In celebrating agriculture, a first-generation Pennsylvania farmer told others not to be afraid to experiment and to get involved to help improve the climate for other new farmers in the future.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture hosted a National Ag Day event Tuesday morning which included speeches from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and American Farm Bureau (AFB) President Zippy Duvall. A group of college students also held a panel discussion on agricultural education.
Carl Long, a Pennsylvania farmer recognized last year with a National Outstanding Young Farmer Award, spoke about his farm, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing farmers going forward.
FIRST-GENERATION FARMER
"I am a first-generation farmer, raised by a single mother and I fell in love with farming, working with dairy farmers when I was a kid," Long said introducing himself.
Long began farming at 14 with a $5,000 youth loan from USDA to buy calves. Nearly 25 years later, he and his wife Betsy now farm 2,800 acres of grains and vegetables in Potter County, Pennsylvania. They grow potatoes, green beans, wheat, seed oats and corn.
During his speech, Long detailed some of the conservation practices he and his family are doing in their efforts. "On our farm, our goal is to continually improve and conserve our soil for future generations while focusing on environmental and economic sustainability."
Long said each of the tracts he farms has a conservation plan and he has used USDA programs to develop grass waterways, buffer strips and grow cover crops on the farm as well. He said funding from the Inflation Reduction Act has helped diversify rotation to reduce pest and disease pressure and insecticide use. This year, they will install a pollinator habitat as well.
Long credited both USDA programs and funding from private companies to help the farm develop some of its sustainability projects and goals.
Moving forward, the average age of farmers is 58, but global food production must continue to grow to help feed more than 9 billion people by 2050, Long noted. That provides great potential for younger people to get into agriculture, he said.
"I would encourage all of us to go forward and keep an open mind and not be afraid to try new things," Long said.
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Categories: Iowa, Livestock, Dairy Cattle