Survey to Gather Information on Young Farmers, Ranchers

May 21, 2001

Determining what young farmers and ranchers believe to be the tools and programs needed to ensure their success in agriculture is the goal of an Internet survey currently under way designed by the Farm Credit System (FCS) Foundation, Inc. It can be accessed at www.surveyhost.net/barriers/barriers_1.htm or through a link on the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) web site at www.fb.org/programs/yfr/.

"Farm Bureau has always emphasized the importance of grassroots involvement," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "That's why we encourage all young and beginning farmers and ranchers to utilize this survey to share their views."

AFBF has its own Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) program that is open to men and women ages 18-35. The program's primary objective is to provide leadership in building a more effective Farm Bureau to preserve individual freedoms and expand opportunities in agriculture for young producers. An informal survey is conducted annually by AFBF to determine opinions and concerns of YF&R program participants. Results of this year's survey can be found online at www.fb.org/news/nr/nr2001/nr0320b.html.

The Internet survey is targeted to beginning farmers in the United States with less than 10 years experience who are between the ages of 18 and 35. The survey will not only be used to offer a forum for these farmers to provide direct input into recommendations for the next farm bill, but also to collect demographic data that is not otherwise available.

According to the FCS Foundation, the agricultural census counts only young or beginning farmers and ranchers who are the most senior decision-maker for the agricultural operation. As a result, information on many young and beginning farmers is not being collected. The Internet survey allows those farmers to provide their missing information. "Young farmers and ranchers are the future of agriculture. Many of them will eventually become senior decision-makers," said Stallman. "Any opportunity to get their voices heard now is worthwhile. After all, the farm policies set today will have a tremendous impact on their future agriculture businesses."

A report on the survey results will be made available to legislators as well as others in the agricultural community. However, the FCS Foundation has pledged to keep all contact information of participants confidential.

The Internet survey ends on July 31. Estimated completion time for the survey is about 25 minutes. As an incentive for completing the survey, 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.

More information about the FCS Foundation can be found at www.fccouncil.com/fcsfound.