S.Hrg.119-114

1[Senate Hearing 119-114]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                                                        S. Hrg. 119-11456                       THE AGING FARM WORKFORCE:7                    AMERICA'S VANISHING FAMILY FARMS89=======================================================================1011                                HEARING1213                               BEFORE THE1415                       SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING1617                          UNITED STATES SENATE1819                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2021                             FIRST SESSION2223                               __________2425                             WASHINGTON, DC2627                               __________2829                              JUNE 4, 20253031                               __________3233                           Serial No. 119-093435         Printed for the use of the Special Committee on Aging3637[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3839        Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov4041                                __________4243                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE4460-945 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 20254546-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4748                       SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING4950                     RICK SCOTT, Florida, Chairman5152DAVE McCORMICK, Pennsylvania         KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, New York53JIM JUSTICE, West Virginia           ELIZABETH WARREN, Massachusetts54TOMMY TUBERVILLE, Alabama            MARK KELLY, Arizona55RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin               RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia56ASHLEY MOODY, Florida                ANDY KIM, New Jersey57JON HUSTED, Ohio                     ANGELA ALSOBROOKS, Maryland58                              ----------59                McKinley Lewis, Majority Staff Director60                Claire Descamps, Minority Staff Director6162                        C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S6364                              ----------6566                                                                   Page6768Opening Statement of Senator Rick Scott, Chairman................     169Opening Statement of Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, Ranking70  Member.........................................................     27172                           PANEL OF WITNESSES7374Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation,75  Madison, GA....................................................     476Jim Alderman, Owner, Alderman Farms, Boynton Beach, FL...........     577Aaron Locker, Managing Director, Kincannon & Reed, Lewes, DE.....     778Chris Wolf, Ph.D., E.V. Baker Professor of Agricultural Economics79  and Director of Land Grant Affairs, Cornell University, Ithaca,80  NY.............................................................     98182                                APPENDIX83                      Prepared Witness Statements8485Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation,86  Madison, GA....................................................    3287Jim Alderman, Owner, Alderman Farms, Boynton Beach, FL...........    3488Aaron Locker, Managing Director, Kincannon & Reed, Lewes, DE.....    3689Chris Wolf, Ph.D., E.V. Baker Professor of Agricultural Economics90  and Director of Land Grant Affairs, Cornell University, Ithaca,91  NY.............................................................    389293                        Questions for the Record9495Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation,96  Madison, GA....................................................    439798                       Statements for the Record99100BPR Lab Statement................................................    47101102                       THE AGING FARM WORKFORCE:103                    AMERICA'S VANISHING FAMILY FARMS104105                              ----------106107                        Wednesday, June 4, 2025108109                                        U.S. Senate110                                 Special Committee on Aging111                                                    Washington, DC.112    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 4:15 p.m., Room113216, Hart Senate Office Building, Hon. Rick Scott, Chairman of114the Committee, presiding.115    Present: Senators Scott, Justice, Tuberville, Moody,116Gillibrand, and Warnock.117118                 OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR119                      RICK SCOTT, CHAIRMAN120121    Chairman Scott. The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging122will now come to order.123    Today, we are gathered to discuss a very pressing issue,124not just for our aging community, but for our country. The U.S.125is the breadbasket of the world, thanks largely to family126farms. Unfortunately, the farming and agricultural workforce is127aging and nearing retirement, and fewer and fewer young people128are looking to take over their families' farms or enter the129agriculture industry.130    With more farmers leaving the field and not having someone131to pass their land and legacy on to we face significant132challenges to agricultural production, rural community133sustainability, and U.S. food security.134    Here is why this matters: U.S. food security is national135security.136    American farmers are the Nation's oldest workforce,137averaging 58 years old. One-third of farmers and ranchers are138over the age of 65. In my home State of Florida, that number is139even higher, accounting for roughly 40 percent of all farmers.140    This group of aging farmers owns over 40 percent of U.S.141farmland, and with more farmers retiring and fewer children142looking to take over farms for their families, these farms and143their legacies are at risk.144    The U.S. has lost more than 200,000 farms since 2007. That145is 40 million acres of land being repurposed for commercial,146residential, industrial development, and 40 million acres of147land that are no longer producing food and agricultural148products in the United States.149    There are many factors that contribute to this loss. Most150farmers are not looking to sell land to a developer. They151prefer to keep their family farm functional and to pass their152hard-tilled land on to someone who can continue their legacy153and service to the community.154    More and more young people are turning away from their jobs155in farming and agriculture, due largely to the increased cost156of farming, which is especially difficult for small farmers and157those just starting out. This next generation of farmers are158facing increased regulatory burdens and operating costs. The159national price for farmland has increased over seven percent in160three years, averaging $4,000 an acre. Over 80 percent of161farmers work a second job.162    Farmers face many challenges, from natural disasters to163inflation. Rising input costs, especially high energy costs,164make continuing in the family business less attractive to165younger generations. This is also true when accounting for166death, property, and inheritance taxes that can make taking167over a family farm overwhelming.168    New farmers face even steeper obstacles, including access169to land. As older farmers retire, foreign and adversarial170entities, like Communist China, look to gain a stronger toehold171in the U.S. agricultural sector by buying their land. At this172point, China owns more than 350,000 acres of farmland across 27173states. That is not an acceptable threat. American farmers also174must deal with unfair trade practices undercutting their175product on an international level.176    Congress has not always done right by our farmers. The177major legislative package aimed at supporting farmers and178agricultural workers--the farm bill--has not passed since 2018.179This is especially harmful for farmers who have suffered with180rising prices for the last four years under the last181administration.182    While President Trump is having success in bringing down183prices and fighting to support American farmers, he needs184Congress to act as well, and passing a good farm bill is the185right place to start. Otherwise, we will continue to use186outdated information which compounds the harm done by other187economic and regulatory factors. As a result, the burden188increases on our aging farmers who want nothing more than to189see their farm continue in trustworthy hands but are finding it190harder and harder to find someone to carry on their legacy.191    The aging farm workforce and the loss of family farms192presents a critical challenge to the sustainability of American193agriculture. During this hearing, I hope to hear from our194witnesses how we can better protect the heritage of our aging195farmers and better secure the handover of farms to the next196generation. We owe it to our retiring farm workforce to ensure197their legacy can be continued, while ensuring our food supply198and shoring up the security of our Nation.199    Now I would like to recognize Ranking Member Gillibrand for200her opening statement.201202                 OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR203             KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, RANKING MEMBER204205    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As we all206know, our farm workforce is aging. On average, our Nation's207farmers are older now than they were when the last census of208agriculture was conducted in 2017.209    Because of financial stress, many farmers who would210otherwise retire have had to keep on working. Some farmers have211faced pressure to sell their farms to other owners if their212family does not want to continue operations. Meanwhile, a lack213of training and rural amenities, like broadband and childcare,214have made farming less appealing to younger families.215    Our farmers provide an accessible and abundant supply of216food to our whole nation, but with increased consolidation and217more farmlands being converted to non-agriculture uses, we are218sending ourselves down a very risky path.219    Our duty in Congress should be to support our farmers220whatever way we can. With a changing climate, rising prices,221volatile markets, our farmers are facing many challenges that222make success even harder.223    One of the most important things we can do is to pass a224robust and bipartisan farm bill that addresses the needs of the225agricultural community as well as nutrition and conservation226needs. To encourage the younger generation to return to farming227we must invest in our rural communities. New and beginning228farmers and young people who are returning to their family farm229do not only consider the income that is tied to farming. They230need to be able to access broadband and childcare and health231care. We need to make sure that there is enough mental health232support at times when we see more farmers dying by succumbing233to suicide.234    I have to say that the anxiety and stress caused by the235fluctuating tariffs that we are currently seeing has not236helped. Our farmers need consistent policy to make long-term237planting and investment decisions. They need reliability from238Congress in an unpredictable profession. Approximately 20239percent of our agriculture is exported, and farmers rely on240those markets to make a profit.241    I look forward to a positive and productive conversation242today to discuss ways we can support our aging farmers, while243making sure new and beginning farmers continue to enter the244farm workforce.245    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.246    Chairman Scott. Thank you, Ranking Member Gillibrand.247    I now would like to welcome our witnesses here today, all248of whom bring important perspectives on the challenges facing249the aging workforce that we see in American agriculture.250    First, I am proud to welcome someone who has spent his life251fighting for our farmers, Mr. Zippy Duvall, President of the252American Farm Bureau Federation. Mr. Duvall is not only a253national leader in agriculture, he is also a third-generation254farmer from Georgia who understands firsthand the pressures our255family farms are facing. He knows what it means to work the256land, raise a family in agriculture, and build something to257pass on to