The future of U.S. agriculture depends on the ability of new generations to establish successful farms and ranches. One of the biggest challenges to entry is gaining access to affordable and secure land. At the same time, older farm operators face unprecedented complexities as they prepare to exit farming.
An estimated 70 percent of U.S. farmland will change hands in the next twenty years. This includes land owned by farmers as well as non-farming landlords who rent to farm operators. There are multiple challenges in farm entry, exit, tenure relationships and succession. Traditional methods are no longer adequate to meet these challenges.
Farm and ranch land access and transfer are particularly important for small and medium-size farms and ranches that currently control over 80 percent of U.S agricultural land. In the balance are the quality of life and economic vitality in agricultural communities and the use, protection and enhancement of the nation's working lands.
To address these concerns, a national multi-year project--FarmLASTS (FarmLand Access, Succession, Tenure and Stewardship)--was initiated in 2007. Under the direction of Robert Parsons, University of Vermont, and Kathy Ruhf, Land For Good, three national teams were created to focus research, curriculum development, and/or outreach efforts in three areas:
This integrated, 2.5-year project is supported by USDA/CSREES through a National Research Initiative grant #2007-02807 to the University of Vermont.
Last modified June 30 2009 02:47 PM
