In 2007 the average farmer in Michigan was 54 years old. Photo: Steve & Christine. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
By JONATHAN GANCI
LANSING – As the state’s agricultural sector continues to grow, so does the need for young farmers, according to the Michigan Farm Bureau.
While the average age of the state’s farmers was about 54 in 2007, the Department of Agriculture believes that number is currently higher – evidence of an old agricultural infrastructure in need of a youthful jolt.
Joe Ott, chair of the Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and a grain grower in Lenawee County, said it’s important to get young farmers involved in the community to ensure that small-and medium-sized family-owned farms survive.
However, Ott, who lives in Sand Creek, said it’s tough to get financial backing to start.
“The banking industry has got so strict and tough that it’s just so hard for a young guy —especially if his family wasn’t in farming – to get his foot in the door and get credit established,” Ott said.
“They almost have to have someone willing to stick their neck out and sign on the dotted line with them to get started,” he said.
Jeff VanderWerff, vice chair of the organization’s Young Farmers, said they are eligible for federal loans but some are reluctant to apply.
“There is a fair amount of skepticism about those programs,” VanderWerff said. “A lot of young farmers don’t necessarily want the government to have their fingers on everything that we do.”
Instead, VanderWerff, who farms in Casnovia, points to more local efforts, including programs with the Farm Bureau, that help them connect with communities while improving their business and marketing skills.
“It’s going to help them grow their business and grow themselves personally through professional development training, networking and social interaction,” VanderWerff said.
Along with the high cost of entrance into the business, young farmers also face the problem of land availability.
Through its program FarmLink, the Farm Bureau connects young farmers with retiring ones, in hopes that a younger farmer will take over operations.
According to VanderWerff, the program provides beginning producers a chance while ensuring that farmland isn’t lost to developers.
However, VanderWerff said that the program has limitations and may need help from the state.
“There are a lot of young people that would like to get their hands on those operations,” VanderWerff said. “But for the retiring farmers there isn’t really an incentive.”
VanderWerff said that giving incentives to retirees would help keep the agriculture industry strong for generations.
While some young farmers get their start through such programs or transfers of family farms, others begin through local ties.
Jay Williams, who raises corn and soybeans in Hillsdale County, got his start in 2004 through a neighbor.
Williams gradually earned land by working on his neighbor’s farm, gradually building a base to become competitive.
“It would have been much more difficult if I didn’t have a neighbor that was willing to give me a try and allow me to enter the business,” Williams said.
Williams said that learning from other farmers allowed him to succeed, adding that it’s critical the state encourage young farmers to stay.
“To have a segment of the society involved in agriculture is a great way to retain young talent in the state and keep knowledge in the state,” Williams said.
According to VanderWerff, the Farm Bureau has seen an increase in membership of newer farmers like Williams.
“Young farmers help put a face to a plate,” VanderWerff said. “ They show a farmer behind the food.”
© 2011, Capital News Service, Michigan State University School of Journalism. Not to be reproduced without permission.
My wife and I have rented land at a local farm in Kalamazoo to grow organic vegetables for 4 years now. We have learned much through reading, trial and error, and especially through the farmer we rent from, he has been an immense base of knowledge (he is in his 70’s).
Ubfortunately, whenever we look for land we find outrageous prices for farmland (all tillable, no trees). Land that goes for 8000-10000/ acre is outrageous and out of reach for most starting farmers.
Local zoning restrictions, construction restrictions, animal restrictions, and all around governmental restrictions have lead us in circles trying to find viable, affordable, farmable land. We are not anti-government, but from what we’ve seen of the rules of buying land and starting a farm you are severely restricted because of local and state governments regulations! They make the zoning rules, they set your tax rates, they tell you every little nuance of what can be done on your land, you must fit their rules or you don’t get to play! Sadly their rules cost alot and people who want to start SMALL sustainable farms cannot afford the game.
Besides the physical labor required, unless you have a quarter million dollars (or more) to drop at one time (land, outbuildings, home, raised beds, hand tools, rototillers, tractors, seed, fuel, wells, animals, animal feed) you would have to grow from the ground up. However, local governments don’t allow this because they want a house built within one year of putting in a pole barn.
We have found 10 acre parcels where you can’t even own one chicken (this wasn’t an isolated event either)! Everything is zoned residential or commercial and taxes are prohibitive to try to make an actual living off a small farm unless it’s hundreds of acres and you receive some form of subsidies. As the rules are currently, there will be no small farmers in 15-25 years, only megafarms adjacent to non-stop subdivisions.
At this point, even though we have had numerous dissapointments, we keep looking and keep trying because we have the drive, the desire, and (as time passes)the needed skills to grow some of the best tasting produce in our area. But unless the mindset of the Michigan local and state governments make it possible through affordability and less regulation, people with the greatest desire to become small farmers will soon give up in dispare! They will just resign themselves to growing healthy organic foods to feed themselves only!
I always find it amazing that so many farmers seem to be anti-government, Rush Limbaugh types, yet they don’t seem to mind the tremendous government welfare programs…er, farm subsidies, that they get for growing their crops.
I always had a interest in farming but did not have money to buy a farm I am 40 and still would like to farm organic animals and grains I see what hormones do to are children with their growth early female problems help me find resources to become a new farmer yours truly Patrick email Shaughnessy 720@ yahoo.com