Keeping Farmers on the Land: New Research Underscores Need To Address Farm Transition in Massachusetts - FIC

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Keeping Farmers on the Land: New Research Underscores Need To Address Farm Transition in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, farmers age 65 and older own or manage almost one-third of the farms, and most are farming without a young farmer alongside them. New research from American Farmland Trust (AFT) and Land For Good sheds light on what this means for the future of Massachusetts agriculture.

Using Census of Agriculture data from 2002, 2007 and 2012, including a special tabulation of 2012 data (see Massachusetts Data Tables below), the Gaining Insights, Gaining Access project looked at characteristics of New York and New England’s farm population at both ends of the spectrum—those at or beyond retirement age, and those young or new to farming. We also held focus groups in seven states of older farmers with no identified successors to learn more about this large, influential farmer subset: what they’re farming and with whom; their vision of retirement; and what challenges they face for the future.

Author
American Farmland Trust
Publisher
Northampton, MA: American Farmland Trust
Page Numbers
8
Publication Date
February 01, 2016
Publication Type
Reports and Guides
State
Massachusetts
Keywords
Agricultural Statistics, Beginning Farmers, Farm Transfer, Farmland Access

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