NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — With the average age of the American farmer hovering near 60, rural America is facing a demographic reality in which cognitive sharpness — not just physical ability — matters for managing land, livestock, and family legacy.
A new, 25-year study from Northwestern University highlights a group known as “SuperAgers,” individuals aged 80 and older whose cognitive function rivals that of people decades younger. Researchers found that these high-performing elders exhibit less brain volume loss and show markedly higher social engagement, with more of the rare von Economo neurons, which are tied to social processing and resilience.
The scientists emphasize that social interaction appears to strengthen brain networks as much as formal “mental exercise.” Multigenerational farms and rural communities already rely on strong personal networks — co-ops, church groups, auctions, feed stores — and this research provides a medical backing for why those connections matter.
Neurologists involved say that structured social activity, lifelong learning, and purposeful routines all contribute to catch-up-resiliency in cognitive aging, while isolation can be “as bad for your health as smoking,” in the words of one geriatric expert.
Farm-Level Takeaway: For aging operators and their rural neighbors, staying socially engaged is a practical strategy to preserve decision-making capacity and farm vitality.
Tony St. James
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, November 17, 2025.
November 17, 2025 05:05 PM
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UMN Extension’s Emily Krekelberg outlines today’s top farm stressors, key signs of mental health distress in rural communities, and the resources available for support.
November 17, 2025 03:12 PM
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National Pork Board Chief Sustainability Officer Jamie Burr shares a closer look at the Pork Checkoff’s Pork Cares Farm Impact Report, a research program to increase trust in the pork supply chain.
November 17, 2025 02:03 PM
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Brooks York with Agrisompo joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report with some guidance on how producers can navigate their crop insurance claims for unsold grain crops.
November 17, 2025 01:46 PM
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For many farm businesses, property taxes on business assets have become a significant and highly visible expense, threatening liquidity, discouraging investment, and creating a disproportionate burden when compared to other industries.
November 17, 2025 01:34 PM
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Ethanol markets remain mixed — weaker production and blend rates are being partially balanced by stronger exports as winter demand patterns take shape.
November 17, 2025 01:24 PM
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Strong U.S. yields and steady demand leave most major crops well supplied, keeping price pressure in place unless usage strengthens or weather shifts outlooks.
November 17, 2025 01:17 PM
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Retail competition and improved supplies are helping offset food inflation, pushing Thanksgiving meal costs modestly lower despite higher prices for beef, eggs, and dairy.
November 16, 2025 03:00 PM
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While agriculture doesn’t predict every recession, the sector’s long history of turning down before the broader economy
November 16, 2025 12:00 PM
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