Young farmers need help from the USDA—and the next Farm Bill

small farms will bring back america's economy.

Thomas Jefferson:
1803 Nov. 14. (to David Williams) "The class principally defective is that of agriculture. It is the first in utility, and ought to be the first in respect. The same artificial means which have been used to produce a competition in learning, may be equally successful in restoring agriculture to its primary dignity in the eyes of men. It is a science of the very first order. It counts among it handmaids of the most respectable sciences, such as Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, Mechanics, Mathematics generally, Natural History, Botany. In every College and University, a professorship of agriculture, and the class of its students, might be honored as the first. Young men closing their academical education with this, as the crown of all other sciences, fascinated with its solid charms, and at a time when they are to choose an occupation, instead of crowding the other classes, would return to the farms of their fathers, their own, or those of others, and replenish and invigorate a calling, now languishing under contempt and oppression. The charitable schools, instead of storing their pupils with a lore which the present state of society does not call for, converted into schools of agriculture, might restore them to that branch qualified to enrich and honor themselves, and to increase the productions of the nation instead of consuming them."[9]

im a 22 year old about to graduate college, would love to become a farmer however have no idea where to even start with such an idea, not to mention when you watch Food Inc, it just seems like a miserable job and eventually will have to battle large corporations lol

Every young person has been pushed to go to college. (even the children of farmers.) They spend money and hard work studying their various academic fields for years.

Why would you now want to become a farmer and have your hard work and dedication to higher learning become somewhat of a nullity?.

Young people looking to start agro-businesses in America need first need to ask the government to stop supporting massive subsidies given to established farm companies. The current American agriculture sector that benefits from the farm subsidies are mainly corn and wheat growers who produce much of the junk food and food substitutes in America. We need a new generation of organic and sustainable farms in America, and a reduction of the corrupt and hurtful current agriculture sector. I also strongly recommend anyone interested in farming to think about establishing a farm in a less developed country, especially Africa. Many less developed countries have lots of farmers who need more work, lots of arable land, and require a relatively tiny amount to start. I myself started a 5,000 seedling pineapple farm in Ghana for aout $1,000. I should make my money back in 2 and 1/2 years.

Young people don't farm because it's hard work and most of the silver spoon fed babies are beyond that. That's for immigrants to do in their opinion simply because during their entire life that's what they have been taught to believe. They are beyond working harder than maybe taking the garbage out. Sit them in front of a tv until they don't pay attention to that past the commercials about the next ipad, ipod, iphone and video game complete with that 400.00 video console. Sad realities.

With outsourcing combined with the current unemployment rate Sustainable Agriculture is one area where what you do not only benefits the economy but also the Earth now and for future generations. I would hope to see more young people taking advantage of a unique opportunity to be a part of an economic and environmental revival in America. Afterall, it was that spirit that built this country. Perhaps it is where we need to start again. This is exactly what the USDA should be focused on, especially in light of the economy and climate change. Less attention to industrial agriculture and the Monsantos of this world, and more attention and focus on those who truly care about being good stewards. Well that would be my emphasis if I were with the USDA.