Study: More Young People Working in Farming
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Farming is big business in West Tennessee, but it appears not everyone realizes it. A recent “Yahoo Education” study deemed Agriculture, Animal Science, and Horticulture as three of the five “most useless” degrees available to college students. But research showed more young people are choosing to become farmers. “Agriculture is a great business to be in right now. We’re experiencing some really great prices,” said farmer Ben Moore. “Currently corn and soybean prices are higher than they’ve ever been.” Growing up on a farm, Moore has seen plenty of changes and success. He and his wife Jennifer recently took home the American Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Ranchers Achievement Award. He says things are much different now than when he began. “When I started farming, we didn’t have the technology that we have today,” said Moore. “Most of the tractors and combines and spray rigs I run have GPS capabilities.” It is those types of technological innovations that are fueling young people’s interest in agriculture. “Often times agriculture is lumped into this idea of sows and cows and plows,” said Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt. “But it is so much more than that now with the integration of technology.” The lure is also in the stability of the industry. “Agriculture is always going to be necessary,” said Rep. Holt. “Not that agriculture is necessarily recession-proof, but you look at the success American agriculture has had over the last three, four, five years and for all practical purposes, has been unaffected.” Getting into farming can be a very pricey start-up, but Holt, who did not grow up on a farm, said with experience, it is doable. “I started with 25 chickens in the Chick-Chain project when I was in the 4H program,” said Rep. Holt. “There’s opportunities out there for students and for young people – if they want to be involved and they’re willing to work hard.” Both men add that their agricultural degrees were beneficial for making connections with other farmers and helping build their operations.
