Young Farmers Urged to Provide Information

April 30, 2001

An effort now underway to gather information about young farmers and ranchers and their opinions is important to the future of agriculture, according to Lynn Cornwell, president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). The effort is being conducted as an internet survey by the Farm Credit System Foundation, Inc., and is worth the time of every young cattleman or woman, Cornwell said.

The 12-week internet survey is targeted at those farmers and ranchers who are 18-35 and/or have fewer than 10 years of experience. It ends June 1. The survey can be accessed at www.surveyhost.net/barriers/barriers_1.htm. More information about the Farm Credit System Foundation can be found at www.fccouncil.com/fcsfound. In addition, a link to the survey can be found on www.beef.org.

According to USDA census statistics there are 152,156 farmers between the ages of 18 and 35, but the FCS Foundation points out that USDA counts a farmer only if that farmer is the most senior decision-maker for that operation. Junior partners or other owners of closely-held farming operations are not counted. As a result, there are many young and beginning U.S. farmers and ranchers who are being ignored and facing barriers to success that are not being addressed.

"One of the seven key objectives I outlined when I became NCBA president was to improve the beef industry's ability to keep and attract talented young people," says Cornwell. "I think this survey will provide crucial information from which we can determine what attracts people to our business, and what kinds of changes to programs and policies will get them to remain in it."

Estimated completion time for the survey is 25 minutes. As an incentive to complete it, the FCS Foundation is offering a chance to win an all-terrain vehicle of the participant's choice, valued up to $6,000, if contact information is included in the survey.

Data from the survey will be analyzed and made available broadly to policy makers in preparation for the next Farm Bill. It will also be used to provide an accurate and comprehensive demographic profile of young and beginning farmers and ranchers that doesn't exist today.