the next generation.258    Mr. Duvall, thank you for being here. Thank you for your259service to our Nation's farmers and ranchers. You may begin260your testimony.261262             STATEMENT OF ZIPPY DUVALL, PRESIDENT,263          AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, MADISON, GA264265    Mr. Duvall. Thank you, Chairman Scott, and thank you,266Ranking Member Gillibrand. We appreciate the opportunity to be267able to testify here today in front of you and your Committee.268    I am Zippy Duvall, and I am a third-generation Georgia269farmer, and I am president of the American Farm Bureau, who270represents farm families from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. I271am fortunate to follow in my father and grandfather in their272footsteps on our family farm. Today, my son, who is a273veterinarian to help support his habit of farming, we operate a274beef cow farm, we raise broilers there on our farm, and we also275have spent our lifetime restoring the land that has been in our276family for over 90 years.277    As I travel the country and see farms across our great278country I see a lot of gray hair, and while the wisdom of older279generations is critical, we must ensure that we make a way for280young and beginning farmers to fill our boots.281    As this Committee has identified, there are many challenges282facing the agriculture communities, but there are also283opportunities for Congress to support young and beginning284farmers, including and starting with a new farm bill. As I285shared with the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this year,286we need a modernized, 5-year farm bill. Farmers and ranchers287have faced unprecedented volatility since the 2018 Farm Bill288was put into place, making it harder for many of our farmers to289hold on. The 2022 census showed the loss of over 141,000 farms290in five years. That is an average of 77 farms per day that we291have lost.292    With rising interest rates, higher energy prices, supply293costs that have gone unchecked, farmers will plant the most294expensive crops ever planted this year, and many have faced a295tough decision of whether or not to even plant that crop.296    This is why the farm bill and Title I safety net is so297critical.298    Despite skyrocketing costs, the 2024 payments to farmers299are projected to be the lowest since 1982.300    Additionally, farm debt is expected to increase in 2025, to301more than $560 billion.302    Our members support streamlining farm loan programs to meet303the evolving needs of farmers and ranchers and to make304agriculture more accessible to young and beginning farmers.305    We are proud of Secretary Rollins for establishing a Small306Family Farms Policy Agenda. It highlights the need to reform307loan programs, to streamline the delivery and increase the308program efficiency.309    Adding to the uncertainty that farmers and ranchers and310many other small businesses are facing is the possibility of311the largest tax increase in American history. One provision312that is critical to keeping family farms going to the next313generation is the increase of estate tax exemption. If the314exemption level reverts backward, many families will risk315losing their farm. Farm Bureau was pleased to see the progress316made with the House passage of the reconciliation package, and317we urge the Senate to join to ensure America's farmers and318ranchers can continue to provide the food, fuel, and fiber that319our country needs.320    Of course, we cannot paint the full picture on this issue321without talking about our employees. Many of those employees322are like family to us, and they are aging right alongside of323us. That is a problem, because most Americans, they are not324interested in working on our farms anymore, and they are not325interested in coming back to the farm, despite the big326investments that we are making in recruiting people to come327back to the farm.328    Congress needs to recognize that farm workers as an329essential to feeding and fueling our country. It is time to330modernize our outdated system, and only Congress can331meaningfully do that.332    A country that cannot feed its people is not a secure333country. In order to meet the growing demand of food, fiber,334and renewable fuel at home and abroad, we must ensure the335continued strength of our farmers and ranchers in our336communities.337    I want to thank the Chairman for holding this hearing338today, and I look forward to working with you to support the339next generation of farmers, and I would be happy to answer any340questions the Committee might have.341    Chairman Scott. Thank you, Mr. Duvall.342    Next, we are pleased to welcome Jim Alderman, owner of343Alderman Farms in Palm Beach County, Florida. Mr. Alderman has344been farming since 1979, growing a wide variety of organic345vegetables to managing a cow camp operation. He was recently346named the 2025 Florida Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year, a well-347deserved honor that reflects his decades of dedication to348agriculture. He has also been a strong advocate for Florida349farmers, speaking out on key issues like trade and labor, and350serving on multiple advisory committees to help shape351agriculture policy.352    Mr. Alderman, thank you for being here today. You may begin353your testimony.354355               STATEMENT OF JIM ALDERMAN, OWNER,356               ALDERMAN FARMS, BOYNTON BEACH, FL357358    Mr. Alderman. Again, my name is Jim Alderman and I began359Alderman Farms in 1979. We farm about 1,200 acres in eastern360Palm Beach County. We are a very diversified farming361operation----362    Chairman Scott. Mr. Alderman, can you turn your mic on?363    Mr. Alderman. Sorry. It is on. Do you want me to start364over, or where am I at?365    Okay. Again, my name is Jim Alderman. I began farming366Alderman Farms in 1979. We farm approximately 1,200 acres in367eastern Palm Beach County. We are a diversified farming368operation, growing mixed organic vegetables, and particularly369vine-ripe tomatoes. We grow the finest vine-ripe tomato in this370country. Trust me.371    South Florida has a very unique climate, which allows us to372produce vegetables during the winter months, but it also brings373unique challenges--hurricanes, invasive pests, development374pressure, and rising input cost. You learn to adapt, and you375also learn that it is not a sprint. It is a lifelong376commitment.377    At the age of 78 years old, I have spent almost four and a378half decades working the land. I still wake up before sunrise379most days, like my peers. I am still going strong because there380is more work to be done. According to the Committee's report,381the average farmer is now 58 years old. In Florida, nearly 40382percent of our producers are 65 or older. We are proud of our383experience and knowledge, but the question I ask is who is384coming behind us? That is the part that keeps me up at night.385It is just not growing crops. It is passing down the knowledge386discipline in our way of life, but that chain of succession is387breaking. Nationwide, less than nine percent of the farmers are388under 35 years of age, and then the numbers are even more389sobering in states like mine. Young people want to farm but390they are running into walls, such as expensive land costs,391expensive equipment costs, and the cost of financing is very392difficult.393    The big question is why are farmers selling out, without394young men and women stepping in. The incentive to make a profit395is not there. We may ask why can't they make a profit. The396first reason that comes to me is that the imports are being397shipped into this country below our production costs. If a398farmer cannot make money, he is not going to expand his399operation. If he has the opportunity to sell land, which was400farmed for years, comes, sometimes the opportunity is too401great. They sell, retire, and then development comes, parking402lots, residential communities, and no agriculture.403    How can we help farmers make it so we can be competitive404with our neighbors to the north and our south? We have to be on405the same level playing field.406    Another problem farmers have is the invasion of invasive407insects and diseases that have entered our country from other408countries. For example, we have seen the citrus industry, with409citrus greening, has devastated the citrus industry. We have410gone from 240 million boxes of oranges in production to around41140 million boxes today, all because of an insect that came in412with bacteria that causes citrus greening. I think that it413would help our country if we had better inspections at our414ports of entry to combat invasion of insects and diseases that415come from other countries.416    One of the other problems we have is that we are being417over-regulated. Food safety is of primary concern for Alderman418Farms. We are very careful to make sure that we have the safest419produce coming from our farms. Presently, we have several food420safety inspections. It would be great if we could only have one421that serves all the different inspections that are required.422    Again, farmers must make a profit. They must make money to423continue their operation or they will take the easy way out,424sell their property, and retire. Free and equal trade between425our neighboring countries is a must, and as you know, labor is426a major problem in agriculture. We are now depending on H-2A427labor from Mexico, because we cannot get enough domestic labor428to harvest our crops. Agricultural labor reform is a must.429    If we want to sustain agriculture in America, we need to430smooth the path between the generations, which means investing431in beginning farmer programs, expanding technical assistance,432and offering incentives like estate planning support, and make433it easier to transfer farms without losing the land or the434legacy. These are not just policy tweaks. They are steps in our435food system to prevent eroding one generation at a time.436    I come before you today not just as a farm but someone who437cares deeply about the future of our country's food supply. We438need strong, bipartisan action to support aging farmers invest439in new generations, and keep American agriculture alive and440well for decades to come.441    Thank you for recognizing the urgency of this problem and442thank you for allowing farmers like me to have a voice.443    Chairman Scott. Thank you, Mr. Alderman.444    Mr. Alderman. I will be glad to take any questions at any445time, from anybody.446    Chairman Scott. Perfect. Our next witness brings a critical447perspective from the private sector, someone who has spent his448career helping agricultural businesses find the talent and449leadership they need to succeed. Mr. Aaron Locker is Managing450Director at Kincannon & Reed, the largest executive search firm451in the world focused exclusively on food and agriculture. He452also knows this issue personally. He grew up on a small family453farm in Ohio, and he spent more than three decades working454across the Ag industry.455    Thank you for being here. We appreciate your work, and we456look forward to hearing your insights.457458              STATEMENT OF AARON LOCKER, MANAGING459             DIRECTOR, KINCANNON & REED, LEWES, DE460461    Mr. Locker. Good afternoon, Chairman Scott, Ranking Member462Gillibrand, and members of the Committee. Thanks for the463opportunity to testify before you today. As Chairman Scott464pointed out, my name is Aaron Locker, and I grew up on a small465farm in Ohio, and spent the last 36 years working in466agriculture, from food production to executive leadership.467    Today I serve as Managing Director at Kincannon & Reed. We468are the largest executive search firm focused exclusively on469identifying and recruiting leadership for organizations across470the food and agriculture industries, the organizations that471feed the world.472    For more than 40 years, we have helped Ag organizations473find and develop talent, and right now that leadership pipeline474is under serious strain.475    In 2025, more people will turn 65 than in any year in476history. For every potential leader aged 35 to 50, two are477preparing to retire. In agriculture, where many senior leaders478have been in place for decades, this creates an acute479succession challenge, and the next generation of leaders,480especially those with agricultural backgrounds, is smaller than481ever.482    This is not a coincidence. The 1980's farm crisis did not483just hurt balance sheets. It changed the interest