A new report calls for greater accountability in the system that provides funding to farmers in underserved communities. The research takes a dive into the Farm Credit System, examining the risks and suggesting improvements to make the system more fair and sustainable.

Report lead author Dr. Joshua Humphreys is a farmer and president of the Croatan Institute. He asserted that, despite the Farm Credit System making around 45% of all agricultural loans, there is no transparency in how much of the funding goes to small, midsized or socially disadvantaged farmers.

"Minority home buyers were deeply underserved," Humphreys pointed out, "yet no data demographically related to race, ethnicity or gender along the lines of other equal lending opportunity sectors are provided."

According to the report, most Farm Credit System loans go to very large operations, and fewer than 20% to small or beginning farmers. Humphreys said the findings can be an opportunity for the system to address the disparities.

The report also examines the system's lack of climate-related reporting, and suggests ways to make sustainability a bigger priority in lending. For the last several decades, farmers have dealt with increased risks -- from rising temperatures and more frequent severe storms to wildfires.

Report contributor David Beck, director of policy at Self-Help Credit Union, said as agriculture's Government-Sponsored Enterprise, more can be done to help farmers to transition to more eco-friendly practices.

"For instance, helping small farmers or even larger farmers switch to more regenerative ag practices that can require a lot of upfront cost," Beck explained. "So, maybe helping subsidize that switch to more sustainable ag systems."

The research touches on governance issues as well, such as board members serving expired terms. Humphreys added these challenges must be addressed, as taxpayers ultimately would bail the system out in the event of a crisis.

"Agriculture is not immune from a wide array of environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities," he insisted. "I think that's the key takeaway, is that we really want to encourage the Farm Credit System to end its laggard position among Government-Sponsored Enterprises."

The report recommends conducting more climate research, implementing Green and Impact Bonds, and establishing a grant set-aside program through a congressional mandate.




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New Mexico may never be a leader in aquaculture but some fish farmers are finding success in the arid state.

Rossana Sallenave, professor and extension aquatic ecology specialist at New Mexico State University, said the U.S. is among the top five consumers of fish and shellfish. She believes aquaponics, used to raise large quantities of fish and plants in relatively small volumes of water, is highly suited to promoting sustainable agriculture.

"I think the future here in New Mexico is recirculating systems," Sallenave explained. "Because we are running out of water and that's the area of aquaculture that is really gaining some traction here in New Mexico, particularly aquaponics."

Sallenave pointed out New Mexico's unique environmental and biological resources include 15 billion acre-feet of saline water. She noted it cannot be used for traditional agriculture or for drinking water but could be used for aquaculture. Global demand for seafood is projected to increase by 70% in the next 30 years and experts believe a dramatic increase in aquaculture could help supply food needs.

According to Sallenave, aquaculture, like most farming enterprises, is highly risky because many variables must be controlled over a long period to produce a marketable crop. If control is not maintained, a crop can be lost, resulting in substantial financial losses. But she emphasized it can be a viable enterprise for those willing to educate themselves, keep abreast of new technologies and apply what others have learned. And compared to traditional agriculture, aquaponics requires significantly less fresh water.

"You can grow protein and you can grow plants in a small recirculating system which needs very little water," Sallenave outlined. "Just topping off a little bit weekly to replace evaporative losses."

Sallenave added the site selected for an aquaculture enterprise, which must meet the biological criteria for the species proposed, has a significant effect on an operation's viability. One New Mexico success story is AmeriCulture near Animas, which started producing Nile tilapia commercially more than a decade ago using geothermally heated greenhouses in pure well water from a desert aquifer.


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A bill in the Idaho Legislature would lower restrictions for allowing chickens in residential areas.

The impetus for the legislation from Sen. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, is in part high prices and the shortage of eggs at the grocery store. Senate Bill 1026 would ensure that homeowners associations could not bar residents from raising up to four chickens per one-fifth of an acre.

"Most people eat more than four chickens a year," said Ariel Agenbroad, who focuses on food systems and small farms at the University of Idaho Extension, "but for egg laying, if a chicken is laying an egg every other day, that can be a significant number of eggs that can be used by that family or that household."

While raising chickens could offset egg costs in the long run, Agenbroad notes there can be substantial upfront costs to the birds. Critics of the bill have said the chickens could potentially disrupt neighbors. Other concerns include noise, odor and the spread of diseases such as salmonella, to name a few. The legislation has passed out of the Senate and moved on to the House.

Agenbroad said people aren't going to get rich raising a small number of chickens in their backyards.

"Policies like this can have a really positive impact on people's ability to be self-sustaining," she said, "but I don't see it having a lot of impact on small business, like entrepreneurship or our farm business development, because the numbers are so small."

Agenbroad said it could pique someone's interest in farming, however. And beyond their value as farm animals, she said as a former chicken owner herself, the entertainment value alone is worth it.


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In Pennsylvania, a nonprofit striving to secure the future of small dairy farms is hoping its federal funding won't be frozen much longer.

Agriculture drives the state's $83 billion economy, with more than 50,000 farms. The Dairy Grazing Alliance includes an apprenticeship program to connect mentors and apprentices across 16 states. It supports dairy farmers using managed grazing to restore land, produce quality milk and stay profitable.

Jessica Matthews, apprenticeship manager for the alliance, said Pennsylvania currently has nine apprentices and 12 mentors.

"I read a statistic that we've lost 95% of small dairy farms since the '70s," Matthews noted. "The Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship was originally formed to train the next generation of dairy farmers, because small farm owners were retiring without an identified successor."

Matthews said the program runs on 98% federal grant funding, with some climate-smart funds potentially tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. The money is on hold as they await guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Sustainable Ag Coalition, and producer payments have been paused until further notice.

The Trump administration tariffs on goods from China and Mexico are also expected to have an effect on farming in the state. Matthews pointed out one reason dairy farming is an expensive part of the ag industry in Pennsylvania is farmers are buying their supplies at market cost.

"Everything from Ajax for the milk house to iodine for teat dips, to vaccinations, all of that is bought at market costs at the farm," Matthews stressed. "They're making milk, and the milk is being sold at a wholesale cost per hundredweight."

She underscored it is hard to balance the high expenses with what farmers make from the milk when selling to a co-op. She added most milk stays in the country but higher tariffs on imported production supplies will raise farmers' input costs, even as their output remains the same.


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