[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Loan debt a barrier to entrance for young farmers and ranchers [/title][fusion_text]Thursday, June 25th 2015
Results from a new survey conducted by the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) show that student loan debt is one of the key barriers preventing young people from becoming farmers and ranchers. The report, Farming Is Public Service: A Case for Adding Farmers to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, found that 30 percent of survey respondents delayed or declined to enter agriculture because of their student loans. Over 700 NYFC members were surveyed for the report. They carried an average of $35,000 in student loans. Additionally, 28 percent of respondents said student loan pressure has prevented them from growing their business, and 20 percent reported being unable to obtain credit because of their student loans. House lawmakers recently introduced legislation to add farmers to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The Young Farmer Success Act, introduced by Reps. Chris Gibson, R-N.Y., and Joe Courtney, D-Conn., would place farming alongside careers such as nursing, teaching and law enforcement that already qualify for the program.
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