Statistics are revealing a decline in younger farmers. In his weekly radio segment this week, local Ohio State University Extension Educator Chris Bruynis cites an article on the decline in agricultural interest from younger Americans.
Back in 2011, the National Young Farmers Coalition reported the mean age for a farmer as 57. It's crept up to 59.4 now.
Bruynis says more alarming is the percentage that makes up the nation’s young farmers. He says farmers under the age of 35 account for only 9% of the total farm population. And only 5-percent of America’s farmers are reported to be between the ages of 25 and 35, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Bruynis lists some of the common reasons that agriculture isn’t appealing to younger Americans: high real estate and land prices, steep initial investments in machinery and technology, volatile commodity prices, unpredictable weather, and work / life balance.
When it comes to getting more youth into farming, the National Young Farmers Coalition has suggested both government and private initiatives for helping the youth break into the industry, including improving access to capital and credit, and providing support and education initiatives such as apprenticeships and student loan forgiveness.
The shortage of young farmers isn't just an American problem. Nations around the globe have reported similar trends.
Hear local Ohio State University Extension Educator Chris Bruynis' weekly radio segment on our radio stations.