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living" homes and small, niche-crop "farmettes" on the suburban periphery. If they have so much as the potential to produce $1,000 of marketable crops on their land, USDA data may include them as "farmers."
That's not the only question raised about the apparent graying of American agriculture.
Farm economy analyst Robert Hoppe of USDA's Economic Research Service does not dispute that current age trends among farmers portend a possible crisis. But he says the image of farming dominated by elderly growers who don't know how to let go can be misleading.
The five-year Census of Agriculture only counts the head of a farm operation when gathering information on age. (The last census was conducted in 1997; results from this year's census are scheduled for release early in 2003). Also, the slow, steady upward creep of the average age of the farmer population suggests that more turnover is taking place than concerned observers recognize, Hoppe says.
If the scope of the problem isn't crystal clear, the answer is also far from certain. Shoestring budgets and staff that often dedicate little more than a few hours a week are problems particularly among state-run programs. Farm Link of Arkansas recently lost its lone employee to retirement and officials there say a replacement is unlikely until the state's budget picture improves.
Success has been mixed and Baker acknowledges that farm transition programs aren't fix-alls. On the upside, Iowa's well-established Farm On has played a direct role in the transfer of 90 Iowa farm businesses in its 11-year history.
And then there are younger programs like Maryland's, online database and all. Going into its fourth year, part-time coordinator Joan Schulz says Maryland Farm Link has conducted financial planning seminars and facilitated numerous meetings between farmers and career seekers. In her view, the program's value is indisputable.
But, she says, "we haven't actually had what I'd call a marriage yet."
State Program Administrator Founded Matches
Nebraska Land Link Non-profit 1991 130
Iowa Fram On Iowa State U. 1991 90
Pennsylvania Pa. Farm Link Non-Profit 1994 60
Wisconsin Wisconsin Farm Link State Agriculture Dept. 1996 7
Arkansas Farm Link of Ark. State Agency 1996 0
New Jersey N.J. Farm Link State Agriculture Dept. 1997 7
Vermont Vermont Land Link U. of Vermont 1998 6
Maryland Maryland Farm Link State Agriculture Dept. 1998 0
Virginia Virginia Farm Link State Agriculture Dept. 2001 0
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