Young Farmer Podcast

They each have different goals and come from completely different areas of New York state, but the six new members of the New York State FFA State Officer Team are ready to promote ag education in the Empire State.

More than a month after being elected as state officers, the Pennsylvania State FFA team is gearing up for what will be a challenging year of service. The seven state officers spoke to me via Microsoft Teams about dealing with COVID-19, what they hope to get out of their year of service and how it will affect their future plans in agriculture.

Description: Eileen Jensen is the executive director of the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition. She agvocates for animal agriculture in the state and works with farmers to improve their messaging to consumers.

 

New York Animal Agriculture Coalition

Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program

The 42-acre Seed Farm in Emmaus, Pa., gives prospective farmers the chance to launch their own businesses through the farm's unique incubator program.

In this episode we hear from Lindsey Parks, program administrator of The Seed Farm; Kinsey Gensel, a prospective farmer who is in The Seed Farm's incubator program; and Brad Pollack, farm manager of The Seed Farm.

Since 2010, The Seed Farm has provided intensive, full-season training in production, marketing, business planning and equipment operation to over 30 beginning farmers who are looking to start farms. Eight farm businesses have been launched through the agricultural incubator.

Lyman Rudgers and his wife, Chelsey, run the 180-head Rudgers Registered Jerseys in Attica, N.Y., in partnership with Chelsey's parents. They've been farming since 2013. Like many dairy farmers it hasn't been an easy road for the young couple. Last month the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their small dairy cooperative forced them to start dumping 10% of their milk production.

Still, the couple are focused on making it in the dairy business through being efficient and trying to put a positive message out there for consumers.

Buying farmland is one of the biggest hurdles young farmers face. Farmland is expensive and the transactions are complicated. Pennsylvania Farm Link is a nonprofit dedicated to “linking farmers to the future.” They accomplish this through an online database linking young farmers to land that's available, and by offering educational workshops for landowners and beginning farmers.

In this episode we talk to Michelle Kirk of Pennsylvania Farm Link. She gives her take on farmland succession planning, young farmers getting into the business and the services Pennsylvania Farm Link offers. For more information go to the Pennsylvania Farm Link website.

At 39 years old and with no underlying health conditions, Travis Duffy, a dairy farmer from Canastota, N.Y., doesn’t fall into the category of an “at-risk” COVID-19 patient. But he was unlucky. After being diagnosed with COVID-19 in early April, things took a turn for the worse and like many severely ill COVID patients, he went on a ventilator. Doctors only gave him a 10% chance of getting off the ventilator. But he beat the odds and after nearly a month in the hospital, he finally went home on May 7. We talked to Travis about his experience dealing with COVID-19 and his long road to recovery.

Alfredo Resindiz Rojo, a 23-year-old native of Clifton Springs, N.Y., is helping farmers in a different way by helping them protect their profits and businesses as a commodities trader in Chicago. We talked to Alfredo about growing up the son of a first-generation Mexican farmworker, how growing up in agriculture influenced his love for the business and his thoughts on getting more young people excited about future careers in agriculture and farming.

Farmers who direct market meat and produce have had to change their business plans as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Farmers who sell their products into farmers markets or are planning to hold pick-your-own strawberry events are finding it more difficult than ever with social distancing requirements this year. Karl Shlagel of Shlagel Farms in Waldorf, Md., and Amanda Hand of MKONO Farm of Huntingtown, Md., talk about how they’re adjusting to COVID-19 and the struggles they have encountered along the way.

Links:Shlagel FarmsMKONO Farms

Ryan Murray runs a seasonal dairy farm in Truxton, N.Y. He markets organic milk through the Upstate Niagara Cooperative and has grown his farm from just 35 cows in 2013 to 100 cows this spring. He and his wife, Annie, welcomed the newest member to their family, Charles, just four months ago. Ryan talks about the struggles of the organic dairy sector and how he plans to stay in production well into the future.

Links:

Upstate Niagara Cooperative

Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance

2017 American Agriculturist story