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by Stewart Truelsen

Farm Bureau is celebrating the people who make American agriculture what it is today and is looking for ways to help beginning farmers who we can depend on tomorrow. At the AFBF convention in Tampa, Fla., President Bob Stallman challenged the organization's Young Farmer and Rancher Committee to come up with a proposal to the AFBF board of directors to help beginning farmers.

"I know that Farm Bureau would never be able to do away with all the risks a beginning farmer faces, nor should we, but I am confident there are a few reasonable steps we can take to help give beginning farmers a jump start. We need to do more to invest in the future," Stallman said.

State and federal programs already exist to help beginning farmers as early as age 18. The 2002 Farm Bill modified existing programs by increasing the terms of Farm Service Agency down payment loans from 10 to 15 years at 4 percent interest. It also increased the maximum percentage that the FSA may finance from 30 to 40 percent of the purchase price or assessed value of a farm.

At meetings and events this year the American Farm Bureau is using the theme "Celebrating Agriculture" with a special emphasis on the people who make it the best in the world. There's no better time than now to involve interested young people in agriculture and give them a boost. They could end up choosing other careers if we don't.