More Strategies for Young People

This is a follow-up to last week’s article concerning tips for the younger generation. Since the first of the year, I have addressed 12 young and beginning farmer conferences with more than 1,000 people attending. I am noticing a turnover starting to occur in American and Canadian agriculture. Here are some more tips for getting young people involved.

• If you bring them into the operation, they should be prepared with a long-term plan, job description and training program. Get them involved in the whole business.
• Allow them to seek profitability and opportunity through diversification. More are looking at value-added opportunities, agri-entertainment ventures and being managers and owners of these businesses.
• Young people do not want to be clock watchers. They are very project-oriented, enjoy flexibility, within reason, and like to see completion of projects.
• Make them believe that they will not have to work all day, every day and feel guilty about wanting to leave work.
• Allow them to mentor with other successful producers or businesspeople. These new ideas can energize a business.

• Oil prices are $37 per barrel. If they stay above $36 for three to four months, there’s a good chance of a recession.
• We are experiencing a steel shortage caused by China. This does not bode well for the U.S. economy!

Editors' note: Dave Kohl, The Corn and Soybean Digest Trends Editor, is an ag economist at Virginia Tech. He recently completed a sabbatical working with the Royal Bank of Canada. He is now back at Virginia Tech with his academic appointment, which is teaching, extension, and applied research.

To see Dave Kohl's previous road warrior adventures type Dave Kohl in the Search blank at the top of the page.

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