08/22/08 Optimism about ag

An informal survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation cites the group that is optimistic about farming and ranching in America. Not surprisingly, the hopeful group is the Young Farmers and Ranchers subdivision of the American Farm Bureau Federation. This survey was the 16th annual taken at the Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference. Right away you might say  of course  they're optimistic  they are young. Well, I'm sure youth has some significance in their outlook, but I have to think these are pretty smart people who could pursue many different careers. I imagine they have done some homework and feel they can make a living doing what they like. This questionnaire given to young U.S. farmers and ranchers ages 18-35 revealed 36 percent feel the top challenge they face is land and facility availability. Twenty percent were concerned about overall profitability. The next three concerns were increasing urbanization (14 percent), government regulations (11 percent) and the availability and cost of health care at 10 percent. On the positive side, the majority of the groups believe they are better off today than five years ago and that making a living directly from the land is what they want to do. You know, this whole survey may not be too earth shattering because I believe no matter how much ranchers and farmers whine or moan about how things are going, down deep they just have to be the eternal optimist. I'm Jeff Keane.