Resource Library
The National Young Farmers Coalition’s “Building a Future with Farmers: Challenges Faced by Young, American Farmers and a National Strategy to Help Them Succeed.” Lindsey Lusher Shute, 2011. This report discusses challenges faced by young farmers in the US and identfies federal opportunities to help them overcome those challenges. http://www.youngfarmers.org/reports/Building_A_Future_With_Farmers.pdf
The National Young Farmers Coalition’s “Farm Bill 2014–What It Means for Beginning Farms for the Next Five Years.” 2014. This web page offers a brief analysis of how changes to the farm bill in 2014 affect young farmers.
http://www.youngfarmers.org/farm-bill-2014-what-it-means-for-beginning-farmers-for-the-next-5-years/
Choices Magazine’s “Beginning Farmer Credit and the Farm Service Agency’s Role.” Charles B. Dodson and Bruce L. Ahrendsen, 2016. This article argues that the Farm Service Agency should be a tool for young farmers to get credit and surmount barriers to entry in the farming profession.
http://www.choicesmagazine.org/UserFiles/file/cmsarticle_497.pdf
Choices Magazine’s “Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program –Accomplishments in the Making.” Jill S. Auburn, Denis Ebodaghe, Desiree K. Rucker-Ross and Wesley R. Dean, 2016. This article highlights policy progress for beginning farmers in recent years. http://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/theme-articles/theme-overview-addressing-the-challenges-of-entry-into-farming/beginning-farmer-and-rancher-development-program–accomplishments-in-the-making
Choices Magazine’s “Addressing the Challenges of Entry into Farming.” Mary Clare Ahearn, 2016. This article offers a quantitative analysis of challenges faced by new farmers, as well as suggestions about how to fix those challenges.
http://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/theme-articles/theme-overview-addressing-the-challenges-of-entry-into-farming/theme-overview-addressing-the-challenges-of-entry-into-farming
Choices Magazine’s “Off-farm Income: Managing Risk in Young and Beginning Farmer Households.” Heidi J. Bubela, 2016. This article discusses the growing phenomenon of farmers, particularly new farmers, supplementing their incomes with off-farm employment. http://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/submitted-articles/off-farm-income-managing-risk-in-young-and-beginning-farmer-households
Choices Magazine’s “Beginning Farmer Policy Options for the Next Farm Bill.” Juli Obudzinski, 2016. This article discusses how the next farm bill could improve land access, expand credit and training, and improve risk management options for beginning farmers. http://www.choicesmagazine.org/choices-magazine/theme-articles/theme-overview-addressing-the-challenges-of-entry-into-farming/beginning-farmer-policy-options-for-the-next-farm-bill