Sarah E. Bedgar, Regional Extension Educator - Dairy

April 9, 2005

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service recently published a report entitled “What We Know About the Demographics of U.S. Farm Operators.” This report gives us a glimpse into the details of who America ’s Farmers are. For the first time in history, the 2002 Census of Agriculture collected information on the total number of operators for each farm and also collected demographic information for the first three operators on that farm. Gathering this new information provides the 2002 Census of Agriculture with data that features the number of U.S. “farmers”, instead of just “principal operators.” The good news from analyzing this data is that there are more farmers than previously thought. The Census shows 62.3 percent of all farms reported only one operator. In total, 3,115,172 operators were identified on 2,128,982 farms, an average of 1.46 operators per farm. Of the total operators, 847,832 were women, or 27.2 percent.

However, when it came to age data, the red flag goes up because the average age of the “principal operator” on U.S. farms has increased to 55.3 years. In addition, the percentage of principal farm operators classified as “age 65 or older” has risen to more than 1 in 4 farmers (26.2 percent). On the other hand, the percentage of principal operators classified as “less than 35 years of age” has declined to only 5.8 percent.

The demographics report provides a little more detail into age and location of principal operators and sheds more light on the “lower average ages in the upper Midwest ”. Minnesota was the last of the 13 upper Midwest states to retain an average principal operator age of under 50 years until 1997. In fact, I was delighted to find that Minnesota was one of the states with “lower average ages” of principal operators. However, that lower age is now up to 54.1 years. Another analysis was conducted by type of farm. Animal agriculture includes the three youngest types of principal farm operators -- hog and pig farming at 49.2 years, dairy cattle and milk production at 50.2 years, and poultry and egg production at 51.6 years of age.

For Minnesota dairy producers, let’s do a little subtraction. The 50.2 years of age calculates back to an average birth year of 1954. Most generational analyses would put folks born in that year in the “Baby Boomer” generation (born approximately from 1943 to 1960). This leaves two newer generations (the “Xers” -- born 1960 to 1980 and the “Nexters” – born 1980 to 2000) that could farm after “the Baby Boomers” (see my March 12 article on Intergenerational Communication on the Farm for further information). So where are the “Xers” and “Nexters”? With an increasing average age of farmers in the U.S. , the Census clearly shows that fewer and fewer members of these two younger generations are sticking around on farms.

Before becoming discouraged with “what we don’t have”, let’s take a look at “what we do have”. The 1999 Agriculture Economics and Land Ownership Survey shows that the principal operators on U.S. farms that control 42% of the agricultural land are over age 65. However, they also have a strong dedication to agriculture because when they were beginning to farm in the 1960’s, migration of young people off of farms was at its peak. Often these folks faced criticism for their decision to stay on the farm and have maintained a certain level of stubbornness about their farms staying in production agriculture. This situation can create an opportunity for young prospective producers trying to get into farming who are without a family farm. This has been a significant advantage for young people wanting to get into crop farming. However, on the flip side, this older generational attitude has made many dairy facilities unavailable. Let me deviate from the USDA Census information and further explain this.

I have a deep respect for those who want to spend their retirement or semi-retirement years on the farm where they have devoted a lifetime of hard work. I too, hope that when my retirement time comes, I will have lived in a home on a farm and watched my family grow up there. I also want to be able to look out my kitchen window across the fields and believe my farm will continue to remain productive long after I’m gone. While many farmers no longer in dairying are willing to rent their land, they are unwilling to rent their dairy facility. It’s the empty pastures and barns that seem to be the missed opportunity.

We have young people who want nothing else than to be their own boss and manage a herd of dairy cattle. For example, I met with 40 dairy students at Ridgewater College in Willmar a few weeks ago. They are smart and diligent about gaining the skills it takes to be successful dairy producers. They are downright inspiring to be around. There are facilities in this state right now that could be turn-key, or would take minimal updates to once again house dairy cattle. So, the situation in Minnesota is that we have young people interested in dairying and we have vacant or soon-to-be vacant dairy facilities.

Therefore, this is my challenge to established dairy producers: Host an intern or consider being a mentor to an up-and-coming dairy producer. Help an aspiring dairy producer fill his/her void in experience by sharing the knowledge you have gained through your many years in the dairy industry. Be positive and speak highly of Minnesota ’s industry. There are many young people that could make great dairy producers, if they just have the opportunity to get started.