Montana’s Nouveau Ranchers: A new crop of farmers and ranchers is needed to replace today’s aging producers

Lyle Shammel graduated from Montana State University with a degree in civil engineering, but opted for a career in agriculture because it better suited his temperament.

"I worked for Fergus Electric during the summers, and I could have worked for them after college," Shammel said during a short break from calving and feeding duties at the family ranch near Hilger in central Monana. "I kicked it around, but decided that I’d rather work outdoors. I decided I’m not that interested in desk work."

Shammel, newly married and with most of his working life ahead of him, is bucking demographic trends that have left experts wondering who will raise the nation’s food once today’s farmers reach retirement age.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average age of American farmers and ranchers is 58, and one in five of them is at least 65 years old.

Montana Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Rancher Committee http://mfbf.org.preview.s3.agtown.com/page/1032/young/farmers/and/ranchers.html?inet=aD1sYmhhdC1zbmV6cmVmLW5hcS1lbmFwdXJlZi15YXgmcmg9dWJ6ci15YXgmcnBsdWdpbi1hY3Rpb249ZGVmYXVsdA

By TOM HOWARD

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