Nine of 10 New England farmers likely to retire in the coming two decades “are farming without a young farmer alongside them,” raising questions about the future of many of the farms, says a study from American Farmland Trust and Land for Good.
Based on data from the 2012 Ag Census, the groups say nearly 30 percent of farmers in the region are likely to exit farming in the coming 10 years or so. “It’s a real wake-up call to see how few farmers age 65 [and up] have a next generation working on the farm with them,” said Cris Coffin of Land for Good, which focuses on “putting more farmers more securely on more land.”
The study says 1.4 million acres and buildings worth $6.45 billion are affected. “To keep this land and infrastructure in farming as it transitions, we will need better policy tools and increased support services to exiting and entering farmers,” said Coffin. The study found that the majority of beginning farmers in New England — 62 percent — are aged 45 or older. They operate fewer acres than young farmers and typically have lower agricultural revenue.