The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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March 8, 2011

Your View: America needs more young farmers

Kelly Firkins, Delavan

Who will run our farms? As our nation’s farmers get older and a wave of baby boomers reach retirement, this is an increasingly pressing and relevant question. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of farmers 75 years and older has increased 20 percent since 2002.

We need a national commitment to recruit and support the next generation of farmers in all sectors of agriculture. In 2009, my husband and I started DelaBlu Farm, located in south-central Minnesota. We are starting our third season and marketing directly to consumers and in the process of becoming certified organic.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Rep. Tim Walz. What impressed me the most was that he understood the value of young farmers and ranchers — how they create new jobs, that they bring money into local communities and how they are the future for innovation and the preservation of our nation’s rural culture.

There are many opportunities in farming today — growth in local and regional markets, organics, grass-fed and sustainably-raised livestock, and hopefully soon, energy crops.

We need smart public policy that can help new farmers get started and address barriers to entry. Congress should redouble support for beginning farmers and ranchers in the next farm bill.

Community-based beginning farmer training and assistance efforts should be expanded and enhanced, affordable and accessible credit should be bolstered, set-asides in conservation and other programs should be established, and policy should be enacted to tackle the difficult land access/farm transition issues retiring and new farmers face.

We all know America’s good land needs good farmers producing good food for today but also for tomorrow.

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