USDA Deputy Secretary and state Ag directors address challenges for young producers

by | Sep 23, 2016 | 5 Ag Stories, News

by Ben Nuelle

Passing on the family farm is an emotional subject but needs to be discussed.

State Ag directors addressed this issue at a USDA fall forum Thursday in Lincoln.

USDA Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse and state Ag directors from Colorado, New Hampshire, and South Carolina spoke at a fall forum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The forum focused on meeting the challenges of younger producers and passing on the farm. Scuse says the number one issue for younger producers is cost of land.

?How can that next generation, that young and beginning farmer have access and get the capital to purchase that land? How do we connect that young farmer with the individual who is looking to retire and sell??

A few years ago, there were many young people wanting to come back to farm because the economy was good.

New Hampshire Ag Commissioner Lorraine Merrill.

?We see no shortage of young people who want to get into farming but the challenges financially are very great and we need to resolve the profitability issues and the security issues to stabilize these very sharp up and downs to make it more reliable to plan.?

South Carolina?s Ag Commissioner Hugh Weathers says passing on the farm also is an emotional subject.

?The more you can do before you are leaving someone?s funeral and then the emotional part ramps up, the more you can do to make it a more smoother transition, the better industry will be the individual families will be.?

State Ag directors are in Lincoln for their annual NASDA meeting.