A New Crop: Growing the Next Generation of Agriculture

Agriculture is in a new age, people farming 100 years ago would be mind-blown at the technologies we now have. They could only dream of a day when cabs were enclosed and air conditioned, especially in Arizona. Combines no longer pulled by animals at 1 mile per hour, but now moving at speeds up to 5 mph, and these machines are now twice the size. Innovation and technology have been the cornerstone for agriculture for generations. The idea of creating new efficiencies excites young people, they are the next drivers of change, the one percent of people who will feed the world. With challenges come opportunities to be a catalyst in agriculture. It can be quite difficult to start as a farmer/rancher right now, but support is here to stay for the next generation. It is crucial to keep the younger generation passionate about such an impactful industry.

The Generational Gap

The farmer is becoming older. In the 2019 U.S Department of Agriculture report the average age of farmers was "57.21 years, which is 1.2 years higher than in the 2012 survey"(Borda, 2023). Less than 5 percent of farmers are younger than 35 years old in the United States. Many barriers stop these young people from stepping into production agriculture. The initial cost is not feasible for most young people, either they were born into it and gifted, or they start with a heavy loan on both land and equipment. Finding the land is difficult as well; in order to make a profit, farmers must start with a decent amount of land. The stigmas around farmers such as being uneducated and unwilling to change poses threats to those younger. Although this could not be further from the truth, many farmers are well educated and want to change but may not have the capital or the ability to do so. They need young people to step in and bring a new perspective to the farm. Nobody is becoming younger, so we must take action to help the future of food production.

Youthful Ideas:

The global food demand is expected to grow by 60 percent by the time 2050 comes (Easwar, 2023). In order to meet the demand, much innovation must take place. This is great for young aspiring creators. They have the creative freedom to come up with a way to be as efficient and effective as possible. There are no bounds for the ideas the next generation can come up with.

"Young people are not turning their backs on farming but they are seeking opportunities that align with their values, skillsets and ambitions, including a desire to shape a better world." (World Economic Forum, 2025)

With ideas of sustainability, eco-friendly, and healthiness at the forefront of agriculture, the next generation has more passion to enter the industry. They are changing the entire landscape with the new uses of precision technology and regenerative agriculture. The demand for better is more than ever before. With the use drones, sensors, autonomous tractors, and more the youth is no longer thinking "if it is not breaking don't fix it". Instead, they are asking the ever-daunting question of "how can we make this better?" Do not stop their innovation, fuel it, they are the next leaders of change.

Education:

Groups such as 4-h, Future Farmers of America, and Young Farmers and Ranchers are helpful in shaping the next set of agricultural leaders. 4-h gives kids the opportunity to learn many leadership skills, immerse themselves in agriculture, use critical thinking, and work with their hands. 4-h offers different cohorts to join such as baking, sewing, raising animals, and more. They learn respect and responsibility for the clothes they wear and the food they eat.

Future Farmers of America mainly starts in high school, but some middle schools offer it as well. Here the next generation has the ability to go to leadership events, compete in career growth events, obtain scholarships and more. Competitions such as farm power, cooperative knowledge, horse judging and even more all teach young minds skills and importances within agriculture. Cooperative knowledge is fantastic to have when entering the workforce, they understand who they are working for and why. Farm power teaches efficiency in operating many types of equipment and allows them to learn how problem solve. Real world problems and examples are given to drive their creative spirits and help them fit into a fast paced, critical environment.

Young Farmers and Ranchers are a group put together by Farm Bureau that allows like-minded young agriculturalists to group together. In this group leadership opportunities, networking events, and career development are all available. Individuals can learn from peers as well as mentors, which is a great leg up in an industry that can have many barriers when trying to find a way in.

If you want to learn more for yourself or someone in Maricopa County regarding any of these organizations feel free to reach out through our email nicole@maricopacountyfb.org and we can get you connected!

Support:

The need for youthful agricultural leaders is here, and it is now. Yet, many take a step back and choose a different path as the barriers to enter are challenging. Arizona as well as the nation sees this and have offered assistance. Programs such as the Livestock and Crop Conservation Grant Program (LCCGP) and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) have been created by Arizona Department of Agriculture to provide financial aid for those managing land, adding infrastructure, and increasing competitiveness of specialty crops. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has a program to provide loan assistance for those in their first ten years of operation. There is also the University of Arizona Extension’s “Urban Ag/Beginner Farmer Program” which "provides education and mentorship to urban, small-scale and beginning farmers so they can build a foundation for success."(Urban Ag Extension). These resources give true help to those starting out and breaks barriers standing in their way. It is amazing the success seen so far, but we must continue to advocate and support young people coming up in agriculture. The fight to save and strengthen agriculture is more vital than ever before.

References: Borda, Á. J., Sárvári, B., & Balogh, J. M. (2023, April 23). Generation change in agriculture: A systematic review of the literature. MDPI. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/11/5/129

Easwar, P. (2023, July 25). Growing career opportunities for young people in agriculture. EESI. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/growing-career-opportunities-for-young-people-in-agriculture

Livestock and crop conservation grant program (LCCGP) | Arizona Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). https://agriculture.az.gov/about-us/divisions/agriculture-food-systems-support/livestock-and-crop-conservation-grant-program

Upskilling and regenerative agriculture can attract younger farmers. World Economic Forum. (2025, October 14). https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/10/how-upskilling-regenerative-agriculture-train-future-farmers/

Urban AG production, small-scale, Beginner farmer program. UA Cooperative Extension. (n.d.). https://extension.arizona.edu/programs/urban-ag-production-small-scale-beginner-farmer-program