America’s beginning farmers can’t afford to farm full time

by Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest

Investigate Midwest reports that nearly three-quarters of America’s beginning farmers say farming is not their primary occupation, while more than half work off the farm for at least 200 days a year.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture shows that new farmers are younger and more likely to be women than producers overall, but many enter agriculture later in life after building financial security elsewhere. Affordable land remains the largest barrier, compounded by high input costs, market pressure and limited control over the prices farmers receive.

Read more: https://investigatemidwest.org/2026/07/20/most-of-americas-beginning-farmers-dont-farm-full-time/