in being484involved in agriculture. The farm crisis did not just hurt485those in production, but the ripple effect was across the486industry. Between 1980 and 1990, while college enrollment went487up seven percent nationwide, enrollment in land-grant488university colleges of agriculture, like Texas A&M, Nebraska,489Minnesota, Penn State, and Iowa State, to name a few, dropped490by nearly 37 percent. That gap is being realized today, in491boardrooms, field offices, and agronomy teams.492    Meanwhile, the complexity of agriculture is growing.493Precision and decision Ag technologies, automation, AI on the494farm, and sustainability initiatives, they are moving fast, but495fewer than one-third of Ag companies that we work with have496formal succession plans. That is not just a statistic--that is497systemic risk.498    Job growth in agriculture is steady, around three percent499per year, but tech and finance are growing three times faster,500so we are not just competing for talent. We are competing for501leadership, and that matters, because as you mentioned,502Chairman Scott, food security is national security.503    Attracting and retaining the next generation also depends504on profitability and predictability. When farmers and505agribusinesses face constant regulatory uncertainty, and rising506compliance costs, it discourages investment and makes507leadership succession harder. To keep agriculture strong, we508must reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens and ensure producers509and those across the industry see a future worth building510toward.511    This is not a challenge the private agribusiness sector can512solve alone. Congress does have a vital role to play, and I513respectfully offer four recommendations.514    First, pass a strong, fully funded farm bill. It provides515stability for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.516    Second, promote agriculture as a mission-driven, modern517career path. No other sector blends health, nutrition, energy,518and technology like agriculture. We have built the safest, most519abundant food supply in the world, but that system will not520sustain itself without the people who lead it. Young people and521career changers need to see agriculture as a place to lead and522innovative.523    Third, invest in leadership development. Support USDA524scholarships, executive fellowships, and training through land-525grant universities and Ag nonprofits.526    Fourth, strengthen rural workforce development. That means527apprenticeships, veteran transitions, and community college Ag528programs, and it means building career paths from urban and529suburban areas into agriculture.530    In closing, the food and agriculture industries are531evolving fast, but our leadership pipeline is not keeping up.532This is not just a workforce issue. It is a threat to our most533essential system, our food supply.534    If we want a strong, sustainable agricultural future we535must invest in people. We just identify and support leaders536early, and we must give them room to grow.537    Thank you for your time and for your focus on this issue,538and I, too, look forward to any questions that you may have.539    Chairman Scott. Thank you, Mr. Locker.540    Now I would like to recognize Ranking Member Gillibrand to541introduce her witness.542    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Chairman Scott. I would like543to introduce Dr. Chris Wolf. Dr. Wolf is the E.V. Baker544Professor of Agricultural Economics at Cornell University's545Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management,546and the Director of Land Grant Affairs.547    Dr. Wolf conducts research, extension, and teaching548focusing on dairy products and policy, business management,549risk management, and farm animal welfare. He also works with550farmers to conduct research in order to identify how public551policy impacts farm behavior and financial outcomes with the552intent of improving decisionmaking for policymakers and553industry professionals.554    You may begin.555556           STATEMENT OF CHRIS WOLF, PH.D., E.V. BAKER557558            PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND559560                DIRECTOR OF LAND GRANT AFFAIRS,561562                 CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NY563564    Dr. Wolf. Thank you. Chairman Scott, Ranking Member565Gillibrand, and members of the Committee, thank you for566inviting me to be part of this hearing. As Senator Gillibrand567said, I currently serve as the E.V. Baker Professor of568Agricultural Economics at Cornell University, where I am569jointly in the SC Johnson College of Business and the College570of Agriculture and Life Sciences. I have a three-way split in571research, extension, and teaching. I have been at Cornell since5722019, and mostly I do work on dairy policy and farm business573management. I have taught farm business management and Ag574finance for the last 25 years at the universities. I also serve575as the Faculty Director of the New York FarmNet program.576    In my home State of New York, which is currently the fifth-577largest producer of milk, we are in the midst of $2.5 billion578in new, private sector investment in dairy manufacturing. To579enable this growth, Cornell is focused on helping to ensure our580family farms thrive, bringing the next generation back to the581farm, increasing production in a sustainable way, and training582both college-bound and non-college-bound students for dairy583careers.584    There are a number of explanations for the increased U.S.585farm age. One is that there is a larger share of commercial586farms that are multigenerational in nature. Rather than the587kids operating separate farms, like they would have done maybe588when I was thinking about going back to the farm, they return589to the operation and become owners, which enables economies in590size and production and management. In this case, the591management team might have a younger average age that is masked592by considering only the primary operator.593    Modern agricultural production also tends to be quite594capital intensive, and that capital accumulation occurs over595the manager's lifetime, the result being that the average farm596age is getting older.597    Finally, given the USDA definition of the farm as "any598place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were599produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the600year," there are a large percentage of farms which are operated601as part-time businesses, and there is nothing wrong with that,602but this also means that if someone retires to some rural603acreage they will be included as a farm and increase the farm604age.605    This is not meant to imply that there are no issues with606farm viability related to increasing farmer age. These include607hurdles that limit the entry of young people into farming and608the need to facilitate the transfer of assets to the next609generation while providing the resources necessary for the610retirement of the older generation. Family-owned farms, which611are 96 percent of U.S. farms, are closely held businesses. The612farms tend to be of the size that meets the management613constraints and the income needs of the family owner-operators.614Because of the capital requirements, farm business assets are615often the retirement plan for farmers. While these farmers hope616to pass the business to the next generation, they also need to617recover the equity value to fund their retirement.618    Attracting the next generation of farm business owner-619managers means making the profession attractive in terms of620income and rural amenities. Significant impediments to621successful intergenerational transfer often relate to622information gaps, and this is where land-grant extension623programs can be a valuable partner.624    New York FarmNet is a program that was created in 1986, in625response to the farm financial crisis. The programs operate a626tollfree number that responds to requests with a team of627financial and mental health professionals to meet with farm628families at no cost. Including mental health professionals was629motivated by the alarming fact that farmers face much higher630rates of depression and suicide than the general population.631    FarmNet receives about 700 calls a year, resulting in about632400 new cases being opened. The remaining calls are referred to633technical, accounting, or legal assistance. Sources of634financial stress that FarmNet sees include price uncertainty,635labor cost and availability, capital costs, land access, and636estate and succession planning. Family related stressors637include health issues, childcare, eldercare, and drug and638alcohol abuse.639    Agriculture ranks among the most dangerous industries in640the U.S. with machinery accidents and injuries being common.641Health care issues include not just the cost but also the642availability and proximity. Farmers often report delaying or643avoid health care due to cost, distance, and time constraints.644Many farmers are underinsured or uninsured, especially those645who are self-employed and operator small family farms.646    Farm business succession is a major source of financial and647family related stress on farms. FarmNet and Cornell Cooperative648Extension and land-grants across the country offer educational649workshops and materials on farm business succession and estate650transfer. In 2024, FarmNet assisted farm businesses that651represented over $13 million in revenue, 600 employees, keeping652more than 180,000 acres active in farming. FarmNet's experience653is that managers who participate in these programs for estate654planning and farm business transfer are likely to engage with655attorneys and accountants to complete successful656intergenerational transfer.657    Applied research and extension land-grant programs like658FarmNet can provide valuable assistance to help ensure659successful farm business transitions and a healthy U.S.660agricultural sector. Thank you.661    Chairman Scott. Thank you, Dr. Wolf. Now we will open it up662for questions. Senator Tuberville.663    Senator Tuberville. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for having and664holding this hearing. In addition to being on the Aging665Committee, gentleman, I am also on the Ag Committee. Let me666tell you, the state of agriculture economy, is in dire straits.667We are in trouble. We have lost 150,000 farms, 25,000 farmers668just in the last five years. Producers have lost over $40669billion in net farm income since 2022, and the current670agriculture trade deficit has grown to $49 billion. Despite my671State of Alabama, producers making bumper crops, they cannot672even break even, much less make a profit, due to the low673commodity prices, high input costs, interest rates, and674inflation. We cannot keep this up. We cannot do it.675    The only way we are going to help our farmers survive is to676extend President Trump's tax cuts, increase reference prices,677and hammer the heck out of foreign countries on tariffs. It is678way out of control, way out of balance. We cannot continue this679direction.680    It is concerning that one-third of our farmers are over age68165, and this creates a significant workforce problem for our Ag682industry, as young people are not entering farming. Mr. Duvall683and Mr. Alderman, this labor problem increases the need for684reforms in H-2A programs. Can you two speak of the struggles of685keeping up with H-2A's adverse effect wage rate that is over686$16 an hour, in my State of Alabama, that is double the minimum687wage. Can you all address that, please?688    Mr. Alderman. Yes, sir, I can.689    Senator Tuberville. Thank you.690    Mr. Alderman. It costs me an hour for my H-2A labor.691Minimum wage in Florida, I think, is $12.50. I am from Florida,692and with the rates going up higher next year--they are talking693about it going up another dollar--we still have to pay for694their housing. We would like some relief at least so we could695get the housing back from the people, the H-2A workers we are696bringing in, but we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars697every year just for housing for the labor, plus we have to698bring them in here, pay for their visas, pay for their ride699here, their ride back. They are great labor. They are good.700Without them we could not harvest our crop.701    We cannot compete with the cheap prices of tomatoes coming702from Mexico against us. They are undercutting the price so703cheap, the tariff that we are talking about is not enough to704make