LINCOLN, NEB. (RFD NEWS) — Accessing land is one of the biggest challenges facing the next generation of farmers and ranchers. A new program is working to connect beginning producers with landowners who may be looking to transition their operations.
Extension educator Anastasia Meyer with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln joined us on Tuesday’s Market Day Report to discuss Nebraska Land Link and how the program matches landowners who are stepping away from or transitioning their operations with land seekers who may not have a farming background or family land to rely on.
In her conversation with RFD News, Meyer says the goal is to match both sides based on their long-term goals, especially as more producers near retirement without someone to pass their operation on to.
“We really tried hard to match their goals to the land seeker goals and have that access,” Meyer said. “We know that a lot of farmers and ranchers are getting close to retirement, and a lot of them want to step away, but they just don’t have that next generation to pass it on to.”
Meyer says programs like this are important not only because of how expensive it is to get into farming, but also for the future of rural communities.
“There have to be jobs there, whether it’s farming, whether it’s ranching, whether it’s the other businesses that support the farming and ranching,” she said. “We have to keep those rural communities alive.”
LEARN MORE: https://cap.unl.edu/landlink/
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