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News
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A closer look at Oregon's graying agriculture
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7/20/2011
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Article Content Suggested lead
Oregon agriculture is getting older as the average age of farmers and ranchers is trending up. However, a closer look at the numbers shows many successful farms are run by relatively younger operators:
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There is still concern about the aging of Oregon agriculture, based on the most recent US Census of Agriculture numbers:
SEARLE: "Percent of farmers that are over age 65 is about 28 or 29 percent of all farmers. So it's a big chunk, and that's the concern. Then we look at the other end- those under 45 is about 15 percent of all farmers." :14
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But Brent Searle with the Oregon Department of Agriculture says looking at the overall age of farmers may not truly reflect what is going on. A majority of those operators 65 and older tend to be in the retirement, residential, or lifestyle category and aren't in full time production. Those farms that gross at least 100-thousand dollars in sales each year don't include a high percentage of these older farmers:
SEARLE: "Farms with higher levels of sales are associated with younger age farmers on average as a group." :06
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Reflecting a recent USDA report, the eventual exit of older farmers appears less ominous based on the types of farms they operate. The overall average age of operator in Oregon is an all time high of 57 and a half years old. But those responsible for a large amount of sales average closer to 55 years old and in position to pass those farms along to the next generation. In Salem, I'm Bruce Pokarney.
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SEARLE says Oregon farms with higher levels of sales are generally associated with younger aged farmers as a group:
"Farmers in Oregon earning at least $100,000 are two to three years younger on average than those earning less than $100,000 in sales." :09
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SEARLE says Oregon farms with higher annual sales are often multi-generational and have more households sharing in the net farm income. That makes it more likely that the operation will turn over to younger operators in the future:
"There are many farms in Oregon bringing in their children or younger operators when the scale or amount of sales justify or support doing that." :09
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Full story
http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/110720aging.shtml |
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