any difference. Twenty percent, 17 percent, that is not705enough to help it. They need a floor, at least what our minimum706growing cost is, and then put a tariff above that, but try to707protect the Florida farmers, the few that are left.708    It is not only just in Florida. At first it was just Mexico709was coming after Florida tomato farmers right after NAFTA.710Well, 20 years later they are growing pepper and squash and711corn and beans, and every vegetable we grow, all the way up the712East Coast, all the way to Jersey and past, they are going to713be competing with all of them, Mexico, with all those products,714and their labor is--I don't know, what are they paying, $10 a715day, and we are paying $25 an hour? There has got to be some716help with the balance of trade.717    We do not want the government to give us anything, but get718us on a level playing field with Mexico and Canada.719    Senator Tuberville. Thank you. Mr. Duvall, do you want to720add to that?721    Mr. Duvall. Yes, sir. The first thing we need to do is for722Congress to freeze the AEWR wage rate so that farmers do not723have to take another increase and give us time to work on this724H-2A program so that we can make it a workable program for our725employees and for the farmer there. The way we are going now,726with the wage rate going up, we are going to price ourselves727out of farming. We are not going to be able to pay the wage728rate and stay in farming and provide those jobs, and it has got729to be done, and it has got to be done quickly.730    Then we have got to work on creating an H-2A program, or a731program, that speaks to all of agriculture. All of agriculture732is suffering for the lack of labor, and we need to have year-733round workers, that is not capped. We need to be able to734control it, but we need to be able to fill those jobs, whether735a small, medium, or large-sized farm, and we need to have those736year-round workers in those areas, like dairy and other places737where the work never stops.738    Then, of course, the regulation to go along with those739programs are just so burdensome. You heard him talk about the740requirement of having housing, the liabilities that come along741with that, and the difficulty it is for our farmers to continue742to abide by all these regulations. Because every regulation743costs a lot of money to a farmer, and if we are going to744continue to be able to compete with the world, we have got to745be able to make sure that we have a workable program, bring746reliable labor here, so that we can get the job done.747    How can a young farmer come back to the farm and bring his748expertise that he learned in college, expand that farm without749having a labor force to do it with? That is one of the biggest750limiting factors we have, and that AEWR rate is set by a survey751done through USDA that was created over 60 years ago to count752employees, not to set a wage rate. The formula is totally753unworkable, and we need to redo that formula and set a fair754wage rate that encourages farmers to hire people and be able to755still stay in business, and treat those employees right.756    Chairman Scott. Thank you, Senator Tuberville. Ranking757Member Gillibrand.758    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Wolf, we759have seen several different tariff levels imposed on various760countries, at various points, on different goods in the last761several months. This has impacted everything from feed costs,762fertilizer, and machinery, increasing operation costs for a lot763of our farmers who already work within very tight financial764margins.765    In the north country of New York State, many dairy farmers766depend on Canadian feed and fertilizer for their operations.767This has been a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship768that we have had with Canada, and it has benefited businesses769on both sides of the border.770    Dr. Wolf, in your opinion, what possible outcomes can we771expect to see if the United States continues to impose these772tariffs, which may lead to both higher input prices and773restricted access to export markets due to retaliatory tariffs?774    Dr. Wolf. Senator Gillibrand, U.S. agriculture is dependent775on trade, both for many inputs as well as for export markets776for their outputs, so increasing tariffs and trade wars is777certainly not something that are going to benefit U.S. farmers.778For example, farms are dependent on inputs from Canada for779things like fertilizer, lumber, and metal, so maintaining that780relationship is better for the farmers, definitely there.781    The U.S. dairy industry, which is what I mostly work with,782on average exports about one day a week of the milk production,783and the most important outlets for U.S. dairy exports are784Mexico, Canada, and China, so maintaining that relationship is785critical for U.S. dairy. Without these exports, stocks would786surge and milk prices would be depressed, and that would lead787to more farm exits.788    U.S. dairy farms are efficient, and they can compete with789anybody in the global market, and I think that is what they790want to do, but we have got to be perceived as a reliable trade791partner, and that same statement could be made for a whole792bunch of different U.S. commodities, from beef and pork to corn793and soybeans.794    In a broader sense, the uncertainty in the last few months,795uncertainty tends to inhibit investment. When the outcomes and796the probabilities of the outcomes are uncertain, that basically797creates a positive option value to waiting on investment, which798is what we are seeing in the last few months a little bit, so799we are waiting on investments at a lot of different levels, and800removing that uncertainty, I think, would help make U.S.801agriculture a better, longer term investment and encourage802investment in that sense.803    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Dr. Wolf. Farming is one of804the most stressful occupations due to its unpredictability of805climate, market prices, and labor shortages. The rate of806suicide among farmers is two to five times higher than the807national average, and approximately 60 percent of rural808Americans live in a designated mental health provider shortage809area.810    I was proud to introduce the National Agriculture Crisis811Hotline Act last Congress to establish a National Agricultural812Crisis Hotline while expanding and supporting the current work813undertaken by the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network.814Programs like the ones at Cornell, New York FarmNet, and the815American Farm Bureau Federation's Farm State of Mind program816are both critical to resources to support our farmers in817moments of crisis.818    President Duvall and Dr. Wolf, how should Congress expand819resources to help our farmers access the mental health820assistance that they need, and how can we reduce the stigma821surrounding mental health in the agriculture community to822encourage our farmers and ranchers to reach out when they are823in need, before they are in a moment of crisis? Mr. Duvall?824    Dr. Duvall. Yes, ma'am. I take that very seriously because825I remember when I was in dairy, when I was back on the farm,826before I got this job, and dairying every day, I lost my wife827of 42 years, my son went to war in Iraq, and with all the828pressures of the farm I realized what those pressures do to a829man, and us old farmers, we are kind of crusty. We sit in a830back room and think we are not supposed to talk about our831feelings, but that is the worst thing we can do. The stigma832that goes along with it, the embarrassment that people think833they experience is not really there, and really and truly, all834they need to do is open up and talk. It is okay not to be okay,835but it is not okay not to talk about it.836    That is why we went and started our Farm State of Mind837program, and we also joined up with Together All, which puts us838in with a peer-to-peer group that farmers can be talking to839each other, and free counseling for farmers and ranchers all840over the country, to be able to be part of.841    To support what you brought up, Georgia Farm Bureau and842Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and Georgia Rural Health did843a study, and it was very sobering the fact that 29 percent844reported thinking about dying of suicide, of Georgia farmers,845and when you look at the younger generation, first-generation846farmers, 49 percent of those first-generation farmers had847thought about dying of suicide at least once a month. Those are848devastating, devastating figures.849    We have got to continue to work with Congress to make sure850that we tear down these barriers that causes higher regulation,851that causes pressure for farmers, find an answer to our labor852problems that is workable for our farmers, and be able to work853with them with an undocumented workforce. We, in agriculture,854know that about 50 percent of the workers out there on the farm855are undocumented, and those people are like family to these856farmers, and we need a way to work through that situation that857a broken system has created here in this country.858    There are a lot of things that Congress can do, but being859able to put them on a level playing field and trade, tear down860regulation, help them find a workable workforce would go a long861way to taking a lot of pressure off.862    Senator Gillibrand. Dr. Wolf, do you want to answer?863    Dr. Wolf. Sure, thanks. A couple of different things I864would point out. One is that the big part of it, as Mr. Duvall865mentioned, is overcoming the stigma, and I think that education866and awareness can go a long way toward overcoming the stigma,867so maybe a series of public service announcements868collaboratively with groups like maybe American Farm Bureau and869other commodity groups could help provide more awareness, and870then accessibility. As you mentioned, a tollfree number that871they can call, with trained counselors and resources, would872have a positive impact, and also given the distance that many873have living in remote areas, having telemedicine in addition to874the tollfree number, with again, counselors and resources that875understand what is going on in these rural areas and with876farmers would be very valuable.877    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.878    Chairman Scott. Senator Justice.879    Senator Justice. Mr. Chairman, thank you so much, and880Ranking Member, thank you. I thank all you great Senators, and881especially Senator Tuberville. You know, he and I are buddies,882and we both are on the Ag Committee, and I want you to pay as883close attention to me as you possibly can.884    Our family has been in the farming business for a long,885long, long time. We have got a real, real, real problem in886agriculture, a real problem, and it is so serious, it is off887the chart. You know, just think about it. Not only do we have a888real problem, but we are getting old, and as we get older and889everything, the problem gets more and more critical.890    Now just stay with me just one second, if I were to tell891you just this. America is the greatest country on the planet a892million-fold, and with that we have the greatest, the greatest893people, the most loving people, the very, very best of the894best, but we are spoiled rotten. Any way you cut it, we are895spoiled rotten on food. Absolutely, we are taking advantage of896our small family farms beyond belief. You talk about taking for897granted somebody and what they are doing with their work, that898is what we do every day, and we will not address the problem.899    The problem is really, really simple. If we do not do900something about this, we are going to have a crisis, at some901point in time, like you cannot imagine. Now, it may be a ways902away, but for God's sake, we surely to goodness deserve to have903a farm bill, you know.904    With all that said, you think about depression and905suicide--and I could ask you a bunch of questions, but I am906just going to talk, okay, and here is the deal. I mean, you907just think about the average-sized, small family farm in908America. The average size is about 430 acres. Now, if we could909use 500, just for a second, and we could just think of these910gentlemen that are right here, and just think, what could they911sell their farms for? If they had a 500-acre farm, and many of912them have a whole lot bigger than that, but if they had a 500-913acre farm and it was worth--pick a number, I don't care--914$15,000 an acre, $10,000 an