The Future is Farmers
The future of farming rests on the shoulders of young farmers. In this series, we hear directly from them—why they chose (and love) farming, the difficulties they face, and how the rest of us can get involved.
At Modern Farmer, we believe that creating a sustainable and equitable food system is only possible with small, local, and family farms. But North America is facing a farmer shortage. The average farmer is just under 60 years old, and the trend of inheritance within families is declining, which means there is a need to train the next generation of farmers.
There are also huge benefits to supporting new farmers. Aside from bolstering our food supply, new and young farmers tend to bring unique new perspectives to the field, including a dedication to sustainable farming methods. According to the National Young Farmers Coalition’s (NYFC’s) 2022 National Young Farmer Survey, 86 percent of young farmers practice regenerative farming—growing in harmony with nature—while 97 percent use other sustainable practices.
However, for young people interested in a career in agriculture, there can be many roadblocks in their path. The price of land continues to rise, grants and educational opportunities can be hard to come by and there’s a steep learning curve for folks who didn’t grow up in a farming family.
With these stories, we spoke to young farmers directly about how they see farming as a viable future and what they need to succeed.
In this series
What Are the Big Issues for Young Farmers? We Asked Them
Modern Farmer sat down with the co-founder of Young Agrarians, a farmer-to-farmer resource for young people, to find out what might hamper young folks looking to enter the agriculture industry.
Where to Get Started: A Guide For Young Farmers
If you’re a young person looking to start a career in farming, check out these organizations.
Meet the Farmer Training Indigenous Youth and Revitalizing a Culture of Food Sovereignty
An Indigenous-led training hub, Tea Creek, in northern B.C. may be an answer to Canada’s looming farmer shortage.
Young People Need to Find Farming. 4-H is the Answer
The average age of farmers in the US is close to 60, and young farmers have trouble finding a way into the field. Programs like 4-H are the best option.
Young Farmers Cultivating Change
We asked our community to share their favorite young farmers and, in their own words, we’ve profiled a few inspiring individuals.
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