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NDA backs bill expanding capital for YBS producers

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture is supporting a bill that would reduce barriers and increase access to capital for young, beginning and small farmers.

Director Sherry Vinton says the bill raises the limit on assets that a beginning farmer can have while still qualifying for loans and tax credits. “This would be a big thing and would allow beginning farmers and ranchers to qualify.”

She tells Brownfield too many young producers are leaving the industry or won’t consider farming due to start up costs and cost of production. “We certainly don’t want to lose or skip a generation.  There’s new technology.  We need younger farmers and ranchers that are going to bring the skills back to the farm and ranch that we need for precision ag that we’re all practicing today.”

The latest Census of Agriculture says the average age of producers is 57.5 years-old and 27 percent have farmed for less than 10 years.