Aging Grower Population Threatens U.S. Food Supply

As the grower population continues to age, young growers face land availability and start-up costs as obstacles in becoming the next generation of farmers, according to an article in the April issue of Food Nutrition & Science. This two-part series examines the issues in replacing an aging farmer population, its effects on the U.S. food supply, and the steps the government is taking to remedy the situation.

“Farmers over 55 years old own more than half of the country’s farmland,” said Phil Lempert, founder of Food Nutrition & Science and CEO of The Lempert Report and SupermarketGuru.com. “Hopefully we can expect to see the transfer of farmland in the coming decades that will expand and strengthen small and medium size family farms, assuming the land isn’t sold off for development. Our nation’s food supply depends on this next generation of farmers and the government needs to help them be successful.”

In 2002, there were 106,097 farmers in the 25 to 34 age range; in 2007 that figure rose to 106,735. Though a small increase, it demonstrates that government-sponsored programs can make a difference. For more information, go to www.foodnutritionscience.com.

Source: Food Nutrition & Science