Overall results of the informal survey, conducted during February's World Congress of Young Farmers, show that the future of American agriculture is in competent and caring hands. Over the survey's eight-year history, profitability has topped the list of concerns five times and regulations three times. Like last year, the fourth largest challenge this year was urban encroachment on farmland, selected by 9.1 percent of the respondents. This year's other top challenges, in descending order, were the willingness of parents to turn over more control of the farm, availability of financing and health care availability.
Exports are vital The young farmers view international trade as the key to profitability.
For the third straight year, respondents said boosting U.S. agricultural exports was the most important step the U.S. government could take to help them and their farms. At 38.4 percent, that response was a slight increase over last year. Strengthening protection for property owners was third at 11.2 percent. Only 34.5 percent said farm income should come totally from the marketplace. That represents a near turnaround from just two years ago, when 66.8 percent said farm income should come only from the market.