Photo courtesy of U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
Florida Farmer of the Year Jim Alderman recently testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging about the aging agricultural workforce and its impact on food security.
“Farming isn’t just about growing crops. It’s about passing down knowledge, discipline and a way of life,” the owner of Alderman Farms in Boynton Beach said. “But that chain of succession is breaking. Nationwide, less than 9% of farmers are under 35, and the numbers are even more sobering in states like mine. Young people want to farm, but they’re running into walls. Land is expensive, equipment costs are staggering, and access to financing is tough, especially for those without family assets.”
Alderman testified that to sustain American agriculture there must be a smooth path between generations. He said investing in beginner farmer programs, expanding technical assistance and offering incentives such as estate planning tools to make farm transition easier are important.
“These aren’t just policy tweaks. They are necessary steps to prevent our food system from eroding one generation at a time,” he said.
In his testimony, Alderman cited invasive insects and pests, including citrus greening, as threats to farmers. “We have seen in Florida that citrus greening has devastated the citrus industry … all because of an insect that came in with bacteria that causes citrus greening. I think that it would help our industry if we had better inspections in our ports of entry to combat the invasive insects and diseases that come into our country.”
Alderman emphasized the importance of keeping farmland in production. “In Florida, where the cost of land is skyrocketing, and development pressure is intense, every farm we lose to retirement risks becoming a parking lot or subdivision. Once that land is gone, it’s gone for good. That’s why this hearing matters. Because preserving farmland means supporting the farmers who’ve spent a lifetime stewarding it and making sure there’s a new generation ready to step in.”
American Farm Bureau President and Georgia farmer Zippy Duvall also provided testimony to the Senate Special Committee on Aging. “As I shared with the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this year, we need a modernized, five-year farm bill,” Duvall stated. “Farmers and ranchers have faced unprecedented volatility since the 2018 farm bill, making it harder for many to hold on. The 2022 census showed the loss of just over 141,000 farms in five years … that’s an average of 77 per day.”
Duvall added: “One provision that is crucial for keeping family farms going to the next generation is the increased estate tax exemption. If the exemption level reverts, many families risk losing their farms.”
Sources: Florida Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau
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