Support Programs Target Business Skills and Farm Transitions
At the recent 2025 Winter Policy Conference, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) passed significant amendments to their policies to bolster support for new and transitioning farmers in the United States.
“State agriculture departments are invested in ensuring that farming and ranching families can successfully pass down their businesses to future generations, as well as lifting up new and young farmers entering this field of work,” said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. “Arming individuals with information and business training creates a more resilient farm economy when unavoidable weather and market challenges are presented.”
The newly amended policy facilitates the establishment of state block grants aimed at providing new farmers with vital business development services, including risk management, farm transitions, and record-keeping.
According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, about 30% of all U.S. producers are beginning farmers, actively farming for less than ten years. Despite their enthusiasm, many new farmers experience financial hurdles, with a substantial number maintaining secondary jobs to support their farming ventures.
“Providing targeted funding, technical assistance, and policy support is key to ensuring new farmers’ success and the future stability of American agriculture,” McKinney reiterated.
NASDA's commitment to these new policies underscores a strategic push towards nurturing a resilient agricultural economy by supporting the next generation of farmers with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in today’s challenging agricultural landscape.