By Ben Felder
A bipartisan-backed bill in Congress seeks to help young farmers and ranchers gain better access to farmland, responding to a growing challenge recently highlighted by Investigate Midwest.
The New Producer Economic Security Act would increase access to low- and no-interest loans for new farmers, support state and Tribal governments in purchasing land to be made available to young producers, and fund access to legal services related to land acquisition.
Where America is losing farmers
From 2017 to 2022, 409 counties across the country saw a producer (farmers and ranchers) decline of at least 15%. Together, the counties averaged a higher increase in farmland values than those counties that saw a smaller decline or an increase.
“If we are going to revitalize and strengthen American agriculture for generations to come, we need to take steps now to ensure young farmers can succeed,” said U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Illinois, a Democrat and sponsor of H.R. 2536.
Last year, Investigate Midwest reported that rising farmland prices have led to a decrease in farmers, especially young producers. According to a 2022 National Young Farmers Coalition survey, 59% of farmers under 40 said finding affordable land was “very or extremely challenging.”
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