acre, their net worth after they915take care of some debt, is so substantial they could give the916money to Goldman Sachs, never touch the principle, go somewhere917and live, and honest to God, make ten times what they are918making on the farm.919    Now, just think about this. What if, at some point in time920of life, some giant corporation, or God forbid a foreign921country, ends up owning a tremendous amount of our farmland in922America. Then think about just this. What if they just, all of923a sudden they farmed one crop, put it in ungodly amounts of924storage, and said, "The price on that corn is $200 a bushel,925and if you don't want to pay that, we are not selling it, and926we are not going to plant again." At that point in time, we927spin in a crisis like you can't fathom.928    Now, if you want a mile-long food in a grocery store,929paying 14 percent or whatever it is of your annual income930toward food, quit taking advantage of these people. Quit taking931them for granted. We are going, as a government, we have got932smart people here that can figure out what to do, but we just933do not put any passion and emphasis on it. We don't.934    Now I have done this over and over and over and over, and I935have said this forever more. The point in time when we, as a936government, we, as our people, put real passion and emphasis937and importance on this, we will solve it. If we do not solve938it, it is going to bite us, and it will not be pretty.939    With all that being said, like I said, I could ask you a940bunch, a bunch of questions. There is no point in me doing941that. I have been on this same rant a bunch of times because I942am on the Ag Committee too, and I am telling you that I can see943it coming. This is like being in a bubble. This is what they944are doing. They are like in a bubble right now, and they are945screaming. They are screaming they have got a problem, they946have got a real, real, real crisis, we do not have young people947going into farming today--why would they? I mean, they are not948nuts. Why would they? Everybody is screaming in the bubble, and949we do not hear them, and we best better hear them, America.950    Mr. Chairman, I am done. Thank you, sir.951    Chairman Scott. Thank you, Senator Justice. Senator952Warnock.953    Senator Warnock. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thank954you for organizing this hearing. I want to recognize all of our955panelists, but especially a great Georgian in the room, my956friend, Mr. Zippy Duvall. Thank you for being here. Thank you957for your voice on so many of these important issues, for being958a voice for farmers all across Georgia and all across our959country, and for your lifetime of service.960    As you know too well, in recent years it seems like Georgia961farmers have been hit by one thing after another after another.962It is a tough business, and there are so many things that you963cannot control, like the weather, but in addition to that,964rising input costs, and in addition to that, rising input costs965and these weather events that we have seen in recent years that966have created such setbacks for farmers, on top of all of that967we are now dealing with pointless trade wars, and these trade968wars will make it even harder to get their products to969international markets.970    I have been honored to work with many of my colleagues971across the aisle to help our farmers get their products to972markets, and now all of that is being disrupted in many ways.973    Mr. Duvall, I have heard from Georgia farmers, particularly974older farmers, who are turning to drastic measures like selling975off pieces of their family's farmland and taking out second976mortgages just to stay afloat. Are you hearing similar things977from your Farm Bureau members and friends in Georgia's farming978community, and if so, what concerns you about this.979    Mr. Duvall. Yes, sir. All across America I hear the same980thing, and, of course, farmers basically right now are981supportive of this Administration in their effort to try to982level the playing field. We are all praying it all works. I983will tell you, our Farm Bureau policy is that we do not support984tariffs, because we know we are always the brunt of the985repercussions coming from that.986    We also know that our farmers have got to have that level987playing field, because 20 percent of our income comes from988trade overseas, and they have got to have it, so they are989willing to wait.990    What worries me most, and what I see most, references what991you just said. We are seeing farmers have to sell part of their992land to take another mortgage. When we get to this fall and we993do not have solutions to the trade problems and the tariff994problems, and everyone starts selling a very, very cheap995commodity and cannot pay for the expenses, the inputs that they996have bought to grow that commodity, and then they have to turn997around the next month and go back to their banker and say, "I998am ready to borrow my money to plant next year's crop," and he999has not paid of last year's debt, we are going to be in1000serious, serious problems, and you are going to see farmers and1001ranchers all over this country go through mental health issues1002like you have never seen before since we saw in the 1980's with1003high interest rates, and it is going to be very, very1004difficult.1005    Senator Warnock. Feeling forced to sell their land, which1006has implications for all of us but certainly you cannot pass it1007on to the next generation. Since 2017, the average number of1008farmers over the age of 65 increased by 12 percent, just since10092017, so that is one of the things that happens when farmers1010are forced to sell.1011    Can you talk about some of the other consequences both for1012the farmers and for us?1013    Mr. Duvall. If they are forced to sell and that land comes1014out of production, it never goes back into production, and1015there is so much competition now for land, it prevents young1016farmers and beginning farmers that want to go into1017agriculture--God help them--have a difficult time finding that1018land to do that. Availability of land, availability of money,1019loans, is one of the biggest stumbling blocks young farmers and1020beginning farmers have going into the business.1021    Senator Warnock. Access to credit. All of these things.1022Would you say that the tariffs and the uncertainty that has1023been created around the tariffs have made it worse or tougher,1024even tougher in a tough business?1025    Mr. Duvall. I think in the short term it has not really1026affected them yet, but when we get to this fall and they start1027selling their commodities, and if we do not have solutions to1028the tariff war, then we will have lost some markets that we1029have depended on for years, and then we will start seeing the1030crisis hit.1031    Senator Warnock. I think that is just the thing, the1032uncertainty, and you having to make decisions within the1033context of uncertainty. The people you would have to sell to,1034they are having to make decisions, all up and down, all across1035the trade zones, which makes it very, very difficult to plan.1036    Thank you for being a voice in this moment. It is my view1037that farmers are not helped by this increasing uncertainty, and1038we need to bring some sanity to this conversation about trade,1039which, by the way, Congress could do something about trade1040tomorrow, if we decided to do it. It is within the wheelhouse1041of Congress.1042    Thank you so very much for your testimony.1043    Mr. Duvall. Thank you, Senator.1044    Chairman Scott. Senator Tuberville.1045    Senator Tuberville. I have got one question. Mr. Locker, we1046will start with you--all of you can answer it if you want--your1047thoughts on this. As long as I have been up here I have been1048advocating to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, which1049is often called the death tax. I know it means a lot to1050farmers. Mr. Locker, we will start with you. Your thoughts.1051    Mr. Locker. Well, Senator, I think, obviously, you look at1052modern agriculture today. I mean, it is a massive investment.1053Even small farms, I mean, if you add up all of the assets, and1054so any time that you want to pass that along to the next1055generation, that comes at a significant cost, and in many cases1056it is cost prohibitive.1057    Yes, doing away with the death tax--and I think we get1058bottled in with other businesses, and it could not be farther1059from the truth in terms of comparable, that when you are1060passing along a farm business that comes with, like I said, a1061lot of cost, a lot of assets. It takes a lot to run a farm1062today, and so doing away with the death tax is the right thing1063to do, to be able to continue to pass it down to the next1064generation. Otherwise, it becomes cost prohibitive.1065    Senator Tuberville. Mr. Duvall, have you got a----1066    Mr. Duvall. Absolutely, one of the necessary things that we1067need to do. A farmer works all his life. I have spent my whole1068life buying back my farm my daddy had to sell part of it off.1069My whole life, and if we do not fix that problem, if we do not1070get rid of inheritance tax, other generations will have to sell1071the farm, and that farm will go out of production, and we will1072not enjoy the production from those farms, and it has to be1073done.1074    You know, it is just like people say, well, you have got a1075lot of land, you have got a lot of wealth. You have to have1076land to farm. It is just like having a tractor. It is just like1077having a car to go to work in every day, even if you are not1078farming. It is something that you have to have to do that job.1079    Show me a farmer that has a retirement plan. It is tied up1080in his land. It is tied up in his land, and when he retires, he1081has either got to sell his land or sell it to his children, and1082then if you pile inheritance tax on top of that, they have to1083sell part of the farm to be able to continue it, and it is one1084of the biggest, devastating things that can happen to a family1085farm when you have a death and you have to go through that1086difficult time.1087    Senator Tuberville. Mr. Alderman?1088    Mr. Alderman. I agree with you wholeheartedly. It is double1089taxation. It should not be there. You already paid the taxes1090once. Why are you going to just put somebody out of business or1091make them sell their business or their farm? It should not be1092there. I agree with you.1093    One other thing you might also think about--and this is not1094related to that, but somewhat. Years ago, and I am not an1095accountant, I am not a CPA. I am a farmer, and we know a little1096bit of a lot of nothing, you know, so some of the equipment I1097have been looking at of laser weeder, or your AI stuff that is1098coming around, it is $1.4 million. I cannot afford it, but1099years ago we had a rapid depreciation schedule, where you could1100depreciate something real quickly and write it off quicker. Is1101that something that can be done? Maybe one of you professors1102know what it is now, but that would probably help some of the1103farmers out there do some rapid depreciation on farm equipment.1104    Senator Tuberville. Mr. Wolf, your thoughts on estate tax?1105    Dr. Wolf. Yes, well, so with the increasing size of the1106commercial farms and with the average farmland value being1107$4,000--and there are a lot of places where the farmers would1108be real happy to be able to buy more land for $4,000 an acre,1109so that average is hiding a lot of much higher prices in some1110places.1111    Certainly there is an increasing number of farms that are1112running up against the potential to lose some of the value in1113an estate tax, and as the other witnesses have said, you know,1114you cannot give up the land usually and still be a viable farm,1115right. It is not like if you sell it, it is gone, so that1116highlights the need to do the farm business succession and1117estate planning, and if you do not do that, which is, you know,1118it is pretty easy to forget that, and nobody likes to do, by1119the way, estate planning. It is not fun. We all need to do it,1120but that is kind of admitting that you are going to have to1121have that at some point, so that is not fun to do.1122    Certainly it is different for farm businesses because they1123are small and medium sized, family owned, closely held1124businesses. It is fundamentally different than other types of1125businesses.1126    Senator Tuberville. Thank you.1127    Chairman Scott. Mr. Duvall