2018 Farm Bill Primer: Veteran Farmers and Ranchers
Abstract
The enacted 2018 farm bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, P.L. 115-334) provides additional support for U.S. military veterans transitioning into agriculture by expanding on programs authorized in the 2014 farm bill (Agricultural Act of 2014, P.L. 113-79). Programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide financial and resource management support to help U.S. veterans transition to farming or ranching and to assist them in maintaining successful businesses as part of a larger effort to support beginning farmers and ranchers (BFRs). Data from USDA indicate that the rural post-9/11 veteran population increased from 200,000 in 2006 to more than 400,000 in 2016, raising the post-9/11 veteran population to about 13% of the total rural veteran population, up from about 4% in 2006. Nevertheless, overall, the rural veteran population has been decreasing. USDA data also indicate that working-age veterans tend to rely more on employment in manufacturing and far less on agriculture compared to elder veterans. Data are not available on the number of veterans who wish to enter farming or ranching (Figure 1).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 04, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1171949
Entities
People
- Rene Johnson
Organizations
- Library of Congress