Young farmers

As the average age of farmers approaches 60. The Farm Credit Administration and the ag lenders it regulates have, for the last few years been wrestling with this question: What can we do to help and assist young beginning and small farmers? Speaker1: Farm Credit Administration board member Glenn Smith says the answer to that question is in some upcoming new rules for lender associations. Generally, the rules require lenders to improve their current young beginning and small farmer lending programs, and to actively reach out to a more diverse group of potential borrowers. Now, yes. Obviously it's more efficient to go out and lend to a large, established mega million dollar operation as opposed to a dozen small loans. But in order to ensure the prosperity and the growth of future generations, we must have that outreach. Smith says this is certainly not going to solve all the problems young farmers face, but.: It is a good step in the right direction. The new rules take effect February 1st.