The National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) submitted the following public comment to the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture as part of a hearing on the financial state of farms in the country, hosted by Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA-15).
The testimonies presented during the hearing underscored the profound economic pressures and mental health strains experienced by farmers nationwide, which directly impact their ability to secure and maintain farmland.
Young Farmers is committed to ensuring a just and viable agricultural future for a new working generation. Land access, retention, and transition are critical to the success of agriculture in this country. Yet, access to land is the number one challenge facing young farmers in the United States. Finding affordable land to purchase is the top challenge for this new generation, regardless of geography, number of years farming, or whether or not they are first-generation farmers. With the average age of U.S. farmers approaching 60 years old and nearly half of U.S. farmland expected to change hands over the next two decades, the Farm Bill is our best chance at creating real and lasting policy solutions to this daunting trend that keeps farmland out of reach for so many. At the same time, it jeopardizes our country’s food security and threatens the vitality of our urban and rural communities.
Land access is critical not only to farmer success but also to the health and well-being of our environment, economy, and marginalized communities. Supporting equitable access to land means addressing the climate crisis, facilitating farm transition, investing in community-driven initiatives, and supporting young farmers and ranchers to access capital, find markets, and strengthen their operations. Investing in equitable land access is an investment in the future of agriculture.
Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Scott highlighted the critical role of federal policies in supporting agricultural resilience and economic stability, emphasizing the need for targeted investments to bolster farm income and mitigate financial risks. Witnesses, including experts from Mr. Hotchkiss, stressed the dire consequences of rising input costs, fluctuating commodity prices, and inadequate access to credit and land tenure. Witness David Dunlow underscored the precarious nature of farm operations predominantly on rented land. Mr. Dunlow’s experience illustrates the instability and financial risk farmers face without secure land tenure.
This system isn’t working for young farmers, with 81% of young farmers surveyed affirming that the cost of production on their farm is greater than the prices they receive for their products, which presents at least a little bit of a challenge. Young farmers are driven by a variety of ambitions and guiding beliefs and are implementing an array of different operational models—with varying relationships to profitability and various definitions of viability and financial success. Current business and market-related policies should evolve to clearly recognize and include the diversity of farming operations this new generation is modeling.
This means changing policy to build on existing production, processing, distribution, and marketing infrastructures with a focus on local and regional foodsheds; expanding metrics of success to consider community health and quality of life in addition to job creation and farm revenue; improving programmatic supports around economic- and climate-related losses; and reinforcing protections against potential abuses and economic harm.
As the committee considers the issues with financial conditions in farm country, we urge legislators to center the needs and challenges of young farmers and take into account the following:
- Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act (H.R. 3955) would provide essential funding for programs aimed at expanding access to affordable farmland for young farmers. This bipartisan legislation represents a pivotal opportunity to enact policy solutions that promote equitable land distribution and support the next generation of agricultural stewards.
- Fair Credit for Farmers Act (H.R. 5296): As Farm Bill negotiations progress, this new legislation could rebalance the relationship between farmers and FSA to one of equal partners seeking farm success. With stronger protections and credit terms that recognize the unique challenges of farming, the Act will create long-term payoffs that strengthen rural communities across the United States.
- The Farmers First Act (H.R. 6379) would reauthorize the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) and ensure rural communities have access to certified community behavioral health clinics, critical access hospitals, and rural health centers.
We appreciate Representative Zach Nunn’s (R-IA-3) insightful remarks during the hearing, particularly his advocacy for beginning farmers and his ongoing endorsement of the Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act. Representative Nunn rightly highlighted the significance of this legislation in facilitating equitable access to farmland, a critical step toward addressing the financial challenges discussed at the hearing.
Take action today to tell Congress you were disappointed that the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 was approved by the House Agriculture Committee. The bill fails to prioritize equitable farmland access, divests from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and strikes climate provisions that would assist farmers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for extreme weather events.
Young farmers are the future of agriculture. Let Congress know you want a Farm Bill that addresses your key challenges, invests in your success, and builds food and farm systems you can not only survive in, but thrive in!