We lost 21 million acres of American farmland from 2017 to 2023. In order to combat the problem, we need to first identify what is happening while incentivizing younger people to become farmers.
The idea of encouraging farmers to put their land in a state trust sounds wonderful. At least that way they can ensure that the land will never be built on. That would probably work best for farmers who have no children. The next best would be as you suggested - lease a portion of their land to start your own farming or go in with a group of friends to lease 5 acres and each have their own section to farm.
In addition to developers wanting to snap up the land to build on, I wonder what people like Bill Gates, who now owns 242,000 acres of farmland (in addition to his other types of real estate holdings) plans on doing with that farmland?
I moved to NE section of Georgia and there's still quite a bit of vacant land for sale (prices have become so high recently) and there's tons of development going on here too.
Thanks for all you've shared of your experience and how to get funding from USDA and all the trials and tribulations you've been through.
EXCELLENT article! Thank you for writing this and putting it out into the world.
The plight of the aging American farmer makes my mind immediately jump to Paul Wheaton, whom I had the pleasure of hearing speak at the 2022 Exit & Build Summit in Bastrop, Texas. I appreciate what he offers with his vast website and in-person skill-building retreats, but the former overwhelms me and the latter are out of my price range.
I’ll definitely check out more of your content now, because of this spot-on, to-the-point post. And you’ve inspired me to start my own Substack, where I’ll be sure to restack this very 🔜!
I’m not a 20-40yo, but at 50+ I’m embarking on a homesteading journey with my husband and 3 school-age kids overseas. :-)
Amazing pictures and, as always, great writing. Thanks for calling attention to this issue. I am praying that God would raise up many more young people like you to take the farming baton. Have a blessed Christmas!
The state of Georgia, with the support of Georgia Conservancy and others, recently passed a bill to protect farmland. Worth looking into, but doesn't solve the problem of agriculture careers being devalued socially. I see another comment mentioned Paul Wheaton. He and Mike Haasl developed a whole system for farmers to find people with skills to take on farms, and for folk to 'certify' and build skills, bringing the two together; SKIP Skills to Inherit Property
You're not too far from Vermont my home for 30yrs. The powers that be are turning as many open spaces as they can into 'solar farms'. Bye bye farmland. And to make matters worse the electricity produced is sold OUT OF STATE! ITS THOROUGHLY DISGUSTING. People need to wake up!
In 1974 I moved to a suburb of Dallas. At the time there was a large cattle ranch that still had a few head of longhorn cattle. The city council evolved to be almost entirely property developers. By consistently raising taxes, they forced the ranch to sell bits and pieces until it was entirely gone. The only memory that it was ever there was the ironic naming of the street that now runs through the former ranch land after the former owners. Meanwhile the megalopolis of Dallas has expanded to the point that virtually all farmland surrounding it is now covered in homes, almost to the Oklahoma border.
Alex, hope your doing well as usual. Yes we are losing thousands of farmers a year for different reasons. The govt has been a big threat to our food supply because they have been buying up thousands of farms and paying farmers not to grow crops.
Guess it's all on your shoulders now.
So start planting kid 🤗
WE need more milk to.
So if you need me to milk the cows, just give a holla🤠
We recently leased all our fields to a gifted young farmer, mostly in exchange for her providing our farmstand with produce at wholesale (50%). She also sells the majority of her produce at full retail via the farmers market. Win-win. It’s a huge load off our shoulders!
You can't incentivize young people to become farmers as long as people buy products from companies like Wonderful. They are destroying the culture of farming in this country.
Some reports are saying China is buying up the farmland. Lots of it around US military bases.
Can you confirm this?
Lots of back to the landers movements on you tube videos.
Seems younger folks cannot see themselves every being able to afford a house, but they can see a tiny house on a few acres of land and small farms. Self sufficient plus a bit to spare with neighbors or sell to tourists.
Some of us old folks are trying hard to survive in retirement. Those of us with moderate good Heath are also considering joining our resources and skills and go back to the land. We however do not want to be so far away from medical facilities and hospitals.
Great article! Have you ever met Joel Salatin ? He is like you, leading the fight to get more farmers! You might get some great insights for farm from his books and videos!
The idea of encouraging farmers to put their land in a state trust sounds wonderful. At least that way they can ensure that the land will never be built on. That would probably work best for farmers who have no children. The next best would be as you suggested - lease a portion of their land to start your own farming or go in with a group of friends to lease 5 acres and each have their own section to farm.
In addition to developers wanting to snap up the land to build on, I wonder what people like Bill Gates, who now owns 242,000 acres of farmland (in addition to his other types of real estate holdings) plans on doing with that farmland?
