• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Agriculture / Study says small farms miss out on research dollars

Study says small farms miss out on research dollars

October 13, 2006 By admin

Small farms are missing out on government research dollars according to a new study by the Center for Rural Affairs. The study found that of the five-hundred million dollars spent on four U.S. Agriculture Department research and grant programs, only five-percent went to small- and mid-sized farmers or beginning farmers.

Kim Leval, the center’s senior policy analyst, says that’s a major concern. “Every year the average age of farmers increases by about a year,” Leval says. Right now, the average age of the American farmer is about 57. Without federal support for beginning farmers, Leval wonders who will be the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Leval says we all should care about having a strong agricultural economy and food security.

The report concludes that many projects that got funding were essentially research and development initiatives for large food companies. In a prepared statement, the Agriculture Department responded that two of the programs are not specifically targeted at small producers. The agency also pointed to a new technical assistance grant program started this year for small farmers.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Agriculture, Politics / Govt

Featured Stories

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

Man convicted of two Muscatine County murders dies in prison

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Key stretch begins for #9 Iowa

Drake’s Roman Penn lost for the season

Drake’s DeVries named to Naismith watch list

State wrestling opens with limited attendance

Iowa’s Wieskamp is B1G Player of the Week

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC