Courtesy Iowa Farm Bureau / American Farm BureauOptimism abounds for young farmers like Eric Goodman , one of many recent college graduates who are still finding plentiful job opportunties in Department of Agriculture despite the slump economy .
The top three concern facing new farmers and ranchers in 2010 are profitability , the increase of government climate - change regulations and the impact of activist groups , fit in to a survey acquit by the American Farm Bureau Federation .
However , 80 percent of those responding to AFBF ’s 18th yearly sight of young husbandman and rancher say they are more affirmative than they were five days ago , while 82 percentage say they are better off than they were five years ago .
“ Last year was a tough yr economically for many sphere of agriculture , ” say AFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Chair Will Gilmer , a dairy farm farmer from Lamar County , Ala. “ But despite the challenges , the survey shows untried Farmer and ranchers are affirmative and promising . We look a bright time to come forrader . ”
The informal agricultural sketch shows untried Farmer and rancher have a high tier of concern about government clime - change regulations , with 79 percent of those surveyed expressing in high spirits or very high vexation .
Additionally , a majority of immature Farmer and rancher surveil express concern about the impact of activistic groups on their farm and ranch operations . A total of 85 percentage were implicated or very concerned about activist groups . Only 7 per centum expressed minuscule or no business organisation .
“ activistic mathematical group are becoming more and more vocal , so that is something we always have to keep our eyes on , ” Gilmer says . “ There is also a heavy hand of concern about all the way the government wants to regulate us , whether it ’s cap - and - patronage or different Environmental Protection Agency rules . ”
Young farmers and ranchers rank their top three challenges : 24 per centum ranked overall profitableness as the top , followed by administration ordinance at 23 per centum . Two other concerns tied for third on that list : Competition from more install farm and ranches and willingness of parents to share farm - direction responsibilities each received 9 percent .
And when it occur to what steps the Union government can take to serve farmers and ranchers , 23 per centum ranked cutting federal disbursal No . 1 . Boosting U.S. agricultural export play along with 14 percentage of the respondents , and providing greater help to beginning farmers came in third , take by 11 pct .
A sizable majority [ 83 percent ] of young Farmer and rancher surveyed said they believe farm income should issue forth totally from the marketplace , while 17 percentage said farm income should be supplemented by government farm - program payments .
Young farmers and rancher are also committed environmental keeper , with 68 percentage saying that balancing environmental and economic fear is important for their operations . The survey say 58 percent used preservation farmland on their farm . The bulk of those surveil , 57 percent , be after to implant biotech crops this year , while 43 per centum said they do not plan to do so .
The view also show the Internet is an important tool for untested farmers and ranchers . Nearly 99 per centum said they have access to and use the Internet , with the vast majority , 72 per centum , saying they have access code to a high - upper Internet connection . Only 20 percent swear on dull dial - up connexion , and 8 percent turn to more dear satellite connectedness .
The social spiritualist internet site Facebook is democratic with unseasoned farmers and rancher . almost three - quarters of those surveyed have a Facebook page . Ten percent of the immature farmers say they use the micro blogging website Twitter , while about 12 percent say they post YouTube videos .
Communicating with consumer is also important , with 77 percent state they study reaching out to the public about factory farm and their operations an important part of their jobs as farmers and rancher .
“ We ’re recognizing that we need to get out there and talk with our consumer , and we are doing so , ” Gilmer says . “ Social media is just one more avenue for us to reach those who buy and ingest what we produce . ”
In addition , the cyberspace is an crucial tool for the grouping to access both general and farm news , with 84 percent saying they apply the Internet for news . Seventy - two per centum tell they move around to the cyberspace to collect buy information for their operations , as well .
The resume also reveals the radical ’s potent loyalty to agriculture , with 96 percentage saying they consider themselves life - farsighted granger or ranchers . They also express Leslie Townes Hope for the next generation , with 98 percent saying they would care to see their tyke comply in their footstep ; 85 percent believe their children will be able to follow in their step .
“ untried farmers and ranchers share the same traditional hopes and values that have always guided Agriculture Department , ” says Bob Stallman , AFBF president . “ This survey shows that the future of American agribusiness is in caring and capable hand . ”
The informal sketch of young farmers and ranchers , eld 18 to 35 , was conducted during AFBF ’s 2010 Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference in Tulsa , Okla. , in February . There were 373 respondent to the cozy resume .
