Grants for Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program

The U.S. agricultural population is poised to make a dramatic change - half of all current farmers are likely to retire in the next decade. According to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, the average age of farm operators was 57 years. Farmers over the age 55 own more than half the farmland in the U.S. But the number of new farmers and ranchers over the age of 35 is increasing, as does the number of smaller farms and ranches nationwide. To address the needs of this changing generation, $17.2 million are available for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP). A beginning farm is considered to be one that is operated by one or more operators who have 10 years or less of experience operating a farm or ranch. In 2007, approximately 21 percent of family farms met that definition. Go here for more info: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/beginningfarmerandrancher.cfm