COLUMBUS, Ohio – Aging farmers and the price of entry in the industry pose a challenge for U.S. agriculture. A third of America’s 3.4 million farmers are over 65, according to the most recent agricultural census from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More than half of farmers today will reach retirement age in the next 10 years. The steep price of entry, along with rising input costs and volatile markets, make it tough for young and beginning farmers to take their places.

The census found that 27 percent of farmers qualify as “new and beginning producers,” with 10 years or less of experience in agriculture. Most of those farmers have operations that are smaller than average, both in terms of acres and value of production.

Help may be on the way. Last month, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a nearly $24 million investment across 45 organizations and institutions that teach and train beginning farmers and ranchers.

“Investing in the professional development of our nation’s newest farmers and ranchers will help our food and agriculture sectors to flourish from the ground up,” said Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, who is also USDA’s Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. “Strengthening and growing our next generation pipeline is vital to the continued success of American agriculture and prosperity of rural communities.”

Access to land and the ability to purchase it were rated as the top barriers to entering farming in a new survey released by the National Young Farmers Coalition and analyzed by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center. According to the survey, 59 percent of young farmers named finding affordable land to buy as very or extremely challenging, and 45 percent of young farmers named finding available land to buy as very or extremely challenging. The rates were higher (68 percent) among farmers of color.

 “No matter how you look at the data, land access is the top challenge that young people who are involved in agriculture are facing,” said Holly Rippon-Butler, land campaign director at the National Young Farmers Coalition. “It is the No. 1 challenge for current farmers and ranchers. It’s the top reason that young people report having left agriculture. It’s the primary barrier to getting started regardless of the region of the country that you’re in, whether or not you identify as a first-generation farmer or a rancher. It’s also regardless of age or number of years of experience in farming.”

USDA’s $24 million investment is part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) that supports a wide range of professional development activities across an array of important topics for new farmers and ranchers, such as managing capital, acquiring and managing land, and learning effective business and farming practices.

“We recognize that beginning farmers and ranchers have unique needs for education, training and technical assistance,” said NIFA Acting Director Dr. Dionne Toombs. “Their success, especially in the first 10 years, often hinges on access to reliable, science-based information and the latest educational resources so they can improve their operations’ profitability and sustainability long-term.”

NIFA’s BFRDP funds three types of projects. First are Standard Projects targeting new and established local and regional training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiatives that address the unique local and regional needs of beginning farmers and ranchers.

Second, there’s Educational Team Projects to develop seamless beginning farmer and rancher education programs by conducting evaluation, coordination, and enhancement activities for Standard Projects and other non-funded beginning farmers programs.

Third are Curriculum and Training Clearinghouse to make educational curricula and training materials available to beginning farmers and ranchers and organizations who directly serve them.

Targeting beginning farmers has been done at the state level in Ohio and neighboring states, and with much success. For example, Ohio State Extension Educator and Small Farm Program Coordinator Tony Nye has been instrumental in hosting Small Farm & New Farm College Programs. The eight-session short course is held at three locations across the state. Topics at these events discuss goal setting, resource inventory, business planning, identifying various agencies and groups, soils, ponds, woodlands, wildlife, legal issues, insurance, business structure, record keeping, marketing alternatives, animal production, crops and horticultural production options.

This course (which is normally held in the fall of each year) discusses ways to obtain farm financing, insurance and liability issues, licenses and permits needed for a small farm business, farm taxes and employer responsibilities related to farm labor and labor laws.

There is funding available for beginning farmers in every state. In Ohio, such sources include local banks, private contracts, Conservation, AgCredit, Farm Credit Services or USDA’s Farm Service Agency.

Many banks participate with agencies in providing financing to beginning farmers and guarantee financing through USDA.