Beginning and Disadvantaged Farmers Research

The Agricultural Act of 2014 provides support to beginning farmers and ranchers by increasing funding for beginning farmer development, facilitating farmland transition to the next generation of farmers, and improving outreach and communication to military veterans about farming and ranching opportunities. ERS research on this topic includes the following: 1). Analyzing the financial performance and characteristics of the businesses, operators, and households of beginning, socially disadvantaged, and limited-resource farms, 2). Assessing the participation of these "targeted" farms in Federal farm programs and the impact that the preferential treatment given to targeted farmers has on the distribution of program assistance, 3). Examining trends in farm business exit and entry.

Open to all. 

Research on beginning and disadvantaged farmers will enable tribal producers and other tribal members to help identify gaps in programming that might allow them to apply for grants or do research that could tie into climate change adaptation and vulnerability assessment work.