Sen. Tina Smith co-sponsors bill aimed at recruiting new, younger farmers

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM)- The agriculture industry is facing an aging workforce. Farmers under the age of 35 now make up only 9 percent of farmers and ranchers.  To better prepare the next generation Senator Tina Smith is co-sponsoring a bill to establish a work-based agriculture training program that would help encourage more people to get into farming. 

“Grants to community or technical colleges or other organizations that are supporting people getting into farming and agriculture to get the hands-on training they need,” said Smith. “I am really excited about this. It’s something that is supported by the Farm Bureau and the Farmers Union and it’s great to do this bipartisan work with Representative Finstad.” 

The average age of farmers in Minnesota and around the country is somewhere in the late 50s to early 60s. Smith says agriculture is the backbone of Minnesota’s diverse economy. With food shortages, supply chain snags, and a tight labor market around the world, it’s vital we support and grow our farming sector here at home.