Thoughts on the new USDA commitment to helping the next gen. of farmers/ranchers?

[annammcconnel]

Today the USDA committed to throwing $5.6 billion toward programs to help new farmers and ranchers over the next two years. They even launched a fancy new website, www.usda.gov/newfarmers, based on feedback from young farmers. 

Do you find the new website helpful? What else do you think that money should go to in order to help young farmers the most?

Can't wait to hear your responses, 

Anna

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

I wonder how much a site like this helps a person who wants to get into conventional farming as we think of it in traditional sense? Many of us don't initially think of niche farming when we think of beginning farmers, but that may be the best point of entry for many who don't have the capital needed to enter the big farm scenario most of us are familiar witih.

[Packard27]

If they are from the government and they assure you that they have come to help; I would take their offer as the first indication to become worried, very worried. Please see other examples of govenment agencies, government appointees, and any "help" that they might provide below:

[2008 New Black Panther Party voter intimidation case, Fast&Furious, Lois Learner/John Koskinen's IRS, the DOJ, the VA, Obamacare, Hillary Clinton's private email server for transporting classified government documents, Benghazi, NSA, TSA, EPA, OPM's failure to protect government employee personal information, Secret Service, Susan Rice, Valarie Jarrett, Jeh Johnson's Homeland Security, Eric Holder's & James Clapper's perjury before congress (without consequence), illegal wiretapping of Fox & AP news reporters (without consequence), undeclared/unauthorized wars with Libya, Murderous Islamic terrorism in this country that the government dare not call...well...Islamic terrorism, a $19 trillion nation debt and still growing, a flatlining economy, dormant commodity prices, Dismal race relations in Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, etc.]

Help from the government you say? Exactly which part of this government were you thinking about asking for help?

[hardnox]

As I've always said, the best way to help young farmers is to stop subsidizing old ones.

[Red Steele]

I agree with the "niche" type of farming, to a point. You have to find a niche that works for you, and also you do need a functioning economic system that allows prices to fluctuate to allow poor managers to go broke and exit to make the way for better managers. Our current dysfunctional system is not set up that way with unlimited subsidies for crop guarantees. Target or eliminate the subsidies and the younger guys will have a much better chance.

A guy working off the farm should be able to save enough money to buy a few acres and get into farming on a limited scale if that is what his heart desires. $12000 per acre land just about guaranteed that was never going to happen....maybe $4000 or $5000 per acre land will help a few get in. But...you need a stable money supply or saving doesn't work at all. 

I also agree with Packard....one of the three biggest lies ever told....."I'm from the govt,and I'm here to help you".

[Blacksandfarmer]

Anna, if the government REALLY wants to help young/beginning farmers they would give tax breaks to land owners willing to take a chance on a young/beginning farmer. Their are plenty of young people interested in becoming a farmer, but few will succeed. Thanks for the link.

[northnd]

Many quotes come to mind but here are a couple:

"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are:  I'm from the Government and I'm here to help"

"Government is not the solution to our problem.  Government is the problem."

Ronald Reagon