It’s no secret that the average age of farmers is on the rise and has been for a long time, but is this something we need to worry about? According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, there are 3.4 million farm producers with an average age of 58.1 years old, an increase from 57.5 from the 2017 Census of Ag. This trend has been going on for a while, but one misconception is that this is bad. People tend to think that farmers are aging and when they retire, there won’t be anyone left to continue producing the food, fiber, and fuel we need.
The average age of a farmer can vary across the country. While it is relatively consistent in most places, producers in southern states tend to be slightly older, while midwestern states tend to be slightly younger. While farmers are still getting older, it’s also essential to look at how many farmers there are in each age category. From 2017 to 2022, the number of producers between the ages of 35-64 declined 9%. Over the same time, the number of producers 65 and over increased 12%. But the number of young producers under 35 also increased slightly.
Another interesting finding from the most recent ag census is that agricultural producers tend to have experience with individual farming for an average of 23.4 years.
Encouragingly, 30% of producers are beginning farmers, meaning they have been farming for ten years or less. The average age of these beginning farmers is lower than the average, at 47.1 years old. Their farms tend to be smaller than average in acres and sales, showing that people are starting farms and joining the ag industry. These people tend to be younger.
One reason farmers are aging is the barriers for young people to start or join a farm. It takes a lot of capital to start, join, or take over a family farm. There are high costs in equipment, land, and other inputs. Older people tend to have higher wealth than younger people, so it isn’t a huge surprise that this is reflected in the average age of a farmer. Young and aspiring farmers also face rising interest rates and challenges finding labor.
Farm size is also rising, with farms becoming more extensive and efficient. In 2022, the average size of farms increased by 5 percent, while the number of farmland acres decreased by 2 percent, making it harder for young and aspiring farmers to access land.
So what can we do about it? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has programs to support beginning farmers and ranchers, who are often younger. We must continue to support agricultural education so that if young people choose to pursue starting or taking over a farm, they have the knowledge and skills to do so. Supporting 4-H and FFA programs is also crucial. A succession plan is essential if you have a farm, as it can significantly help future generations.
In exciting news, a recent study found that farmers have become slightly younger compared to the rest of the U.S. population. Since 1960, the average age of U.S. farmers has increased 7.6 years, while the median age of the U.S. population has increased 8.8 years.
While it is true that farmers are aging, this isn’t a huge problem. Farms are getting more extensive and efficient, and tools like succession planning will be crucial to ensure these farms can be passed down to future generations. Young people are interested in becoming farmers, as we can see from the increase in the number of beginning farmers. We must ensure these young and aspiring farmers have the opportunity, tools, and support to become farm producers.
