Myth Busting For Beginning Farmer & Rancher (BFR)

Myth: I am too old to be considered a beginning farmer or rancher. False—In fact, there is no age limit or age requirement to be considered a beginning farmer! 

• According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, 61% of beginning farmers and ranchers are between the ages of 35 – 64 with an average age of 47. The USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher (BFR) definition, anyone who has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 years, is based on the number of years a producer has operated a farm or ranch. 

Based on this general definition, each USDA agency has specific criteria, all of which focus on experience rather than age:

Farm Service Agency (FSA) - An individual who has not operated a farm or ranch for more than 10 cumulative years.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - An individual who has not operated a farm, ranch, or non-industrial private forest (NIPF) for more than 10 consecutive years.

Risk Management Agency - An individual who has not actively operated and managed a farm or ranch with an insurable interest in any crop or livestock for more than 5 cumulative crop years (10 crop years for Whole-Farm Revenue Protection). 

MYTH BUSTED!

Find more BFR information at https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmers.