The main obstacle preventing a younger generation from entering farming is a lack of access to land. By 12/18/2020 The main obstacle preventing a younger generation from entering farming is a lack of access to land, the National Young Farmers Coalition said in a recent report that advocates for programs that would advance a new generation of farmers and promote racial equity in the sector. “Access to land is the number one barrier facing aspiring farmers today, and this barrier is even greater for farmers of color,” said Holly Rippon-Butler, director of the group’s Land Access Program. About 900 million acres in the United States are used for agriculture, which contributes $132.8 billion to the gross domestic product. But land ownership reflects broad inequities, the report says, with whites owning 98% of the nation’s farmland and accounting for 95% of all farmers. USDA figures also show that a third of farmers are over age 65, while only 9% are 35 or younger.