Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
USDA Listening Session - Oct. 27 2008, Washington, D.C.
Comments delivered by Jeremy Barker-Plotkin

Hello and thank you for providing me with the opportunity to speak.  My name is Jeremy Barker-Plotkin. I grow 12 acres of certified organic vegetables for sale through farmers markets and through a community supported agriculture program. I learned to farm as an adult and I have had apprentices on my farm, several of whom have gone on to start their own farm businesses, so I am in many ways representative of the population this program is designed to serve.

Jeremy and his potatoes

I learned to farm as an adult and I have had apprentices on my farm, several of whom have gone on to start their own farm businesses, so I am in many ways representative of the population this program is designed to serve.  I want to talk about a couple of categories of barriers to entry for new farmers: the first being acquisition of technical skills, and the second being access to land, equipment and capital.

In the area of technical skills, I think it’s important to note that the best way for new farmers to learn is from other farmers.  This program should focus on funding proposals which emphasize farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer.  This could include apprenticeship programs and farmer-to-farmer mentorships.  Providing young farmers with relatively “safe” situations, such as student-run farms and incubator sites, are another promising way to learn.

Access to land, capital and equipment is in many ways a knottier problem.  In the area where I live and in many other areas across the country, the development value of land makes it very difficult for young farmers to buy farmland outright.  The farm that I work is owned by a land trust and I hold a long-term lease.  This type of alternative land-tenure arrangement is a powerful tool for getting new farmers onto land.  I have run into some difficulties in obtaining credit while in this type of arrangement, since many lenders are unfamiliar with it and since I don’t have a big chunk of equity in the form of real estate.  So proposals which educate both farmers and lenders about alternative land tenure arrangements should be a target for this program.  Other proposals which address acquisition of land, capital and equipment, such as incubator sites, equipment-sharing programs, and revolving loan funds, are also important. 

Finally, I would like to point out that local, direct-marketed organic farming should be a priority for this program.  I have seen the local market for organic produce increase steadily over the ten years I’ve been farming, and I have seen an especially big jump in demand in this year alone, with the increased cost of fuel and fears of climate change.  The growth of this sector of the farm economy makes it a promising place for young farmers.  I also see that young people looking to get in to farming are primarily interested in this type of farm.  Direct-marketing is also more accessible for young farmers due to the relatively low start-up costs.  Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to present my comments. 

Jeremy Barker-Plotkin
Simple Gifts Farms
North Amherst, CA