Young farmers and ranchers anticipate bright future
Capital Press - May 02, 2008 - Guest Comment by Frank Priestley
A recent American Farm Bureau Federation survey shows young farmers and ranchers are optimistic about the future, and a majority believe they are better off now than they were five years ago.
Other findings in the informal survey of 18-25 year-old farmers and ranchers show their top concerns about agriculture include land and facility availability, overall profitability, increasing urbanization and loss of farmland, increasing government regulations and availability of health care.
This is the 16th annual Young Farmer and Rancher survey conducted by AFBF. It noted that 83 percent of respondents said they are more optimistic about agriculture than they were five years ago.
That compares to 79 percent who said they were optimistic last year, 80 percent in 2004, and 61 percent in 2003.
In addition, 92 percent of today's young farmers and ranchers see themselves remaining in farming for the rest of their lives and 95 percent would like to see their children follow in their footsteps.
Most of those surveyed said they got started in farming through a family partnership, but interestingly, 30 percent said they started in agriculture on their own, without the benefit of family ties.
Two-thirds of survey participants said they believe farm income should come totally from domestic and international markets, while 33 percent said farm income should be supplemented by federal farm program payments. last year, 63 percent said farm income should come totally from the marketplace and 79 percent agreed in 2006.
For the first time, survey respondents were asked if state and local issues such as property taxes concern them more than federal issues and 75 percent responded yes.
"The high level of interest in local and state issues by young farmers and ranchers is encouraging," said AFBF President Bob Stallman.
"Their active involvement in Farm Bureau grassroots organizations in every state and 2,800 counties around our nation is critical as we continue working to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities."
Taking care of the environment and practicing conservation stewardship are important to today's young farmers and ranchers.
Fifty-five percent said they practice conservation tillage at home and 49 percent rotate three or more crops. Forty percent use soil/tissue analysis and 36 percent employ integrated pest management practices and field scouting. AFBF's Young Farmer and Rancher Program includes both men and women between the ages of 18-35.
The program's objective is to provide leadership in building a more effective Farm Bureau, while preserving individual freedoms and expanding opportunities in agriculture.
Frank Priestley is president of Idaho Farm Bureau
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