Beginning farmers are located across the country

USDA defines beginning farmers and ranchers as those who have operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less either as a sole operator or with others who have operated a farm or ranch for 10 years or less. Beginning farmers are located across the country. In some counties, more than half of all farms are beginning farms. A variety of factors affect the share of farmers classified as beginning in any particular county. Access to farmland affects the number of beginning farmers, and access is affected by competition for land. Urbanization also affects resource allocations for beginning farms, many of which rely on proximity to off-farm job opportunities and access to specialized farm markets. This map is found in the ERS report, Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, EIB-53, May 2009.

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