Our Editor’s Dish pieces are taken from our free newsletter, sent on Monday and Thursday each week.

by TM Petaccia

According to the USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, the average age of a farmer in the United States is 58.1 years old — up 0.6 years from the last census in 2017. Let that sink in for a moment. Now ask yourself, where will your food come from ten years from now?

Kind of a scary thought, no?

In addition to changing weather patterns, the impending danger of the loss of field hands, and urban encroachment, the biggest danger to our food supply may just be we’re running out of farmers.

We can point to a few reasons for the lack of youth in agriculture. Small farm estate taxes jeopardize generational farming. The inheritors simply can’t afford to keep the farm going. I don’t know enough to say how we can correct this, but I do think it’s worth asking our state representatives to take a look at it.

We can also do more with farming education. From doing simple veggie and herb gardens in elementary schools to more focused agricultural education in high schools to equip students with critical skills in farming techniques, responsible sustainability practices, and basic agribusiness management. Programs like Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H have already proven successful, but expanding hands-on learning opportunities in our school system can hopefully motivate a new generation of eager farmers to help feed North Carolina and our nation.

In addition to education, incubator farming programs can provide an essential stepping stone for beginning farmers. These programs offer access to land, mentorship, and resources, helping new farmers overcome high startup costs and steep learning curves. For years, the Lomax Research & Education Farm in Concord provided access to beginning farmers, but due to funding cuts and other factors, most of its fields currently lie fallow.

Encouraging news recently is that Mecklenburg County is embarking on a new project, the Edgewater Farm Project, which will eventually be a resource for upcoming farmers to learn and hone their crafts. We’ll be following this development closely and as soon as we know more, so will you.

In the meantime, later this week, we’ll be updating our CSA guide for 2025. This is a way you can support local farmers now as well as get a steady source of fresh, locally raised produce and proteins. Hopefully, we can plant the seeds now to grow a new generation of farmers so we can continue to enjoy North Carolina’s bounty for years to come.

Eat well.