Rachel Clement picks purple mustard before the first hard freeze of the season at Owl’s Nest Farm in Upper Marlboro, Md., on Nov. 9. Sixty-nine percent of the surveyed young farmers had college degrees — significantly higher than the general population. A survey conducted by the National Young Farmers Coalition, an advocacy group, with Merrigan’s help shows that the majority of young farmers did not grow up in agricultural families. Fall colors are on display at Owl’s Nest Farm in Upper Marlboro, Md., this month. And student loan debt — which 46 percent of young farmers consider a “challenge,” according to the National Young Farmers Coalition — can strain already tight finances and disqualify them from receiving other forms of credit.

Source: Washington Post November 23, 2017 19:16 UTC