$750,000 in federal funding to help new farmers in Minnesota

Minnesotan U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar announced $750,000 of federal funding for a new program to improve access to Midwest farmland.

The money will support the Renewing the Countryside’s Upper Midwest Farmland Access Hub Navigator Program. The Hub will use the nearly $750,000 in federal funding to expand its program.

"We are excited to receive this good news! This grant will support the work of the Farmland Access Hub that assists beginning farmers in finding and accessing land on which to farm," Jan Joannides, executive director and co-founder of Renewing the Countryside, said in a statement.

"With farmland prices so high and so many thousands of acres changing hands as older farmers retire, we are at a moment in time where this work is more critical than ever."

The Renewing the Countryside Project (RTC Project) started in 1998 as a partnership of a few individuals and organizations. Inspired by publications from the Netherlands that showcased rural renewal across the Dutch countryside, they set out to develop a similar project in Minnesota. In 2002, it was incorporated as a non-profit organization.

Its program aims to improve farmland access outcomes for all stages of beginning farmers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The Farmland Access Hub, in its seventh year, pairs land-seeking farmers with someone who can provide guidance and resources to help them obtain land and connect them with farmland owners hoping to transfer their land to new owners.

“The average age of a producer in the United States is 58, and in Minnesota it’s 57. And, of course, this number increases every year. That, in a nutshell, is why we need to invest in the next generation of farmers, so this country’s agriculture production continues to work,” Smith said.

“This is a matter of national security, food security, and the strength and vitality of rural America. Agriculture is a driving force in America’s economy, and this grant will make sure our Ag economy is strong as the next generation of farmers takes over.”

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that in 2023, the total number of farms in Minnesota was 65,300, which was 200 fewer than the year before.

“Agriculture is the economic backbone of rural communities across our state, and we need to ensure the next generation of farmers receive the support they need to succeed,” Klobuchar said.

“With this federal funding, we’re taking a big step toward ensuring beginning farmers can access land to start and grow their businesses.”