The State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) is actively developing a Next Generation Farmer Program to help next generation farmers from all backgrounds address the challenges they face when getting started and establishing their own operations. The overall goal of the program is not to duplicate existing efforts but rather to collaborate with partners to develop a coordinated, comprehensive system to identify, train, equip, and support the next generation of farmers in New Jersey. Supporting the next generation also means supporting established farmers, such as with succession planning, planning for the next generation of their farm operations, and addressing the common farm viability issues that affect famers at all experience levels.

This policy report summarizes the current state of next generation farmers in New Jersey – who they are, the challenges they face, and the support that is currently available to them – and provides recommendations for addressing the challenges, filling gaps in programming, and enhancing support. The recommendations in the report are intended to help create a strategic path forward for supporting the next generation of farmers and farm businesses in the Garden State.

The companion fact sheet provides a brief overview of the report and its findings.