Next Generation Farming
Nearly 300 million acres of U.S. farmland are expected to change hands in the next 20 years. Beyond the transfer of land, and the often-complex succession planning process, investing in the next generation involves the transfer of skills and knowledge. Now’s the time to cultivate multigenerational success through asset, resource and financial stewardship.
There are challenges that come with the process, but also hidden opportunities that can help the rising generation build for the future.
Rebecca Sip shares about the challenges she’s faced navigating a gradual generational transition of their family farm, the importance of continual learning and the role of humility each and every day.
Lance Sommers has transformed his family’s 2,000-acre grain and dairy farm by integrating technology and boosting efficiency to free up time to refocus efforts on other aspects of their operation.
Gen Z’s challenges aren’t just academic; they’re personal, says Jill Bramble, president and CEO of 4-H. Many young people say they are falling short, unable to envision a successful future where they feel connected to their friends, families, and communities.
Bri Osborne returned in 2019 to help her father manage their family farm, overseeing 1,000 acres and 7,000 hogs while expanding their dragline manure and spray drone businesses.
Since Lance Dobson’s return to the family farm, he’s added cattle, cereal rye for forage and a seed dealership. “Whether it’s exercising or farming, hopefully diversification in our day will yield results that improve our longevity,” he says.
It’s not often you hear of a farmer using virtual reality or an artificial intelligence chatbot on the farm, but coupled with real-time data through OpsCenter, this Arkansas farmer is truly taking technology to a new level.
In 2022, Dalton Dilldine bought a shuttered commercial grain facility and outfitted it with monitoring and automation technologies. This year, he’s taking a hard look at spray drones and how they can fit across his acres.
From a pragmatic approach to purchasing new technology to making more of the buying decisions on the farm, there are some interesting trends transpiring as more Next Gen farmers identify as an owner/operator on their farm.
Communication between one generation to another can seem like talking a different language. “I suggest you approach looking at another generation with curiosity rather than judgment,” says Kim Lear of Inlay Insights.