Farm Bureau survey shows young farmers & ranchers shun federal farm program payments
Farm
Bureau survey shows young farmers & ranchers shun federal farm program
payments
By Agri-Pulse Staff
© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.
Despite the challenges, 80 percent of
those responding to AFBF’s 18th annual survey of young farmers and ranchers say
they are more optimistic than they were five years ago, while 82 percent say
they are better off than they were five years ago. “Last year was a tough year
economically for many sectors of agriculture,” said AFBF Young Farmer & Rancher
Committee Chair Will Gilmer, a dairy farmer from Lamar County, Alabama. “But
despite the challenges, the survey shows young farmers and ranchers are
optimistic and hopeful. We expect a bright future ahead.”
An overwhelming majority, 83 percent,
said they believe farm income should come totally from the marketplace, while
only 17 percent said farm income should be supplemented by government farm
program payments.
Young farmers and ranchers are also
committed environmental stewards, with 68 percent saying that balancing
environmental and economic concerns is important for their operations. The
survey says 58 percent used conservation tillage on their farms.
The informal survey shows young farmers
and ranchers have a high level of apprehension about government climate change
regulations, with 79 percent of those surveyed expressing high or very high
concern. A huge majority of those surveyed expressed concern about the impact
of activist groups on their farm and ranch operations. A total of 85 percent
were concerned or very concerned about activist groups. Only 7 percent
expressed little or no concern.
“Activist groups are becoming more and
more vocal, so that is something we always have to keep our eyes on,” Gilmer
said. “There is also a great deal of concern about all the ways the government
wants to regulate us, whether it’s cap-and-trade or different Environmental
Protection Agency rules.”
Respondents were asked to rank their top
three challenges, and 24 percent ranked overall profitability as the top,
followed by government regulations at 23 percent. Two other concerns tied for
third on that list, with competition from more established farms and ranches,
and willingness of parents to share management responsibilities each receiving
9 percent.
And when it comes to what steps the
federal government can take to help farmers and ranchers, 23 percent ranked cut
federal spending as No. 1. Boosting
The majority of those surveyed, 57
percent, plan to plant biotech crops this year, while 43 percent said they do
not plan to do so.
The survey also shows the Internet is an
important tool for young farmers and ranchers. Nearly 99 percent said they have
access to and use the Internet, with the vast majority, 72 percent, saying they
have access to a high-speed Internet connection. Only 20 percent rely on slower
dial-up connections and 8 percent turn to more costly satellite connections.
The social media site Facebook is very
popular with young farmers and ranchers. Nearly three-quarters of those
surveyed have a Facebook page. Ten percent of the young farmers say they use
the micro-blogging Web site Twitter, while about 12 percent say they post
YouTube videos.
Communicating with consumers is also
important, with 77 saying they consider reaching out to the public about
agriculture and their operations an important part of their jobs as farmers and
ranchers.
“We’re recognizing that we need to get
out there and talk with our consumers, and we are doing so,” Gilmer said.
“Social media is just one more avenue for us to reach those who buy and consume
what we produce.”
In addition, the Internet is an
important tool for the group to access both general and farm news, with 84
percent saying they use the Web for that function. Seventy-two percent said
they turn to the Internet to collect buying information for their operations.
The survey also reveals the group’s
strong commitment to agriculture, with 96 percent saying they consider
themselves life-long farmers or ranchers. They also express hope for the next
generation, with 98 percent saying they would like to see their children follow
in their footsteps; 85 percent believe their children will be able to follow in
their footsteps.
“Young farmers and ranchers share the
same traditional hopes and values that have always guided agriculture,” said
AFBF President Bob Stallman. “This survey shows that the future of American
agriculture is in caring and capable hands.”
The informal survey of young farmers and
ranchers, ages 18-35, was conducted during AFBF’s 2010 YF&R Leadership
Conference in
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