RELEASE: Short film highlights joys and challenges of being a young farmer in the arid West
Western farmers grow 85% of all winter produce in the U.S, but lack of access to affordable water is making it increasingly difficult for young farmers to succeed
DURANGO, CO —A new short film, Conservation Generation, offers a look into the lives of four young farmers and ranchers in the arid West who are contending with the impacts of historic drought, climate change, and increased competition for water. Despite the challenges they face, the farmers are each committed to their communities and to finding innovative solutions to water shortages.
Farm disasters wait for no man … or wedding
By Tyler Hoyt | We cannot keep sweeping our water problems under the rug, hoping that the next wet season will save us. We need proactive measures that save water before it is wasted on all levels.
Finding land (with water) isn’t easy
By Tyler Hoyt | One of the biggest barriers that young farmers face is access to good quality land. In the West, good land for agriculture is usually tied to good water rights.
Meet Tyler: "We want to spend our lives devoted to a piece of land"
By Tyler Hoyt | We had been dreaming about owning a farm. We wanted long-term returns on our investments into the land, and ownership was the only way to partially guarantee this far-sighted approach.
REPORT: Water scarcity, climate change threaten a generation of young farmers in the West
A new report, Conservation Generation, says vast majority of young farmers are dedicated to water conservation, but lack the resources to succeed
DURANGO, CO — A report released this week by the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) paints the picture of a generation of farmers and ranchers who are dedicated to water conservation but who feel threatened by water scarcity and other serious challenges, such as access to land and capital. According to the report, Conservation Generation: How Young Farmers And Ranchers Are Essential to Tackling Water Scarcity in the Arid West, 94% of young farmers in the arid West are using some form of conservation on their farms, while water availability and climate change were named as the top two agricultural concerns.
NYFC Presents at Western Governors Association Drought Forum
National Young Farmers Coalition was invited to present during the Western Governors Association forum on “Drought Impacts and Solutions in the Agricultural Sector”. Many academics and water resource managers from California were in attendance along with several ranchers and farmers. Jerry Brown, Governor of California and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval made an appearance for opening […]
NYFC Takes a Step in Protecting Working Farmland with Land Access Innovations Training
“Forty years of farmland conservation, and we are watching it unravel before our eyes.” That was the warning that John Halsey, president of Long Island’s Peconic Land Trust, delivered to a room full of conservation professionals at this weekend’s Land Access Innovations Training in Providence, Rhode Island. He was referring to the acres of farmland […]
NYFC June Newsletter: USDA Seeks Input, Fight for Affordable Farmland, New Staff, Events
It’s officially summer and you’re probably in over your heads. But if you can come up for air, we want to collect your USDA successes/frustrations, introduce our new staffers and this season’s Bootstrap Bloggers, and update you on our fight for affordable farmland.
Tillage, drought and their child: disaster
Across the arid West, farmers and ranchers are sharing tools and stories of resilience. Farmer Paul Kaiser discusses how he and his family are preparing for drought on their farm, Singing Frogs Farm, in Sonoma County, CA. On January 17th, 2014 California Governor Jerry Brown announced a statewide drought emergency. Despite recent March rains, seven of the last eight years […]
Farm Bill 2014 – What it Means for Beginning Farmers for the Next 5 Years
This post is the second of three in-depth analysis pieces on the bill and how it will affect you. Last week, after we shared the news that the new farm bill passed, we delved into a three-part series breaking the bill down and what its impact will be over the next five years. (The bill […]