Farming Is An Ever-Changing Business

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Farming is an ancient way of life, but a constantly changing business.

This year, a national study will survey the latest trends.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service is gathering the latest data for the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Farming is one of the biggest businesses in Mississippi.

According to the last Census of Agriculture, there were over 38,000 farms spread across the state, but it’s not easy money.

“Farming is tough, you know? Most years you just work to try to break even,” says grain farmer, Tony Dantzler.

Over the last five years, crop value has changed, so farmers are producing more and getting paid less.

“Corn was $7 dollars a bushel. Soybeans were $15 dollars and now, corn is $3.50 a bushel and beans are $8.40, and it just, you have to grow so much to compensate for the loss in price.”

The unknowns of the industry are why grain farmer, Tony Dantzler, has been pulling double duty for over 25 years.

He spends his nights on the railroads and mornings on the farm.

“It’s allowed me to stay in the farming business because I have an income that I live off of and the tough years on the farming side, it’s you know, it just, I don’t worry about it as much.”

As prices vary, so do the ages of farmers, 60 was the average age back in 2012.

“I think it just depends on the territory, but I think here in our region, you see a big number of younger farmers and I think in some of the areas, maybe outside of our region, in the Delta, you’re going to see a little older group and a larger farm acres per farm operation,” says Mississippi State University Regional Extension Specialist in Agronomic Crops, Dennis Reginelli.

Five years ago, only four percent of farmers were under 35 years old, but Reginelli says here in east Mississippi, they’re seeing a rise in the 25 to 35 age group getting into the field.

“I think you’re still seeing a trend, where the infrastructure has been laid for the farmers to have some success. They’re not getting into it as a new grower, they’re getting into it because their family had a farm and they can join that family farm and operation.”

The National Agricultural Statistics Service started mailing out questionnaires for the 2017 Census to farm and ranch operators back in December.

Completed forms are due by February 5, 2018.