Nearly a third of young U.S. farmers surveyed say the biggest challenge facing them is overall profitability. The second highest challenge was the limited availability of land and other resources. Third was the cost of government regulations and urban enroachment on farmland fell into fourth place.
Young farmers feel that the the key to profitability is international trade.
Many respondents reported a strong commitment to conservation and the use of environmentally beneficial farming practices. More than half said they practice crop rotation, and nearly half said they regularly test soil or crop tissue prior to the application of nutrients. Nearly 75 percent of young farmers surveyed said that they, their spouse, or both work off the farm to supplement farm income. Almost 56 percent said the availability of health insurance was the primary reason. However, 80.1 percent of farmers said they feel better off financially than they were five years ago.