Half of farmers are over retirement age. Is our food system at risk?

When the 77-year-old patriarch of a centuries-old New Jersey farm died in early August, more than 1,300 people commented beneath a Facebook post announcing the passing of the eighth-generation farmer.

Many said Hunter’s Farm and Market, the family business John Hunter took over decades ago, was an integral part of their life. It was where their family bought corn, tomatoes and green beans every summer, and where some learned how to do “hard work” during part-time high school jobs.

Hunter’s son, also named John Hunter, said his father’s death, caused by a “mechanical accident,” put the family in “an unfortunate club.” With nearly 40% of all farmland across the country now owned by farmers over the age of 65, it’s a club quickly gaining membership – and raising alarm bells.

As the average age of the American farmer ticks above 57, industry leaders have voiced concerns about the future of American agriculture and the country’s food supply.

More than 95% of farms in the United States are family-owned. Yet, the number of farms has steadily declined in recent years amid greater consolidation. In 2022, there were almost 2 million farms and ranches, down 6.9% from 2017, according to data from the Department of Agriculture’s census report.

The number of farms could fall further as farmers continue to age, and fewer young people take their place.

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