Entering Farmer
Half of all current farmers are likely to retire in the next decade. According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, the average age of farm operators was 57 years. Farmers over the age 55 own more than half the farmland in the U.S. But the number of new farmers and ranchers over the age of 35 is increasing, as does the number of smaller farms and ranches nationwide. An entering farmer can look very different either coming from a farming background or completely new to farming. Entering farmers can also range in age and backgrounds from young just starting out to career changers. If you are a new or next-generation farm seeking land or business resources, we can:
- Link you up with exiting farmers and other landowners to find land to lease or purchase.
- Link you with other new farmers for info-sharing & support
- Refer you to service providers like lawyers and accountants with farm transfer expertise.
- Connect you with land trusts seeking to sell or lease conserved farmland.
- Offer you farm business planning classes and other resources.
So You Want To Be A Farmer Workshop Series – Presentation Notes
So, You Want to Be a Farmer?: The Dirty Truth. March 21, 2012 – Farm Panel (Hannah Wolbach, Derek Christianson, Dave Purpura & Jim Buckle)
What is a Business Plan and Why You Need One. March 28, 2012 – Jon Jaffe & Joe Baldwin, Farm Credit East
Handout: ‘Twenty-Five Attributes of the 21st Century Farm Executive’, by Danny Klinefelter (Texas A&M University, 2005)
The Dollars and Sense of Financing a Small Farm. April 4, 2012 – Roy Henshaw
Dollars and Sense of Farming 4.4.12
News Flash! You Don’t Need To Own The Land You Farm. April 11, 2012 – Jennifer Dubois (TTOR), Pete Westover
Peter Westover – PW_Handbook #2 Apr 12 edition;