indiana Prairie Farmer Logo

Young farmers: Embrace this economic downturnYoung farmers: Embrace this economic downturn

Letters from the Farmhouse: Although it is hard to be positive about the future of farming, stay focused on your plans and don’t give up hope.

Allison Lynch, Staff Writer

January 13, 2025

3 Min Read
Farmer inside of a tractor cabin
BUILD CHARACTER: These next few years are a chance for the next generation of farmers to build character. Don’t expect to blow up overnight or get rich quick. Continue to work hard and earn respect. Allison Lynch

“Your mother would always stress about the money, but I always found a way to make it work,” my dad said. This wasn’t the first time he pulled out this memory. And it was usually pulled from the archives to justify a new purchase around the farm or home.

I used to laugh at it, wondering how my mom didn’t have the faith in my dad to figure things out in the tough years. He’s my dad — of course he had all the answers and solutions. That’s what dads are for, right?

That is also what husbands are for, isn’t it? At least, that is what I’m trying to wrap my head around now that my husband, Ryan, and I are navigating the complex waters of being a young, newly married couple while also dipping our toes into farming.

You see, Ryan came back from college to farm with his father. And our goal has always been to do some branching out and run some of our own ground. It does not take me telling you how expensive farmland is for you to know that is the case. However, I experience a bit of “sticker shock” whenever land goes up for sale and I see the prices people paid for it.

So, now it is Ryan telling me that we will find a way to make things work. He says I should not be afraid — that the farm economy will change for the better. But I find it so hard to stay positive. And I think back to the naïve girl who thought there was always a clear answer or solution to everything.

Related:Remembering an Indiana original: Adams road graders

Hang on

Although this is not a period for young farmers to “blow up” or dive headfirst into hundreds of acres, it could be a time for them to get themselves established. David Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech, shares that starting small is the way to go.

“Quick riches build ego,” Kohl says. “Slow and steady builds character.” He was referring to professional athletes who make millions from a young age, but this statement also applies to the next generation of farmers.

You may not be able to afford that 80-acre parcel that just went up for sale, but perhaps you can scrape together enough money to put toward a 40-acre field that is about to hit the market. Over time, your character and relationships will help you pull through this downturn and come out on top when times are better.

Kohl’s statement may not hold all the answers for how to survive this downturn. And I certainly can’t give you any solutions. I wish I had the answers for myself, too.

But now is a period of growth mentally. Stick close to your roots, and let your work do the talking for you. Stay respectful of neighbor farmers and landowners. Do not boast. And do not get ahead of yourself.

Related:Don’t rush early spring field work

Trust your spouse. Or trust your parent or grandparent. Or even trust your sibling. As long as you keep working hard and don’t lose sight of yourself in the process, you will find a way to make this work.

About the Author

Allison Lynch

Staff Writer, Indiana Prairie Farmer

Allison Lynch, formerly Allison Lund, is a staff writer for Indiana Prairie Farmer. She graduated from Purdue University with a major in agricultural communications and a minor in crop science. She served as president of Purdue’s Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow chapter. In 2022, she received the American FFA Degree.

Lynch grew up as the oldest of four children on a cash grain farm in south-central Wisconsin, where the primary crops were corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa. Her family also raised chewing tobacco and Hereford cattle. She spent most of her time helping with the tobacco crop in the summer and raising Boer goats for FFA projects. She now lives near Winamac, Ind, where her husband farms with his family.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like