$750,000 in federal funding will help beginning farmers in three states find farmland

New funding has been announced for Renewing the Countryside’s Upper Midwest Farmland Access Hub, to improve farmland access outcomes for all stages of beginning farmers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. 

The $750,000 in funding was announced by Democratic Minnesotan U.S. Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar. 

The Farmland Access Hub is in its seventh year and pairs land-seeking farmers with an advocate who can provide guidance and resources to help on their land access journey, and connect them with farmland owners hoping to transfer their land to new owners. Currently, there are 12 navigators (four in Iowa, five in Minnesota and three in Wisconsin), and the federal funding will be used to expand the program.

According to the 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture, the average age of the American farmer was 58.1, with only 9% of farmers under 35 years old in both the 2017 and 2022 censuses. Smith pointed to that statistic for the need to fund programs like the Farmland Access Hub. 

“That in a nutshell is why we need to invest in the next generation of farmers, so this country’s agriculture production continues to work,” Smith said in a press release announcing the funding. “This is a matter of national security, food security, and the strength and vitality of rural America. Agriculture is a driving force in America’s economy, and this grant will make sure our Ag economy is strong as the next generation of farmers takes over.” 

Midwestern farmers looking for farmland can visit Renewing the Countryside’s farmland access page for more information. For those who have farmland they’re looking to sell or rent, email eli@rtcinfo.org.

“Agriculture is the economic backbone of rural communities across our state, and we need to ensure the next generation of farmers receive the support they need to succeed,” Klobuchar said. “With this federal funding, we’re taking a big step toward ensuring beginning farmers can access land to start and grow their businesses.”

Brett Olson, a farm access navigator in Minnesota and co-founder of Renewing the Countryside, said his position is not as simple as a finder of farmland. The most important part is to be there for farmers.

Jan Joannides, executive director and co-founder of Renewing the Countryside, said the organization is excited to receive the good news of the new funding. 

“With farmland prices so high, and so many thousands of acres changing hands as older farmers retire, we are at a moment in time where this work is more critical than ever,” she said.