I moved to NE section of Georgia and there's still quite a bit of vacant land for sale (prices have become so high recently) and there's tons of development going on here too.
Thanks for all you've shared of your experience and how to get funding from USDA and all the trials and tribulations you've been through.
It is my pleasure! So much more to come in 2025.
EXCELLENT article! Thank you for writing this and putting it out into the world.
The plight of the aging American farmer makes my mind immediately jump to Paul Wheaton, whom I had the pleasure of hearing speak at the 2022 Exit & Build Summit in Bastrop, Texas. I appreciate what he offers with his vast website and in-person skill-building retreats, but the former overwhelms me and the latter are out of my price range.
I’ll definitely check out more of your content now, because of this spot-on, to-the-point post. And you’ve inspired me to start my own Substack, where I’ll be sure to restack this very 🔜!
I’m not a 20-40yo, but at 50+ I’m embarking on a homesteading journey with my husband and 3 school-age kids overseas. :-)
Omg yay I’m glad you want to write on here too!! The more the merrier!!
Thanks for the encouragement! :-) And thank you for what you are sharing here.
Amazing pictures and, as always, great writing. Thanks for calling attention to this issue. I am praying that God would raise up many more young people like you to take the farming baton. Have a blessed Christmas!
Thank you same to you!
The state of Georgia, with the support of Georgia Conservancy and others, recently passed a bill to protect farmland. Worth looking into, but doesn't solve the problem of agriculture careers being devalued socially. I see another comment mentioned Paul Wheaton. He and Mike Haasl developed a whole system for farmers to find people with skills to take on farms, and for folk to 'certify' and build skills, bringing the two together; SKIP Skills to Inherit Property
https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59947?mc_cid=260185a2b2
Steven Lindsay, do you have the Links for what you mention?
Farm act; https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/61581?mc_cid=260185a2b2
Posted a couple of others above
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Conservancy?wprov=sfla1
Run for local office.
You're not too far from Vermont my home for 30yrs. The powers that be are turning as many open spaces as they can into 'solar farms'. Bye bye farmland. And to make matters worse the electricity produced is sold OUT OF STATE! ITS THOROUGHLY DISGUSTING. People need to wake up!
I completely agree!
In 1974 I moved to a suburb of Dallas. At the time there was a large cattle ranch that still had a few head of longhorn cattle. The city council evolved to be almost entirely property developers. By consistently raising taxes, they forced the ranch to sell bits and pieces until it was entirely gone. The only memory that it was ever there was the ironic naming of the street that now runs through the former ranch land after the former owners. Meanwhile the megalopolis of Dallas has expanded to the point that virtually all farmland surrounding it is now covered in homes, almost to the Oklahoma border.
This is a MAJOR PROBLEM! I believe it starts with us all talking about it.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Alexandra. 🎄
Excellent article and great effort and cause
Alex, hope your doing well as usual. Yes we are losing thousands of farmers a year for different reasons. The govt has been a big threat to our food supply because they have been buying up thousands of farms and paying farmers not to grow crops.
Guess it's all on your shoulders now.
So start planting kid 🤗
WE need more milk to.
So if you need me to milk the cows, just give a holla🤠
There are sooo many dairy farms here in upstate NY luckily!
Brooke Rollins has been nominated for Agriculture Secretary. Contact her.
We recently leased all our fields to a gifted young farmer, mostly in exchange for her providing our farmstand with produce at wholesale (50%). She also sells the majority of her produce at full retail via the farmers market. Win-win. It’s a huge load off our shoulders!
You can't incentivize young people to become farmers as long as people buy products from companies like Wonderful. They are destroying the culture of farming in this country.
Some reports are saying China is buying up the farmland. Lots of it around US military bases.
Can you confirm this?
Lots of back to the landers movements on you tube videos.
Seems younger folks cannot see themselves every being able to afford a house, but they can see a tiny house on a few acres of land and small farms. Self sufficient plus a bit to spare with neighbors or sell to tourists.
Some of us old folks are trying hard to survive in retirement. Those of us with moderate good Heath are also considering joining our resources and skills and go back to the land. We however do not want to be so far away from medical facilities and hospitals.
I have viewed the tax map in my region and can confirm that foreign entities are purchasing farmland. We need Americans to snatch it up first!
I gasped when I read about you looking out and seeing a solar farm. That is just heartbreaking.
Great article! Have you ever met Joel Salatin ? He is like you, leading the fight to get more farmers! You might get some great insights for farm from his books and videos!