October 2019 - 4

EDITOR'S LETTER
Support young contributors
When the USDA released earlier this year
the results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture,
a count of our nation's farms and ranches and
the people who run them, it provided the first
accounting of the nation's farm population
since 2012, providing a new outlook on the
future of U.S. agriculture.
The results should concern us all:
the number of young farmers is not keeping
pace with the number of farmers aging out
of the field. The average age of primary
producers increased from 58.3 in 2012 to 59.4
in 2017. The average age of all producers also
increased from 56.3 to 57.5 years from 2012 to
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Labor Department figures show decline in
H-2A growth
Gary Pullano
Managing Editor
2017. Although the number of primary producers under 35 increased by nearly
2,000, primary producers over 65 now outnumber farmers under 35 by more
than 6 (6.41) to 1. Previously a ratio of 5.85 to 1, this widening gap reveals a
crisis of attrition in agriculture as farmers retire without a successor in place.
Enterprising young people face an uphill battle in establishing themselves
in agriculture given prohibitive land prices, student loan debt, lack of skilled
farm labor and limited health care options. Federal farm policy must do more
to address these barriers to entry and support the next generation of farmers
and ranchers. Young farmers rely on funding for key farm bill programs,
and additional data collection efforts on farmland ownership are needed to
inform policy solutions.
Inability to access farmland was the No. 1 challenge reported by participants
in a 2017 National Young Farmer survey. The census data confirm that
across the country we are losing quality farmland at a rapid pace. Land in
farms has decreased by 14,310,081 acres and the total number of farms
has decreased by 67,083 farms. Average farm size increased by seven acres
over the five years since the 2012 Census, highlighting continued consolidation
of farming operations across the sector.
" The latest census results should be seen as a call to action, " said Sophie
Ackoff, vice president of the National Young Farmers Coalition. " The small
uptick in the number of primary producers under 35 is not nearly enough to
replace those aging out and retiring. The U.S. needs more young farmers to
ensure healthy food for our communities and to steward our water, air and
soil resources into the future. "
Unfortunately, the number of Latino and non-white primary producers did
not increase. Ninety-five percent of U.S. primary producers surveyed identified
as white; the number of black, Latino, Asian American and Native American
primary producers all decreased between 2012 and 2017.
On an encouraging note, 41% of farmers in their first 10 years of farming
are women and the total number of female principal operators increased by
nearly 70%.
In this issue, Vegetable Growers News and Fruit Growers News magazines
introduce the Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 - a group of
exemplary agriculture professionals nominated by their peers for the
impressive accomplishments of their young careers. The Class of 2019 will be
honored at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO in Grand
Rapids, Michigan, on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Launched last year, the 40 Under 40 Awards represent a broad spectrum of
agriculture industry professionals, from growers and farm market operators,
to Extension agents and industry suppliers. These young professionals are
making substantial strides for their individual businesses and the industry as a
whole.
" Our Fruit + Vegetable 40 Under 40 Class of 2019 represents the future
of our industry, and it's clearly in good hands, " said CEO and Publisher Matt
McCallum. " In their young careers, these honorees are already making a
positive impact while also demonstrating exceptional leadership, motivation
and innovation. "
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We'll highlight what's new in genetics and
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The
number of certified positions
during the third quarter of 2019 was
up 2% compared to the third quarter
of 2018.
Yamaha, others invest in robotic strawberry
harvester
Yamaha Motor Ventures & Laboratory Silicon
Valley the strategic business development
and investment arm of Yamaha Motor, has
raised a total $7.5 million for Advanced Farm
Technologies, a developer of robotic farming
equipment that includes the T-6 robotic
strawberry harvester.
Marrone gets innovation award from
American Chemical Society
Pam Marrone, founder and chief executive
officer of Marrone Bio Innovations, has
received the 2019 American Chemical
Society Award for Innovation in Chemistry
of Agriculture, sponsored by the
Agrochemical Division of ACS and BASF.
Farmers' Almanac predicts 'Polar Coaster'
winter
The 2020 Farmers' Almanac's extended
weather forecast is predicting a " Polar
Coaster Winter, " with plenty of frigid
temperatures and snow for a majority
of the country.
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October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2019
