Costs make it difficult for young people to start farming

Oct. 16—ANDERSON — For a young family interested in farming, several factors have made it nearly impossible, according to several local farmers.

As young people pursue other career paths, generational farms are becoming larger through consolidation.

Cory Bohlander, vice president of the Madison County Farm Bureau, said he purchased a farm in 2017; his family has been farming in Madison County since 1979.

"Every generation of my family has been farming," he said. "I always wanted to farm, even when I was a kid. I wanted to be like my dad and grandfather."

Bohlander said he hopes that one of his children will continue to operate the family farm in the future.

"You just never know," he said. "Right now, there is a lot of consolidation taking place.

"There is a lot of interest in farming, but not a lot of opportunities to start on their own," Bohlander continued. "You almost have to start out as an employee on a large farm."

John Simmermon's family has been farming for five generations, but his son is not interested in carrying on the tradition.

Simmermon has been farming in Madison County since graduating from college in 1978.

"The farm has expanded over the years," he said "When I retire, I will rent the ground out. I have wonderful employees."

Simmermon said for him, the future is up in the air.

"I'm not sure what will happen," he said. "There are a lot of family farms where the next generation is not interested."

Brian Bays said his family has been farming for four generations. Two of his nephews are partners in the operation.

"It's impossible," he said of someone wanting to start a career in farming. "For a young person starting out, they have to have a lot of money or resources."

Bays said to start, a young person wanting to farm likely would have to rent some ground and buy used equipment.

"I suspect the only way would be through an existing family farm," he said. "For young people, it's really hard to get into farming."

Jeff Jarrell's family had been farming since 1917, but he left the business about 25 years ago.

"My oldest daughter has a hobby farm with some chickens and goats," he said. "It's tough to start a farm with the price of land and equipment.

"You almost have to inherit a farm," he added. "I know some farmers around Frankton where the younger generation doesn't want to carry on the tradition."