July 17, 2002

Ag Students See Larger Farms, Need to Attract Young People

Students enrolled in agriculture programs at North Dakota colleges and universities see a continued trend to larger farms and ranches and feel attracting young people is the top priority in developing North Dakota agriculture, according to a survey conducted by the North Dakota State University Agriculture Ambassadors.

Students surveyed were from NDSU, Bismarck State College, Lake Region State College, Dickinson State University and North Dakota State College of Science.

When asked, "What do you see for the future of agriculture?" students’ most common responses were larger farms and ranches and the demise of small operations. Most common responses for what can be done to improve the future of agriculture were better prices, education and increased opportunities and incentives, especially for young people.

Most respondents (60 percent) believed production would continue to be the leading agricultural sector in North Dakota, while just 16 percent thought manufacturing and food processing would take the lead.

Attracting young people into agriculture was considered the top priority for developing North Dakota agriculture by 32 percent of respondents; 27 percent opted for attracting and creating valu-added agricultural industry and 24 percent expanded market opportunities for existing products.

Forty-one percent of respondents perceived larger, corporate or cooperative style farms in North Dakota to be negative. However, 77 percent think it is an important goal for a family farm to expand production. Development of new markets was the factor considered to most affect the growth of the agricultural industry in North Dakota by 32 percent of respondents, followed by availability of financial capital and resources by 28 percent.

Forty-four percent of respondents said they are planning to farm or ranch after graduation, and 59 percent said they would farm after graduation if they had the opportunity. Of those planning to farm, 47 percent planned to farm in partnership with a family member.

Of those not planning to farm, lack of interest in production agriculture was the most common reason, cited by 30 percent. Lack of a start up opportunity was listed by 26 percent, not enough economic return by 24 percent and concern with the stability of production agriculture by 19 percent.

Sixty-seven percent of the respondents came from North Dakota, 23 percent from Minnesota and smaller percentages from South Dakota, Montana and other states. The major reason given for studying agriculture was an interest in the subject at 37 percent, followed by employment opportunities at 28 percent and plans to farm at 21 percent.

###

Source: Patti Sebesta, (701) 231-8524, psebesta@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Gary Moran, (701) 231-7865, gmoran@ndsuext.nodak.edu