Empowering Agriculture's Next Generation: Insights from USDA's 100th Outlook Forum

Written by: Madison Wyman   |   February 22, 2024

regulatory, legislative, Sustainability, Supporting local communities

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) held its 100th Agricultural Outlook Forum last week, themed “Cultivating the Future,” with the key message of investing in the next generation of leadership in the agriculture field. I walked away with a better understanding of investing in the next generation of ag leaders, the importance of sustainability and innovation and a call to support farmers on all scales. 

The annual forum discusses the latest trends and developments in agriculture from leading experts and industry professionals, while also having the opportunity to network with a diverse group of participants, including producers, processors, policymakers, government officials and nongovernmental organizations.  This year’s forum covered various aspects of the agricultural sector, including climate-smart agriculture, innovative farming techniques and the economic state of the field. 

On day one, USDA’s Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres-Smalls greeted attendees, previewing the major challenges the industry will face as we continue to cultivate the future of agriculture. Torres-Smalls adamantly implored the industry to continue investing in the younger generation of agriculture. She said the USDA is continuing to place resources in investing in the future generation through its Future Leaders Program. I met with a few of the college students in the Future Leaders Program, who were ecstatic to attend the outlook forum, gain better insights on leadership in the agriculture world and ultimately bring what they have learned back to their college campuses.  

Following Torres-Smalls, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the USDA’s strides in establishing a fresh framework conducive to the prosperity of agriculture producers, regardless of scale. This includes efforts to strengthen local and regional food systems and cultivate alternative revenue streams via renewable energy and ecosystem markets. He said these initiatives are intended to forge a future that is not only profitable, but more sustainable and resilient for American producers. 

Secretary Vilsack asked: “How about rather than the farmer working one or two more jobs, we figure out how the farm can create multiple streams of income for that small or medium-sized farm, ultimately attracting the next, younger-generation of farmers.” 

These comments led into a panel, which I found most interesting, on “Positioning Farmers and Ranchers to Prosper.” Roughly 88% of farms are small family farms and must maintain off-farm sources of income to support their farm, so with every cost being a decision, the panelists said that unfortunately, oftentimes, conservation and sustainability efforts are the first to go.  

Trey Hill, chief executive officer of Harborview Farms, shared a similar sentiment that “Inspiring young people to farm came easily through my sustainability efforts, as farmers we need to solve issues through sustainable practices, and the economics are sure to follow.”  

USDA's 100th Agriculture Outlook Forum underscored the significance of investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders. The discussions emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent and promoting sustainability to ensure a prosperous future for the industry.