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Nov 07, 2009 (Ottumwa Courier - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Colin Johnson, 33, started full-time farming in Agency about a year ago. His father, who had managed the farm, passed away, and Johnson took over.

Johnson received his graduate degree in animal science from Iowa State University in 2002. Before he became a full-time farmer, Johnson worked with swine for the ISU Extension.

If he hadn't been able to take over the family farm, Johnson said a major struggle would have been just getting a career in farming started. Johnson's farm includes corn, soybeans, hay, oats and cattle.

For many young farmers in Iowa, the biggest struggle is the availability of land, said John Sandbothe, regional manager with the Iowa Farm Bureau in Fairfield.

"Finding land owners that want to rent to young farmers [is difficult]. We can't always be the top bid for their land," he said.

Foot in the door

Some young farmers are getting their foot in the door by starting with hog farming. Though the pork industry is struggling, Sandbothe said that hog farms don't require as much land as other ag ventures. That makes it easier for young farmers to invest in the business and get started.

Tony Adrian, 32, who farms with his father near Fairfield and has a full-time job off-the-farm, has started a small cow/calf operation with his wife, Sara.

"Livestock is an opportunity for young people to get involved in farming and supplement their income. It's ard for a young guy to go out and buy enough ground to ever make it," Adrian said. "When a young guy proposes something like a cattle building or a hog building, that also helps the community itself and the farmer get started."

Ryan Reed, 34, a Wapello County farmer, started his hog operation three years ago for similar reasons.

The main reason -- to have more flexibility and time with his family. He said a hog operation takes up less equity than crop farming.

Along with his hog operation, Reed also produces some crops. He was able to do this because he found an established farmer in the area who was willing to form a partnership.

"As a young farmer, you've got to partner yourself with someone who is established in row farming, work with them, learn from them and try to grow your operation," said Reed, who has a degree in business management

Others, Sandbothe said, are getting into specialty products like pumpkins and apple farming.

Family men

Young farmers struggle with getting their operation started, while at the same time many also have full-time jobs and are starting a family.

Reed's parents farmed, and he said it was different for him. They had equity, contacts, storage space, which are things that are difficult for a young farmer to acquire.

"Things are tighter now than they were when I had a job in town, but that's something I'm willing to give up to have the time to spend with my family," said Reed, who has three children.

Adrian said farming has always been in his blood, and maybe someday, his 4-year-old son Tanner will follow in his footsteps.

"I'm not going to force anyone in one direction," he said. "I really hope that there's the opportunity that if he wants to, he can come back and farm. It's a very good lifestyle, and if he so chooses I hope I can reward him with that."

Future of farming

"Our generation has high expectations for living standards," Johnson said. "Sometimes you got to make some sacrifices on your lifestyle."

However, he said, sometimes older farmers make sacrifices to help young farmers get started.

"There's always opportunities, but a lot of times there's a lot of hurdles you have to get through to get there," Sandbothe said. "Right now, the markets aren't doing too well, that's why you have to really look at the marketing opportunities."

Today, farmers have to keep their eyes on the market and make sure they are doing the best thing for their operation. Now, farmers need to think outside of the box and focus on the long-term, Sandbothe said.

The average farmer in Iowa is about 56 years old, according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture.

Iowa has an older population, Sandbothe said, although he isn't worried that there will be a shortage of farmers someday.

"It's not something we really want to think about, but it's possible," he said.

"If you look nationally, around 25 percent of our full-time farmers are over 70 years old. Iowa is not quite that high," Johnson said.

As Sandbothe's grandfather told him, "we're always going to have land and we're always going to have water, it just depends on who owns all the water and who owns all the land."

Reed is hopeful that someday he will be able to expand his operation.

"I want to expand my row crop, but not at absolutely any cost. I want to do it in an intelligent way that allows me to be a successful farmer in the future," he said.

Adrian concedes there is a great deal of uncertainty associated with farming.

"The sad part is that it seems like there's fewer and fewer and larger and larger farms. I don't know if that's attributed to people not being able to [farm], or people not realizing how good of a lifestyle it is," he said.

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Pat Shaver

Copyright (C) 2009, Ottumwa Courier, Iowa

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