Down on the Farm 2017 {Bostonred network version]

Agriculture in the United States is at the breaking point. Farmers over the age of 65 now outnumber farmers under 35 by a margin of six to one, and U.S. farmland is overwhelmingly concentrated in the hands of older farmers. Nearly two-thirds of farmland is currently managed by someone over 55.The National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates that over the next five years—the lifespan of the next farm bill—nearly 100 million acres of U.S. farmland are expected to change ownership and will need a new farmer.n January and February 2017, the National Young Farmers Coalition conducted a National Young Farmer Survey to ensure our work is grounded in the needs of young farmers and to offer policymakers recommendations to address these needs ahead of the next farm bill. In our report, “Building a Future with Farmers II: Results and Recommendations from the National Young Farmer Survey,”Farm Aide 2017 https://www.farmaid.org/