Last week, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that the USDA has awarded 36 grants totaling $18 million to organizations that will povide training and assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers to help them run successful and sustainable farms. As the average age of America's farmers and ranchers increases, and with traditional rural populations in decline, Merrigan said that now is a critical time to train the new generation of American producers.Merrigan stated that, "Begginning farmers and ranchers face unique challenges, and these grants will provide needed training to help these producers become profitable and sustainable. American agriculture supports 1 in 12 jobs in America, a critical contribution to the strength and prosperity of the country. The sheer productivity of our farmers has given Americans access to a cheap, wholesome food supply and provides us with more discretionary income than much of the rest of the world. But our farmers are aging, and more of our people are looking outside farming for their careers. It's time to reverse these trends, keep farmers on the farm and help beginning farmers and ranchers thrive in their careers."
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Posted 10/4/2011
