Biodynamic Next Generation Farmers
The Biodynamic Initiative for the Next Generation (BING) has been breaking ground for next generation farmers since their unveiling at the Biodynamic Youth Gathering, part of the 2010 Biodynamic Conference in Spring Valley, NY. The project creates opportunities for the next generation of farmers, apprentices, educators, activists, and others inspired by biodynamics to connect, share, and […]
Value Up for U.S. Cropland
Ag Economy: USDA Stats- Cropland Values, Production Expenses Categories: Agricultural Economy The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) noted in its annual Land Values report on Friday that, “The United States cropland value increased by $460 per acre (13.0 percent) to $4,000 per acre.” Friday’s report pointed out that, “In the Northern Plains and Corn […]
Family Farms Still Outnumber Corporate Farms
Cropland Consolidation and the Future of Family Farms by James MacDonald Highlights: During the past three decades, U.S. crop production has been shifting to larger farms for most crops and in most States. Despite the shift, family farms continue to dominate U.S. crop production, accounting for 87 percent of the total value of U.S. crop […]
Talking about Land Succession
Here’s a glimpse into what happened in New Brunswick last month at the Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN) Symposium. Some words from speakers Jeff Schnurr, Severine von Tscharner Fleming, Mark Bernard and Shannon Jones on “The Quest of Finding Farmland”. Jeff Schnurr -Community Forests International Speaking about: Incubator Farms Thank you to […]
Nothing Sucks Like Succession
By Dave Pratt From the Ranch Management Blog. You know how difficult it was to have that talk with your kids about the facts of life? There is a talk that you need to have with your family that is even more difficult. It’s about the facts of death. We make all sorts of excuses […]
Interview with Joel Salatin
The Greenhorns Radio Program covered the ground of agricultural land use and transition with forward-thinking farmer Joel Salatin on the Heritage Radio Network. Salatin described the hurdles for young start-up farmers and offers solutions to the growing problem of the aging farm population. Salatin offers as a case model, the innovation brought forth by young […]
Land Gifting Tradition and Agrarian Trust
The Schumacher Center for a New Economics, a partner of Agrarian Trust tells of the tradition of land gifting and our hopes for an agrarian future. On a shelf in the Library of the Schumacher Center for a New Economics sits a small wooden box with worn leather handle—13 inches by 8 inches by 2 […]
How Do We Trust?
As the Agrarian Trust project forges forward, it seems important to check back and define what this trust idea is really about. I remember my first reflections on mishearing our name as a growing trust, and all the connotations that came along with my understanding of what a trust is. In current language, as applied […]