land & resource access
SUPPORTING FARMERS FROM THE GROUND UP
Goal: To improve food farmers' access to long term land tenure and the resources necessary to build viable businesses, especially for those who have been historically and systemically marginalized.
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Access to land is deeply connected to multiple issues –
• Society needs farmers to grow healthy food, fiber, and other crops.
• Access to land is the number one challenge facing the next generation of farmers in the United States (National Young Farmers, 2023).
• Land access is key to supporting positive public health outcomes and social equity as it impacts what is grown, where, and by whom.
• Access to land is particularly important for marginalized communities as it can be one of the largest forms of generational wealth (Gilbert, Wood, Sharp, 2002).
Data on who owns and farms Iowa’s land clarifies why this is an issue.
• Two thirds of Iowa farmers are over 65 years of age – retirement age (Tong and Zhang, 2023).
• 84% of Iowa farm ground is owned debt-free and is increasingly owned by non- farmers who like fixed cash-rent contracts and are highly unlikely to sell their ground to someone outside the family (Clayton, 2023).
• Agricultural land value in Iowa has seen sharp increases in recent years (29% from 2020 to 2021), putting land ownership out of reach for most young and beginning farmers and farmers of color with less generational wealth (Chandio, 2023).
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The Land & Resource Access priority team is dedicated to fostering expanded partnerships and creating space to support the outlined strategies below. This team is currently led by Lutheran Services of Iowa’s Global Greens program and Practical Farmers of Iowa and welcomes others who are also playing a critical role in and interested in contributing to this priority.
• Zach Couture, LSI Global Greens
• Martha McFarland, Practical Farmers of Iowa
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To achieve our goal to improve food farmers’ access to the land and resources necessary to build viable businesses, we have determined the following strategies and actions are urgently needed.
Strategy 1: Develop a portfolio of low-barrier funding that bridges gaps for farmers to access land, capital, and other farm resource needs.
Strategy 2: Expand innovative pathways to land ownership and land tenure beyond the traditional pathways of family transfer or financing, loans, or generational wealth.
Strategy 3: Improve farm linking services between land seekers and landowners.
Strategy 4: Ensure diverse, small, urban, and mid-sized farmers have equitable opportunities and services at USDA and other financial and business institutions.
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• Many new and beginning farmers face significant barriers to accessing affordable land. Innovative land access programs and policies can help bridge this gap.
• Healthy soil is the foundation of productive farming. Practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage improve soil health, increase carbon sequestration, and enhance water retention.
• Equitable access to resources such as funding, education, and infrastructure is crucial for creating a fair and resilient food system.
• Federal and state conservation programs can provide farmers with financial and technical assistance to implement sustainable practices that protect natural resources.
• Urban agriculture is on the rise, providing fresh produce in cities and reconnecting people with the source of their food. Access to vacant lots and supportive policies are key to the success of urban farms.
• Read the Existing Conditions section in this chapter to learn about these and other important details about this priority.
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Participants in the Iowa Food System Coalition work together, rely upon each other, and hold one another accountable in the work to advance the priorities of the Iowa Food System Plan. Interested in working together to advance a thriving, equitable food system in Iowa? Fill out our Interest Form here.
Photo: Tika Bhandari, LSI Global Greens program graduate, speaking to a crowd at PFI Field Day. Source: Practical Farmers of Iowa