FCA Increases Efforts To Help Young Farmers

The Farm Credit Administration ramped up efforts to support young, beginning and small farmers and ranchers during the course of the pandemic. FCA vice president, Mark Hayes, said ​funding young and beginning farmers is crucially important since they are the future of the industry. And he noted, additional young farmers is a good thing.

"It's about investing in that next generation, it's about making sure that we have provided the young and beginning farmers of today the tools to be financially successful and to make sure their farm business is successful in the future.”

Hayes noted in 2020, FCA increased new Farm Credit loans by 37% to young farmers, 57% for beginning farmers and 63% for small farmers. Hayes added farm businesses, like any business, have a financial set of books, a business plan, a market and that's where farm credit lenders step to help.

"It's great to see more young and beginning farmers coming into agriculture. It's great to see more young and beginning ranchers coming into agriculture. It's even more exciting as we talk to farm credit lenders around the country to hear about the passion, determination and dedication of these young and beginning producers.”

In the Pacific Northwest, Northwest Farm Credit Services has the Ag Vision program specially tailored for young, beginning and small producers. Visit the FCA's Website to learn more about opportunities for young and beginning farmers.

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