The history of farming and agriculture in the United States is very vibrant. Back in the olden days, it was the primary livelihood in the country. More than 90 percent of the population as involved in agriculture.
Farming became the fuel that drove America to progress. The population growth boomed and gave way to the opening of more and more new farms.
The history of farming and agriculture continues to unfold up to this day. New farmers pitch in and continue to make the agriculture industry flourish.
Is Farming Slowly Dying?
In the advent of globalization, modernization, and technological advancement, most of us think that the younger generation will less likely to take interest in farming.
This statement can be true. According to npr.org, the average age of an American farming is 58.3. This upward trend has been steady for the last 30 years. These are fewer and fewer individuals willing to get their hands dirty cultivating the land.
While this is a depressing reality, America’s heartland has not died out completely.
Young people in some places in the United States are still choosing to practice farming. What is better is that in these places the trend is reversing.
Get Matched with a Lender, Click Here.The Move to Go Green
There is also a movement that is becoming widely accepted faster. Americans are becoming more and more conscious about the food they eat. People are starting to ditch nonnutritious, cheap, processed food.
It the desire to have healthier, high-quality food, hyper-local farming is becoming increasingly popular.
Many Americans now see vast rooftops and small backyards as perfect stops to begin urban farms. Crops that are commonly produced on huge acres of land can now be grown on tiny plots of soil right on the roof deck.
These people have a different view on why they are micro-farming. It is not meant to feed a huge population or to get big profit from it. It is their way to become self-sustaining and to eat healthier.
This means that traditional farming is still very important in feeding the entire nation. The food demand is still exceeding the supply.
Connect with a Lender, Click Here.Are You a New Farmer? Get a Jumpstart with Farming Loans
Being a farmer is a noble and rewarding career. Millennials should begin to see the huge opportunity agriculture presents as a career. Which is why the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to provide support to qualified farmers, new and old, to building new farms or continue their operations.
A new farmer can find a vibrant and happy life on a farm. The USDA provides access to tools and resources that can help you begin a farm. There are also special programs designed to assist women, young people, and seniors who are venturing into agriculture. These opportunities create a platform for them to grow, learn and find the much-needed financing for their farms.
The USDA Farm Service Agency has different farm loans to help farmers who cannot obtain commercial financing. These loans can be directly funded by FSA or guaranteed by them.
The beauty of these loans is it can be used for a variety of farming needs, from covering operating expenses, buying or developing land, purchasing seeds, livestock and equipment and enforcing conservation plans.
For more information about farm loans and other financing programs of the USDA, you can also visit their website. You can also get connected with a USDA-approved lender to help you get started.
It is a beautiful and rewarding farming life waiting for you out there. Go ahead, begin farming for the future.
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