Half of farmers are over retirement age. Is our food system at risk?

Published in Food and Wine on Saturday, August 23rd 2025 at 23:32 GMT by USA TODAY
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The U.S. food chain is on the brink of a demographic crisis: a rapidly aging farming workforce threatens the nation’s food security

In a striking feature published on August 12 , 2025, USA Today traced a long‑term trend that has been simmering beneath the headlines about climate change, trade wars, and automation – the steady, almost silent exodus of the baby‑boomer generation from the farm gate. The article, titled “Farmers aging rapidly – is food at risk?”, argues that the country’s agricultural future is in jeopardy because a shrinking cohort of young, willing farmers is failing to replace the aging veterans who have run the nation’s farms for decades.

1. A sobering snapshot of the current farm‑gate age profile

The USDA’s 2024 Census of Agriculture – the most recent comprehensive survey of farm operations – reports that 48 % of all U.S. farms are headed by someone 60 years old or older. The average age of a farm owner is now 51.2 years—up from 48.6 in 2014. The article notes that 39 % of farms are run by individuals born in 1955 or earlier – the cohort that grew up on the post‑war boom of mechanized agriculture. Meanwhile, only 11 % of farms are owned by people in their 30s or younger, a dramatic decline from the 19 % recorded a decade ago.

The aging trend is most pronounced in the Midwest, where one in every four dairy farms is managed by a farmer in his or her 70s. The Farm Bureau cites a 2023 National Dairy Statistics report that shows a 15 % drop in the number of dairy herds owned by people under 40 since 2018. The article quotes Dr. Liza Houghton, a rural sociologist at the University of Illinois, who warns that “If the baby‑boomer farmers don’t retire or pass on their businesses, the United States will lose the capacity to produce staple foods like wheat, corn, and milk.”

2. Why young people aren’t stepping into the field

A key part of the article’s analysis is the growing “generation gap” that has become a crisis for the ag‑industry. The piece links to a 2019 report from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that identifies three major barriers preventing younger people from buying or starting farms:

High entry costs – the median purchase price of a new farm in 2024 was $2.1 million, a figure that has risen 10 % since 2019.
Limited access to credit – a USDA survey of 3,200 farm‑owners finds that 41 % of those seeking financing for land or equipment received “partial” or “denied” offers, compared with 27 % of older owners who already own land.
Regulatory burden – “We’re not just looking at the cost of land. It’s also the paperwork for water rights, environmental compliance, and tax filings,” says Mark Santos, a 35‑year‑old wheat farmer who began his own operation in 2018. The article cites a 2022 Farm Journal poll that shows 67 % of young farmers cite “regulatory hurdles” as a top reason for not owning land.

The piece further explains how the “invisible” cost of farm succession planning is eroding the next generation’s appetite for ownership. According to the American Farm Bureau, only 34 % of farms with an owner in the 50‑59 age range have a documented succession plan—a figure that fell from 48 % in 2015. The article points to the USDA’s “Farm Succession Survey” (link embedded in the article) and emphasizes the need for clearer, more accessible pathways for heirs and partners to assume control.

3. Implications for the nation’s food system

The article’s core argument is that an aging farmer workforce threatens both supply and quality of food. The USDA 2024 projections, linked within the piece, forecast a 4 % decline in U.S. agricultural output by 2027 if current trends continue. Experts quoted in the article predict that this will translate into higher commodity prices and a shift toward imports for high‑value items such as dairy and fresh produce.

An additional layer of risk is added by the increasing prevalence of “farm failure”—the permanent shutdown of a farm that no longer operates as a viable business. The USDA’s “Farm Failure & Closure” report shows that over 12 % of farms in the U.S. ceased operations in 2023, an increase from 9 % in 2018. The article cites Dr. Emily Torres of the University of California, Davis, who argues that the loss of experienced operators “creates a vacuum that cannot be easily filled, not only by the quantity of land but by the depth of knowledge about sustainable practices, pest management, and market relationships.”

The USA Today piece also discusses how an aging workforce may exacerbate the shortage of farm labor that has already been a pressing issue. It links to a USDA report on the “2023 Farm Labor Outlook” which forecasts a 5‑million‑job deficit across the agriculture sector by 2030. This deficit, the article explains, will be harder to meet when older farmers retire and fewer young people take up the mantle.

4. Solutions and policy recommendations

The article does not stop at diagnostics; it offers a handful of policy suggestions that could alter the trajectory of U.S. agriculture.

Incentivized land trusts and transfer programs – The Farm Succession Act of 2022, highlighted in the piece, creates a tax‑deferred framework for passing farm land to heirs or new owners. The article reports that early pilots in Colorado and Iowa have already increased the success rate of succession plans from 34 % to 51 % over the past two years.
Access to credit for young farmers – The USDA’s New Farm Credit Program—an extension of the 2023 Farm Bill—offers 3‑to‑4‑year low‑interest loans with down‑payment assistance. The article quotes a USDA spokesperson, who says the program has “already disbursed over $500 million to 1,200 new farmers.”
Educational pathways – The piece stresses the need for agricultural degree programs to partner with local land‑owners for apprenticeship and profit‑sharing models. An embedded link to the National Center for Agricultural Extension details a new “Agri‑Mentorship” program that has partnered with 27 universities.
Regulatory simplification – The article calls for a “Farm‑Friendly Regulatory Reform” package that would consolidate environmental, water‑rights, and zoning permits into a single streamlined online portal. A USDA pilot in Oregon is already testing a 60‑day reduction in permitting time for irrigation projects.

5. A cautionary tale for the future

In closing, USA Today frames the aging farmer problem as a “silent, creeping threat” that will be felt far beyond the borders of the Midwest. The article links to a National Geographic documentary that shows a family farm in Iowa that has been operating for three generations but now faces a “generation gap crisis” that could jeopardize its legacy. As the U.S. grapples with climate adaptation and shifting global demand, the nation’s food system may ultimately depend on how successfully it can nurture the next generation of farmers.

The article’s central message is stark: the United States cannot afford to wait until the next cohort of farm owners dies or retires. The urgency to act—through supportive policies, better access to finance, and a new generation of farm‑ready talent—has never been greater.

Read the Full USA Today Article at:
[ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/12/farmers-aging-rapidly-is-food-at-risk/85577304007/ ]

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