The latest census numbers show the number of younger farmers is up for just the second time in the last century.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says over a five-year period there was about a two percent increase in farmers between 25 and 34.
Wendy Kannel oversees the young farmer and agriculturist program for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. She says there are opportunities for young farmers, and they don’t involve having thousands of acres of land. She says they’re interested in finding more niche markets.
She says people want to know where their food is coming from and that’s one reason for the up-tick.
Kannel says there are also mentoring opportunities if people want to get into farming but they don’t have the background.
