By Jamie Martin
The farming community in Wyoming is seeing an increase in new farmers, with over one-quarter of them having started in the past ten years. However, the number of farms in the state dropped by 12% from 2017 to 2022, highlighting the challenges these new producers face. To address this, Congress has introduced the "New Producer Economic Security Act," which includes a pilot program by the USDA aimed at helping beginning farmers navigate key barriers like land access and funding.
This pilot program could offer essential support through low- or no-interest loans, land-access grants, and community-based ownership models such as co-ops and land trusts. These resources would help new farmers overcome the financial and logistical hurdles of starting and maintaining a farm.
Nationwide, 30% of farmers are considered beginners, a significant increase since 2017. The land transfer process, especially as the average age of U.S. farmers is 58, will likely lead to one of the largest shifts in land ownership the country has ever seen. Nicholas Rossi, policy specialist at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, emphasized the importance of ensuring that this land doesn't solely go to large corporations but instead is passed to new and small-scale farmers.
In Wyoming, family-owned farms make up about 76% of the state's over 8,000 farms, with corporations owning a small percentage. This new pilot program is an opportunity to secure the future of family farms by providing the necessary support to new farmers, ensuring they have the resources to thrive.
Rossi is hopeful that this pilot program will evolve into a permanent part of the farm bill, helping to support new farmers and preserve the vitality of family farms for future generations.
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Categories: National