and Mr. Alderman, has Mexico1128dumped any crops on farmers in the United States?1129    Mr. Alderman. Yes.1130    Chairman Scott. Put your mic on, put your mic on.1131    Mr. Alderman. Oh, its on.1132    Chairman Scott. Really? How do they do that?1133    Mr. Alderman. Well, can I give you a personal example that1134happened to me two weeks ago?1135    Chairman Scott. Yes.1136    Mr. Alderman. We are selling grape tomatoes to a company in1137New York State, okay, and our FOB price is $16.50. We could not1138get the order. We have been selling them for quite a while and1139could not get the order this week. He said, "I can get them1140delivered from Mexico for $10." I can't pick them, pack them,1141and grow them for $10. I cannot pick them and pack them for1142$10. We could not take the order. I am not going to lose money.1143I would just as soon dump it rather than having to lose money.1144We dump a lot of tomatoes. If we cannot sell them, we dump1145them. We do not have another market for them. It is not like1146corn or soybeans that you can keep and sell next month. If we1147do not have a market, it goes in to go feed the cows, so there1148is an example.1149    Chairman Scott. Why are your costs higher?1150    Mr. Alderman. Why?1151    Chairman Scott. Yes.1152    Mr. Alderman. Labor. As I mentioned earlier, H-2A labor is1153costing me $24 an hour.1154    Chairman Scott. How did they come up with that?1155    Mr. Alderman. Well, the--what do you call it, AEWR?1156    Mr. Duvall. The Adverse Wage Rate.1157    Chairman Scott. Who did? The Federal Government did that to1158you?1159    Mr. Alderman. Yes, sir.1160    Chairman Scott. Your friends at the Federal Government?1161    Mr. Alderman. Am I friends of it?1162    Chairman Scott. No. Your friends at the Federal Government1163did this to you?1164    Mr. Alderman. Well, you guys are friends, but you can do1165something about it. It is not fair, because we have to pay the1166housing for them, okay. It is $16.50 an hour, I think it is,1167going up to----1168    Chairman Scott. You have to pay their way to get here? You1169have to pay their way home?1170    Mr. Alderman. We have to pay their way here. We have to pay1171their visa. We feed them to get here. When they get here we pay1172for their housing, and when they go home we pay for their way1173home, their housing, everything.1174    Chairman Scott. How do they come up with the $16.50 an1175hour?1176    Mr. Duvall. Do you want me to answer that? The wage is set,1177the AEWR wage rate is set by a survey done by USDA that is 601178years old, that was created to count the number of employees on1179farms, not to set a wage rate. If you go look at the1180calculations in that wage rate and what sectors that they used1181to calculate it, they even used the wage rate of the H-2A1182workers to calculate it. How do you do that? That does not even1183make sense.1184    I have been all across this country. I have been in every1185state, out on farms, talking to farmers. I have found three1186farmers that filled out that survey, so who is filling the1187survey out, where is the data coming from, and why in the world1188would we set a wage rate based on a survey that is 60 years old1189and was not even designed to set a wage rate by?1190    Mr. Alderman. May I suggest they go to Mexico and find out1191what the average rate that these men were making before they1192came over here to work for me or the other farmers or bringing1193H-2A workers? It is probably, what, a dollar an hour?1194    Mr. Duvall. Plus the inspections and regulations that this1195gentleman and a lot of our growers have to go through----1196    Chairman Scott. They do not do that in Mexico?1197    Mr. Duvall [continuing]. that they do not do in Mexico.1198    Chairman Scott. You mean, they sell it in our grocery1199stores without doing that?1200    Mr. Alderman. Senator, one question I would like to ask.1201Have you ever seen the FDA in Mexico?1202    Chairman Scott. Nope. You are paying for things that they1203do not have to pay for in Mexico.1204    Mr. Alderman. Exactly.1205    Chairman Scott. Do you think that our trade policy, we1206allow Mexico to dump tomatoes on Florida farmers is fair?1207    Mr. Alderman. No, sir.1208    Mr. Duvall. I did have the opportunity to visit Mr. Greer1209at USTR, and he and I talked about the dumping. It is not just1210tomatoes. It is cucumbers. It is bell peppers. It is cherries.1211    Chairman Scott. It's blueberries. It's strawberries.1212    Mr. Duvall. It is cherries from Turkey dumping on what is1213happening in Michigan. It is all over the country. It is time1214for our country to stand up and say, "No more. You are going to1215dump your produce on our farmers."1216    Chairman Scott. Do you think the Trump administration is1217doing the right thing by, you know, what Commerce is doing with1218regard to eliminating the suspension agreement on tomatoes,1219what Jamieson Greer is doing to try to raise the tariff rates1220on produce coming from other countries?1221    Mr. Alderman. Sir, it is hard to find out what this tariff1222Mr. Trump, President Trump is talking about. First it started1223at 20 percent. Now it is 17 percent. Let me tell you what will1224work, okay. If you have a minimum--what did you call it?1225    Chairman Scott. Price minimum.1226    Mr. Alderman. A base that you have. Find out what it costs1227to grow a box of tomatoes in South Florida. I am going to say1228it is between $12 and $14 a box. Put that base in there, that1229they cannot sell it any less than that, and then charge them a1230tariff above that. Twenty percent is not enough. It will not1231slow them down. If you take away the minimum, whatever they1232call it, they take that away, now they can charge you five for1233a box of tomatoes and charge 17 percent tariff, it does not1234amount to anything. It is not going to slow them down a bit. If1235they had a 100 percent tariff on it maybe that would slow them1236down.1237    Go to other countries and see what they do. Go down to the1238Bahamas and see, try and ship a box of my tomatoes to the1239Bahamas and what happens. You will pay about $20 a box tariff1240on, if there is a grower and they are growing tomatoes in1241Freeport or in the Bahamas or someplace.1242    It is not a fair policy. We would just like to be equal and1243fair so that we are on the same level playing field.1244    Chairman Scott. Senator Justice.1245    Senator Justice. Well, Mr. Chairman, I do not have a whole1246lot to say. You know, I know these witnesses are superstars,1247and I congratulate you on all the honors and everything that1248you have been able to do in your lives. I would really be1249interested in how many folks are out here that are in some way,1250somehow, involved in agriculture, and I assume that it is most1251everybody.1252    I know this from the bottom of my heart, you know, that for1253those that are young, that live on the farm and grew up on the1254farm, you want to absolutely, in many situations, you want to1255stay there. You love it. You love it with all your soul. Every1256one of you loves it with all your soul. You do not want to give1257up that way of life in any way, and you are providing a service1258for all of us, off the chart, and why can't we get it? Why1259can't we really just get it, the fact that you have got1260somebody----1261    You know, a guy told me a long time ago. He was the1262president of Stanford Seed Company at the time. His name was1263Jim Billings, and Jim Billings said, you know, they were bought1264out by another seed company a little bit bigger. They were1265going to retain him and everything, and they asked him to write1266a job description. He said, "I sat down and I started writing,1267and I wrote 13 pages of single-spaced stuff of what I did every1268day. Then I just laid my pencil down and thought, and then1269picked it back up and said, see, the right person is in the1270right job and they are motivated." That is you. That is all of1271us that are in agriculture today. We are a production engine1272like you cannot imagine. You cannot imagine how good we are at1273what we do.1274    We are smart, too. We have got to solve this riddle, and it1275is as complicated as it can possibly be. You have got smart1276people that love what they do, and they are motivated by what1277they do because of their love. We have just got to solve the1278riddle. To solve the riddle, I have never seen a situation in1279my life that you can solve it until you absolutely place a1280level of importance on it, a big-time level of importance. If1281we do not solve it, shame on us. That is all I can say. I have1282stood on the top of the mountain and screamed until I am blue-1283green. You know, it is a real problem.1284    Mr. Chairman, thank you, sir.1285    Chairman Scott. Thank you. Mr. Duvall, how important is it1286to buy American products? Why is it important that we grow our1287food, and that the food we put in our bodies is grown in1288America rather than places like Mexico?1289    Mr. Duvall. Well, we have absolutely no clue what1290conditions or techniques are used in Mexico to grow that food,1291and it is----1292    Chairman Scott. We don't test it? We don't measure it?1293    Mr. Duvall. They inspect it coming across the border. They1294do not have enough inspectors to be able to do it correctly. I1295think the Federal Government makes an attempt, but just like I1296said, when have you seen inspectors from America over in1297another country, inspecting that food before it leaves those1298farms and comes to us, like they do at his farm each and every1299day?1300    It is important for us to realize, like in your opening1301statement, that food security is national security. If we all1302are old enough to remember the long gas lines when we had to1303sit in line to get gas, and how it almost brought our country1304to its knees. If we all remember how scared we were when COVID1305hit, and all of a sudden we saw some shelves at the grocery1306store empty. If you do not solve our labor problems and put1307profitability back in agriculture, and young people not coming1308back to it, we will live to see that day again in this country,1309and we will be depending on some other country, whether it is1310on our land or their land, to feed us. We will not be a secure1311country.1312    Chairman Scott. If you could do three things that would1313impact the American farm, what would be the top three things?1314    Mr. Duvall. Got to fix trade. Got to fix labor. Got to have1315a farm bill.1316    Chairman Scott. All right. Mr. Locker, from your position1317working with Ag businesses, what trends are you seeing in terms1318of workforce aging, not just on farms but within the companies1319that support Ag?1320    Mr. Locker. Yes, Mr. Chairman. I mean, we are seeing it1321across the board. First and foremost, the whole agribusiness1322community obviously is driven by the health of the farmer. By1323having a farming population that is profitable, predictable,1324that drives everybody.1325    Now we are coming off an almost 40-year period of pretty1326stable workforce coming off the farm. That, as I mentioned in1327my opening statement, is drying up. It is irrespective of1328whether it is crop inputs, Ag machinery, retailers,1329cooperatives. All of them across the industry are facing the1330same thing, and because many of the executive leadership has1331been in place for 30, 40 years, in agriculture.1332    What we are faced with is what happens when--and I saw a1333statistic not too long ago that up to half of the current1334executives across agribusiness could be retiring between now1335and 2035, and with that goes all that institutional knowledge.1336All of the services, all of the technology, all of the things1337that we do to help the farmer produce, like I said, the largest1338and safest food supply on the planet, all of that institutional1339knowledge can go away. It is definitely an issue that we are1340facing.1341    Now, we have done a lot of things recently, working with1342companies, on succession plans, on mentorships, and even an1343interesting conversation I had the other day with a company1344that they are even looking, because of technology and AI,1345reverse mentorships, actually pairing young people with the1346senior executive to help them understand the next generation of1347leaders and how you talk to them and how you get them attracted1348to agriculture, as well as technology.1349    The trends are there, and what I would say--and Senator1350Justice, I could not say it any better--we