iowa corn growers as much as $1.84 billion dollars; and *just* Florida sweet pepper growers $7.22 million dollars. Extrapolate that out to all states and all crops and the impact of farmers bearing the costs will be tremendous and it’s sure to either put farms out of business or encourage the next generation of farmers to look elsewhere. That’s EXACTLY why EPA needs to get this right - by working with stakeholders, using the best available science and considering risk management in decisions. If the mitigations are overly restrictive and inflexible it’s going to hurt farmers, rural economies and our food security.

The Census of Ag Survey was recently released, and I wanted to share some numbers. 🐮 1.9 million farms, which is the lowest since 1850. 🐮  75% of US farms have sales of less than $50,000/year 🐮 The largest farms are fewer than 1% of the farms, but accounted for 42% of all ($543.1 billion) sales. 🐮 The smallest farms are 74% of the farms, but accounted for only 2% of all sales. 🐮 40% of farmers (or 1.3 million) are 65+ 🐮 Beginning farmers (less than 10 years' experience) average is is 47.1 years 🐮 30% of all producers have been farming for 10 years or less. 🐮 62% worked "off-farm" either part-time or full-time The USDA's definition of producer is very broad: "A person who is involved with making decisions for the farm operation ... who may be the owner, a member of the owner’s household, a hired manager, a tenant, a renter, or a sharecropper." This report has a lot of people clutching their pearls. Here's what I'm getting from it (although I haven't read the whole thing because it's over 700 pages long:) 🐮 We have more consolidation. 🐮 We have a lot of (what I'd call) hobby farms. 🐮 We have people getting into ag (I'd assume mostly as owners, not always operators) later in life. 🐮 This is an aging industry. Yes, this is a bunch. But it's also a lot of opportunity. Consolidation isn't always bad. Big isn't always bad. New blood is almost always good. I see some tremendous opportunities here. It's up to us to embrace them. What are the needs? Better succession and transition planning. More opportunities for young people to get into ag. New sources of funding and finances for young and new producers, and producers who want to try something new or change production practices. A shift from being constantly on the defensive to actively embracing change and making it work for us. Less complaining, more doing. You can find the full report here:  https://lnkd.in/ghEg_KMR What stats stand out to you the most from the report? 

U.S. farmers are not aging more than the rest of the U.S. population. Terrific article from farmdoc daily and another example why a nuanced understanding of farm structure is important for farm policy. When I teach my ag policy class, we cover farm structure in the first week and it continues to come up throughout the semester.

The Yakima region is renowned for its impressive crop production, including apple orchards, cherry orchards, hop and grape vines, and vast fields of corn and wheat. Despite this abundance, a recent Yakima Valley Libraries Community Needs Assessment Study revealed that 38% of county residents identified food access as a top need in 2023. This percentage surged to nearly 60% for families earning less than $25,000 annually. According to Cecilia Chavez, director of the Toppenish Community Chest, the main challenge faced by these families is the unpredictability of employment due to weather conditions. In this rural area, livelihoods are heavily reliant on the growing season, which can be disrupted by extreme weather fluctuations, leading to reduced work opportunities. Closure of businesses in these communities can result in the loss of hundreds of jobs and limited access to essential resources such as food banks and health clinics. Chavez highlights the scarcity of support services and the financial hardships faced by families due to rising costs of living, particularly in terms of rent and food. Moreover, many residents are undocumented and ineligible for state assistance. The Toppenish Community Chest is actively addressing these gaps in support services to assist rural families in need. Learn more about their impactful work in the region: [Link to the full article](https://lnkd.in/g4wjNs8H)

‘A smallholder farmer is someone who farms on a small piece of land, often with limited resources’ Smallholder farmers come from different demographics, including the average person seeking sustenance in Agriculture. Today, smallholder farmers have become the backbone of the industry by contributing about 80% of agricultural production in the continent. Send us a message today to start buying grains from these farmers shaping a sustainable future for Africa. 🌾 #SmallholderFarmers #AgriculturalProsperity #CommunityFarming #Sustainability