Today Show story about self driving tractors. Maggie Vespa was in Princeton and Maple Park.
Average age of a farmer is 67. Farmer interviewed talked about how he was able to go home, do laundry and get some sleep while his tractor worked a large field.
I’d suggest that’s driven by family farms being able to operate with far fewer members than before. An individual can handle up to 1,000 acres with one or two part time helpers during planting and harvest season.
There are any number of young people ready to drive tractors, combines, etc. They are already working in the industry, but probably aren’t being counted as “farmers” as they don’t necessarily own the land.
From my downstate perspective there are plenty of people ready, willing and able to enter “farming”, there just aren’t enough jobs to support them full time.
- Occasionally Moderared - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 7:53 am:
Today Show story about self driving tractors. Maggie Vespa was in Princeton and Maple Park.
Average age of a farmer is 67. Farmer interviewed talked about how he was able to go home, do laundry and get some sleep while his tractor worked a large field.
- Downstate - Tuesday, Nov 18, 25 @ 7:59 am:
“Average age of a farmer…”
I’d suggest that’s driven by family farms being able to operate with far fewer members than before. An individual can handle up to 1,000 acres with one or two part time helpers during planting and harvest season.
There are any number of young people ready to drive tractors, combines, etc. They are already working in the industry, but probably aren’t being counted as “farmers” as they don’t necessarily own the land.
From my downstate perspective there are plenty of people ready, willing and able to enter “farming”, there just aren’t enough jobs to support them full time.