Latest Ag Census packed with eye-opening numbers; what they mean, what we can do

"This survey is a wake-up call." That's a quote from Thomas J. Vilsack, the U.S. secretary of agriculture, talking about our latest Census of Agriculture, which was recently released. What got his attention? Here's some statistics from the 2022 Census: The number of farms in the US dropped almost 7% since 2017 - a continuing decline … Continue reading Latest Ag Census packed with eye-opening numbers; what they mean, what we can do

How you (yes,you!) can create land access for emerging farmers

Did you know land access is an emerging farmer's #1 hurdle to getting started? This data comes from the National Young Farmers Coalition 2022 survey. With prohibitive land prices and lots of deep-pocketed competition, it's hard for folks to get their foot in the farming door these days. So, What's an emerging farmer? The MN … Continue reading How you (yes,you!) can create land access for emerging farmers

Why you should begin planning your farm transition today

It's overwhelming. It's complicated. It's emotional. Controversial even. You're too busy. You're never going to retire. None of your kids want to farm anyway. Any of this sound familiar? There's a mountain of reasons why you may be putting off writing your farm transition plan. These numbers say you're not alone: Only about 33% of … Continue reading Why you should begin planning your farm transition today

Successful farmland transitions that benefit both current and future farmers

A topic near and dear to FoxRAP's heart. UW Extension published a helpful 3-part article series: Demystifying the future farmer and planning ahead for a successful farmland transition. Key takeaways from Part 1 - Making farmland transition options available to landowners: Our current producers are aging out and an expected 70% of farmland will change … Continue reading Successful farmland transitions that benefit both current and future farmers