More Young People Are Getting Into Farming

New numbers on farmers won’t be available until the agricultural census is done next year, but those in agriculture point to some good signs: Enrollment in university agriculture programs has increased, as has interest in farmer-training programs.

That’s good news to the government. More than 60% of farmers are over the age of 55, and the Agriculture Department’s Poppy Davis said without young farmers to replace retirees, the nation’s food supply could be vulnerable.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has called for 100,000 new farmers within the next few years.