need a stable1351farming community which starts with a farm bill. Once we get1352that stabilized, then the investment comes back in, the1353investment in technology, the investment in the tools that the1354farmers need. Because right now, much of that investment is1355being held up because of lack of predictability, lack of1356profitability at the farm, and so we need that stability.1357    Then the other thing I would say, to close with, is we need1358a greater share of mind in the U.S. today about agriculture. We1359need to attract a whole new generation of future leaders to1360agriculture. Because by being able to say, look, agriculture1361has transformed and we are going through another technology1362transformation as we speak, like a lot of industries are, with1363AI and on-farm automation, and so the technology and the domain1364experience that we are going to need to attract to Ag is going1365to be unparalleled over the next several years.1366    I think by working with Congress to say, yes, we have said1367it more than once today, food security is national security.1368Let's get a narrative out there that says, and because of that,1369we need to attract more people into the agriculture community,1370now more than ever before.1371    Chairman Scott. Thank you. Dr. Wolf, from your research1372what are the most significant financial barriers facing aging1373dairy farmers who are looking to retire or transition their1374operations to the next generation?1375    Dr. Wolf. Senator Scott, the biggest problem is to be1376actively engaged in farming and be able to transfer or sell1377those assets at a fair value so that you can fund your1378retirement. Because again, these farmers, they do not have1379401(k)'s or 403(b)'s. Their money is tied up in the farming1380assets, so they have got to make it work, and there are ways to1381do it, but it takes planning ahead of time, and it takes1382considering things like long-term leases and land contracts and1383things like that to make it work, and if you do not do that,1384then it becomes infeasible.1385    Tax policy is part of it, and there are some things that we1386have in the tax code that work now, and some things that you1387maybe are thinking about extending that could help. Again, a1388lot of it is just an information problem. Also, as Mr. Locker1389pointed out, I think correctly, where we definitely see more1390people want to go into agriculture when it is profitable. If1391you grow up on a farm and it looks like your parents are1392struggling, it is not something you are going to want to come1393back to, so that is definitely key.1394    Chairman Scott. Mr. Duvall, you have talked to Jamieson1395Greer, and I assume you have talked to Secretary Rollins. We1396are talking about trade policy. It takes two people to get a1397deal done, right? Do you think we are better off to just leave1398it as it is, or try to improve our trade policy to stop the1399dumping?1400    Mr. Duvall. We have to try to improve our trade policy.1401What we have done in the past has not worked. We have not1402regained some of the markets that we lost in the trade war1403eight years ago. We need trade deals. We need access. We need1404certainty, and you give our farmers a level playing field, they1405will compete with anybody on Earth. Yes, of course, especially1406during harvest time, tomatoes, strawberries, they should not be1407able to be allowed to dump here on top and just depress the1408price to the point where the farmer cannot successfully run a1409business under all of the rules and regulations that cost them1410tons of money to abide by in this country.1411    Chairman Scott. What Secretary Rollins and Secretary1412Lutnick and Trade Rep Grier are trying to do, do you think, you1413know as difficult as it is, it is worth trying, to try to1414improve our trade policy with other countries.1415    Mr. Duvall. That is what I hear our farmers say. Short1416term, they are willing to take the pain. Long term, we have got1417to have solutions. They cannot handle it for a long period of1418time. When we go into this fall, with this expensive crop that1419is in the ground and the cheap commodities that they are going1420to have to sell, it is really going to be difficult for our1421farmers all across America.1422    Chairman Scott. Mr. Duvall, when you talk about the farm1423bill, what is in it that is important to you?1424    Mr. Duvall. Renewed Title I with increase in reference1425prices. Continued support for crop insurance. You know, a1426farmer, small, medium, or large, growing whatever he might1427grow, deserves to have a risk management tool, that he1428participates in, to be able to cover his risks that he has got1429in that crop. It ought not be limited to certain commodities.1430It ought to be widespread to all commodities, all sizes of1431farms.1432    Research and development dollars are so crucial. That is1433what keeps us on the cutting edge of agriculture. That is what1434keeps us the leading production place in the world is the1435research and development dollars that are spent at great1436universities like Cornell and University of Georgia and1437University of Florida.1438    Then, of course, our conservation programs. These lands1439that we accumulate, that we have to have the farm on, those1440natural resources, and our neighbors, we all are entitled to1441have and protecting that. Farming does not allow the luxury of1442a farm to make enough money to do all that protection, so1443conservation programs--140 million acres have been voluntarily1444put in conservation programs across America--that is the size1445of California and New York--because it was voluntary and the1446government participated in helping us protect those natural1447resources on the land.1448    All of those programs, and even the trade part of the farm1449bill, where we help sell products, our products overseas. All1450of those programs are so important to agriculture in the farm1451bill. That is why we have got to have--we have been kicking1452this can down the road two years, and the uncertainty has1453caught up with our farmers. It has caught up with our bankers.1454It is going to catch up to the American people.1455    Chairman Scott. Mr. Alderman, you have been dealing with1456all the red tape of the federal and local governments and state1457governments. What would be your top three things that you would1458want to change that would have a positive impact on your farm?1459    Mr. Alderman. You mentioned crop insurance a minute ago,1460okay. Crop insurance needs to be analyzed to take into1461consideration the specialty crops that we grow. I can lose a1462whole crop in south Florida with a hurricane, like we did in1463October, and have crop insurance, and still do not qualify for1464getting paid. We take it out every year, but crop insurance was1465written out in the Midwest, for Midwestern farmers, and has no1466idea about vegetable farmers in South Florida, and we just1467never qualify. We have to have it. That would help.1468    I think some of the regulations that are coming down from1469the FDA right now, from some of my neighbors, it is really1470scary whether they will be able to continue farming because of1471them. If they are going to come inspect everything and every1472little thing that there is going to be then maybe they should1473try to help us find out what the problem is and help solve the1474problem, like coming in, "I have got you. Now I'm going to put1475you in jail." It is really bad, because this is America. It is1476supposed to be free. We have got a government that, years ago1477when I was a kid, government actually helped you. You had1478different agencies that helped farmers do things, and they1479would survey your land for you and get it level, and do so many1480things for you, but today, all that is gone. I guess there is1481some part of it still left.1482    The inspection part of it, with what the FDA is doing--one1483of my neighbors, one of my friends, just last week, it is1484terrible. It is terrible.1485    What other problems would I have? We just want a level1486playing field again. Make it so that we are competitive with1487our neighbors to the south and to the north. I mean, Canada1488grows a lot of hothouse tomatoes that compete with us every1489day, on the shelves in the grocery stores.1490    We would like to be fair. I do not want the government to1491subsidize anything I grow. If we are competing with countries1492that are subsidizing their farmers, do something to make it a1493level playing field. I am not smart enough to figure out what1494that would be. You have got some economists, again, but put1495something on it so we are on a level playing field. Just get us1496equal.1497    Chairman Scott. If you would tell somebody going to a1498grocery store, that is buying produce, why would they buy an1499American product rather than a product from China or Mexico?1500Why should they do it?1501    Mr. Alderman. Number one, we have got food safety1502regulations that we have in every farm out here now. I hire a1503full-time person. That is all she does is food safety. She goes1504around with swabs, measuring stuff every day, sending them off1505to find out. Our food is safe here, the safest food in the1506world. I would not hesitate--that is true. You do not know what1507you are getting from Mexico or Guatemala or any of these other1508countries. I have been to those countries and I see how they1509farm and what their safety protocols are, which they do not1510have any, so that would be it.1511    It is fresher, if you buy my tomatoes, I pick it today and1512it is in the market tomorrow. It is not sitting in a cooler for1513two days, three weeks, or on a trailer coming from wherever,1514from Chile. It is picked here, it goes to the grocery store1515warehouse that evening, and it is in their store the next day.1516It is fresh.1517    Chairman Scott. Right now your produce is inspected, and we1518allow people to send produce into our country without an1519inspection.1520    Mr. Alderman. I do not think that is quite true. They do1521inspect loads coming across the border. It is not only the food1522safety part of it. It is what I mentioned earlier, the invasive1523insects and diseases. We get a new thrip coming into South1524Florida every two years, and it takes us three or four years to1525figure out how to combat it or take care of it. It is either1526thrips or pepper weevils or some new disease, a new virus1527coming in on tomatoes from another country.1528    I do not know what the answer to it is. You cannot stop1529shipping it in. We have got to have it, I guess, and it is not1530only vegetables. There are diseases and insects coming in on1531plants, on flowers. All that stuff comes into the Port of Miami1532and Miami International Airport. They get a bad lot of it and1533it goes to the junkman, and the next thing you know that insect1534takes over and we are fighting it for the rest of our lives.1535Cannot get rid of them.1536    Chairman Scott. You have been doing this for 45 years?1537    Mr. Alderman. Probably longer, closer to 50.1538    Chairman Scott. Do you like it? Why do you like it? Why do1539you like being a farmer?1540    Mr. Alderman. I like growing things. I like to see things1541grow.1542    We were talking about stress earlier. I could not do1543anything else. I could have been a road builder, gone into1544construction in South Florida. You know how busy it is there,1545but I chose agriculture.1546    Chairman Scott. When you go out to the farm, is it great to1547be around the animals?1548    Mr. Alderman. Well, I did have some animals, but tomatoes1549are not animals, but I love watching a crop grow. You know, I1550do not physically do the work anymore, but there is nothing on1551that farm I have not done, from picking to everything there is.1552I started with zero.1553    Mr. Duvall. I farm because I love my animals. He and I just1554had the greatest visit, talking cows. I mean, I absolutely love1555spending time with----1556    Chairman Scott. What kind of cows do you have?1557    Mr. Duvall. Sir?1558    Chairman Scott. What kind of cows?1559    Mr. Duvall. I have beef cattle, mostly Angus. A few white1560ones here and there.1561    Mr. Alderman. That is the most relaxing, clearing your head1562out, is to go ride and look at the cows. Take the day. You have1563got to drive two hours from where my ranch is, and go count1564calves, look at the cows, figure out how much grass you have1565got, how much water we got, and take care of those animals.1566    Mr. Duvall. Rotational