The Center for Rural Affairs and the National Young Farmers Coalition are pleased with the introduction in the Senate of the Next Generation in Agriculture Act. Rural Affairs Policy Associate Anna Johnson says the bill co-sponsored by Senators Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Susan Collins of Maine restores needed programs for beginning farmers and ranchers left out of the House Farm Bill.
She says the legislation provides for improved access to farmland for beginning producers.
Johnson says the bill also includes creation of new positions at USDA that would help beginning farmers and ranchers.
The introduction of the Next Generation in Agriculture Act come as the Senate is considering its version of the new farm bill. It also comes as farmers in the U.S. over 65 now outnumber farmers under 35 by a margin of six to one.
