In the past, rural sociologists used the metaphor of an agricultural ladder to conceptualize the process of entering farming. Aspiring farmers from land-owning families would enter farming as unpaid family laborers, and... [ view full abstract ]
In the past, rural sociologists used the metaphor of an agricultural ladder to conceptualize the process of entering farming. Aspiring farmers from land-owning families would enter farming as unpaid family laborers, and gradually move up the agricultural ladder, gaining farming knowledge and experience, taking on more responsibility, and accruing savings until they could eventually establish their own farms. This metaphor illustrated the process of how new farmers acquired the necessary training and skills and accessed land, and how experienced farmers passed on their farming experience and knowledge to the next generation. However, much has changed since the concept of the agricultural ladder was developed. The agriculture sector has undergone a series of crisis, resulting in a dramatic decline in the number of farmers in the U.S. and many new challenges for aspiring farmers. On the other hand, social movements promoting regenerative agriculture have inspired a cultural shift in awareness and concern with the ways food is produced, and created alternative food networks that provide new opportunities for aspiring farmers.
This paper draws on the concept of the agricultural ladder as a point of departure for understanding the role that the agri-food movement has played in catalyzing the entrance of new groups into farming. I conducted a case study of alternative agriculture in southern Ohio that includes 30 interviews with farmers using alternative agriculture practices. My research question is: What are the pathways followed by farmers entering alternative agriculture in the U.S.? I develop a typology of three different pathways into alternative agriculture. These three distinct pathways or agricultural ladders illustrate the ways that getting starting as a farmer has changed in the U.S., and expand our understanding of the challenges and opportunities of alternative agriculture in the U.S.
Understanding how and why people get started in farming is important because the average age of U.S. farmers has continued to increase, with 33 percent being 65 and older in the last census. Furthermore, there is a lack of new farmers entering agriculture to replace those who are ready to retire. In this context, the USDA has developed policies and programs to encourage the entrance of new farmers. Given the USDA’s investment in beginning farmers, better understanding the motivations, social values, and goals that are driving the entrance of new groups into agriculture is important.
