American farmers are aging, with nearly 40% now beyond retirement age and only 8% under 35, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture.
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall raised concern over this trend during a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, urging Congress to pass a modernized five-year Farm Bill. He explained that rising input costs, inflation, and market instability are making it harder for family farms to survive and be passed down to the next generation.
Duvall also emphasized the importance of supporting young and beginning farmers through expanded access to credit and updated tax provisions. He highlighted Farm Bureau programs like Young Farmers & Ranchers and the Women’s Leadership Committee as tools to help the next generation succeed.
Photo Credit: American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture
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