9781422274903

U.S. FARM FACTS

answer. Agriculture has become increasingly complex. For example, plant and animal breeding today involves complicated sciences such as plant genetics —and a wider knowledge base is required to remain competitive. “This means that for someone without any experience, acquiring the skills needed for farming today is harder than ever,” says James. “Many people do not want to start at the bottom as a farmhand. They see a college degree in agriculture as a way to avoid this.” This is part of the reason that James went to a four-year college to study agriculture, even though he dropped out after his second year. “When I was in high school,” he recalls, “I knew I wanted to work in farming but I didn’t know the best way to get into the industry.” James’s mother was a gardener, and she taught him froman early age the importance of being able to grow your own food. “In the summers,” he says, “I worked as a farmhand at an organic farm . I loved everything about it—working with my hands, tending the animals, and plowing the fields. Seeing the crops grow was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.” • More than 20 percent of all farmers are classified as beginning farmers—meaning that they have been in business for less than ten years. • Women make up 31 percent of farm operators. • The top farm products are cattle and calves, corn, and dairy products. Source: American Farm Bureau Federation • In 2017, the average farm had 444 acres (179.68 hectares), compared to 155 acres (62.73 hectares) in 1935. • There are approximately 2.1 million farms.

10 CAREERS WITH EARNING POTENTIAL: FARMER