Farm Credit Devotes Resources to Young Farmers, Beginning Farmers and Small Farms
Read more on the Farm Credit newsroom
By Karen Macdonald
Farm Credit’s mission is to support rural communities and agriculture with dependable, consistent access to credit, today and tomorrow. That includes providing support for the next generation of farmers – the young farmers, beginning farmers and small farms across the nation. According to the most recent Ag Census, of the nation’s 3.2 million farmers, 22 percent are beginning farmers, defined as having been in operation for fewer than ten years.
Farm Credit is proud to financially support young, beginning and small farmers and help position them for future success. Here are a few examples of producers we support:
Young Farmers
- Andrew Hartshorn: First generation farmer Andrew Hartshorn nearly tripled his acreage just four years after he started farming.
- Cole Vculek: This young farmer's independent farm provides the seed potatoes for his parents' production potato farm.
Beginning Farmers
- Calvin Riggleman: This military veteran directed his operation from overseas before returning to expand and diversify.
- Brenton Johnson: Brenton Johnson turned his backyard garden into a multi-million-dollar organic vegetable operation.
Small Farms
- Scott and Gini Edwards: Scott and Ginni Edwards are committed to sustainability, growing organic produce and flowers for their local market.
- Rose and Jay Lewis: Raising mushrooms began as a hobby but has become a successful business for these entrepreneurs.
You can read more about the number and volume of Farm Credit’s loans to young farmers, beginning farmers and small farms in the Farm Credit feature of the Rural Cooperatives magazine July/August edition.