grazing, doing all the right things1567for the grass and the soil to make sure it grows. Using chicken1568litter on my farm for fertilization, using comprehensive1569nutrient management plans that the County Extension office1570helps me----1571    Chairman Scott. Do you grow your own hay?1572    Mr. Duvall. I grow my own hay. You know, I mean, it is so1573rewarding, and probably the biggest, biggest benefit, asset of1574being a farmer is being able to raise your children there. When1575my son went to war, his commander officer wrote me a1576handwritten letter, and he says, "When I started working your1577boy, I knew he was from the farm, and I wish I had a whole,1578whole troop like him," because he had the work ethic. Raising1579my children on the farm, making them understand how to take1580care of not just plants but animals, and do it with all your1581heart, as though you were working for the Lord, not for the1582man, there is nothing more rewarding than that.1583    There is nothing more stressful and disappointing than to1584go to the mailbox, pull out all the bills and your paycheck and1585not having enough to pay the bills with, after you put your1586heart and soul into it, and watch your heart break when your1587children cannot come back and do it, and make a living. We all1588would love to do it.1589    Chairman Scott. What are we going to lose if we lose our1590family farms? What is the biggest thing we are going to lose?1591    Mr. Duvall. We are going to lose a way of life that built1592this country, and the values that we learned, of loving,1593caring, whether it is soil, people, animals. Just good old1594living.1595    Mr. Alderman. It is a way of life that cannot be replaced.1596    Mr. Duvall. It cannot be replaced, and it is not matched1597anywhere else.1598    Mr. Alderman. You cannot buy it. You cannot sell it. You1599cannot replace it.1600    Chairman Scott. Well, I want to thank everybody for being1601here. I look forward to continuing working with all of my1602fellow Senators.1603    If any additional Senators have additional questions for1604the witnesses or statements to be added, the hearing record1605will be open until next Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.1606    I want to thank all of you. I want to thank you for being1607here. I just think farming is just a really rewarding1608opportunity and way of life. Thanks for being here.1609    [Whereupon, at 5:45 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]16101611=======================================================================16121613                                APPENDIX16141615=======================================================================16161617                      Prepared Witness Statements16181619=======================================================================16201621                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging16221623      "The Aging Farm Workforce: America's Vanishing Family Farms"16241625                              June 4, 202516261627                      Prepared Witness Statements16281629                              Zippy Duvall16301631    Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand, and members of1632the Committee, including from my home state of Georgia, Senator1633Warnock, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you1634today.I am Zippy Duvall, a third generation Georgia farmer and1635president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, representing1636farm families in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. I am fortunate1637to follow in my father and grandfather's footsteps by taking1638over our family farm. Today, my son and I operate a beef cow1639herd, raise broiler chickens, and have restored the land that1640has been in our family for over 90 years.1641    The latest USDA Census of Agriculture revealed that nearly164240% of all farmers are at or beyond retirement age, while just16438% of farmers are under the age of 35. As older farmers outpace1644younger farmers, we should all be concerned about the future of1645family farms and the security of our food supply.1646    As this Committee identified in its March 2025 report,1647"America's Aging Farm Workforce," there are many challenges1648facing the agriculture community, but there are also1649opportunities to support young and beginning farmers and help1650sustain the current agriculture workforce, including a new farm1651bill.16521653Farm Economy and Farm Bill Reauthorization16541655    I shared this with the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier1656this year, and the urgency has only increased since then. We1657need a modernized, five-year farm bill. Farmers and ranchers1658have faced unprecedented volatility since the last farm bill1659was reauthorized in 2018. A pandemic, record-high inflation,1660rising supply costs, and global unrest have hit family farms,1661making it harder for many to hold on. Sadly, the 2022 census1662showed the loss of over 140,000 farms in five years. That's an1663average of 77 farms per day.1664    This year, farmers will plant one of the most expensive1665crops ever. Due to rising interest rates, higher energy prices,1666and input costs that have gone unchecked, many farmers face the1667tough decision of whether or not to plant a crop. This is why1668an increase to the farm bill's Title I safety net is critical.1669    USDA's most recent Farm Sector Income Forecast has shown a1670$41 billion decrease in net farm income, down nearly 25% from16712022. Since crop prices peaked in 2022, they have taken a1672nosedive. Corn and wheat are down 37%, soybeans down 28%, and1673cotton down 22%.1674    At the same time, input prices have remained high. As1675compared to 2020, the cost to produce an acre of corn has grown1676by nearly 30% nationally. The combination of low crop prices1677and high supply costs has many farmers facing losses on every1678acre they plant. Despite these increased costs, 2024 payments1679to farmers are projected to be the lowest since 1982.16801681Access to Credit16821683    Additionally, farm debt is expected to continue to increase1684in 2025 to more than $560 billion. That's a half trillion1685dollars in debt. As farms continue to carry larger debt loads1686without increasing net cash revenue, they also experience1687worsening credit. In previous years, farmers and ranchers1688supported their credit with continuously increasing farmland1689values, but those increases have slowed. As farms lose options1690to support continued borrowing and use up their limited working1691capital, many farms may close before reaching the point of1692bankruptcy.1693    Our members support streamlining farm loan programs to1694better meet the evolving needs of farmers and ranchers. This1695includes ensuring loan amounts reflect rising farm-level1696expenses and reducing burdensome application requirements for1697young and beginning farmers to better align with standard1698agricultural lending practices. We also support prioritizing1699access to direct and guaranteed loan funds for applicants who1700are either new to farming or experiencing temporary financial1701hardship due to adverse ecological or industry-related1702conditions. We commend USDA Secretary Rollins' Small Family1703Farms Policy Agenda. It highlights the need to reform loan1704programs to streamline delivery and increase program1705efficiencies.17062025 Tax Legislation17071708    At a time of great economic uncertainty, farmers, ranchers1709and many other small businesses are facing the prospect of what1710may be the largest tax increase in American history. Failing to1711extend the expiring provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs1712Act (TCJA) would take billions of dollars out of farmers'1713pockets when they have no dollars to spare. One provision that1714is crucial for keeping family farms going from one generation1715to the next is the increased estate tax exemption. If the1716exemption level reverts, many families risk losing their farms.1717Congress must find a way to create a stable business1718environment by making permanent the expiring TCJA provisions1719and ensuring America's farms and ranches can continue to1720provide the food, fiber and renewable fuel this country needs.1721Farm Bureau was pleased to see progress made with the House1722passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act two weeks ago.17231724Farm Labor17251726    Of course, we cannot paint the full picture on this issue1727without talking about the employees who work alongside us. For1728many of us, they are like family, and they are aging right1729along with us. That's a problem because most Americans don't1730have any interest in working on a farm, despite big investments1731in recruitment. Congress must confront that reality and do1732something about it, starting with necessary reforms for our1733agricultural workforce. That means modernizing our outdated1734system by making crucial improvements to the H-2A guest worker1735program and recognizing farmworkers as essential to feeding and1736fueling our country.17371738AFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Program17391740    Finally, it can be difficult for young farmers to find1741peers to connect with and share ideas. Farm Bureau's Young1742Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Program creates space for that1743connection-fostering collaboration, leadership development, and1744community for young leaders. I would not be where I am today1745without Farm Bureau's county, state, and national YF&R program.1746I made lifelong friends and gained leadership skills that1747continue to serve me well today.1748    Farm Bureau is proud to support young agricultural leaders,1749but we need your partnership to ensure they can thrive.1750    A country that cannot feed its people is not secure, and to1751meet the growing demand for food, fiber and renewable fuel at1752home and abroad, we must ensure the continued strength of our1753farming and ranching communities. I look forward to working1754with you to support the next generation of farmers.1755    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding today's hearing. I am1756happy to answer any questions the Committee has.17571758                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging17591760      "The Aging Farm Workforce: America's Vanishing Family Farms"17611762                              June 4, 202517631764                      Prepared Witness Statements17651766                              Jim Alderman17671768    Good afternoon my name is Jim Alderman. I own and operate1769Alderman Farms in Boynton Beach Florida. I am proud to be a1770lifelong farmer and honored to represent Florida agriculture1771here today. I have the privilege of serving as the 2025 Florida1772Farm Bureau Federation farmer of the year. I appreciate the1773opportunity to speak with you about an issue that affects me1774personally, the aging of the American farm workforce.1775    I began Alderman Fa1ms in 1979. We fa1m approximately 12001776acres in eastern Palm Beach County Florida. We are a1777diversified farming operation, growing mixed organic vegetables1778and particularly vine, ripe tomatoes, the finest tomato you'll1779ever eat in the US. South Florida has a very unique climate1780which allows us to produce vegetables during the winter months,1781but it also brings unique challenges, hurricanes, invasive1782pests, development pressure, and rising input cost. You learn1783to adapt, you also learn that it is not a sprint, it's a1784lifelong commitment.1785    At the age of 78, I've spent almost 4 1/2 decades working1786the land. I still wake up before sunrise most days like many of1787my peers. I am still going strong because there's more work to1788be done. According to the committee's report, the average1789farmer is now 58 years old. In Florida, nearly 40% of our1790producers are 65 or older. We're proud of our experience and1791knowledge, but the question I ask is who is coming behind us?1792That's the part that keeps me up at night. It's just not1793growing crops. It's also passing down knowledge discipline in1794our way of life, but that chain of succession is breaking.1795Nationwide less than 9% of the farmers are under 35 years of1796age and then the numbers are even more sobering in states like1797mine. Young people want to farm but they're running into walls1798such as land being expensive. Equipment is even more expensive.1799The cost of financing is very difficult.1800    The big question is why are farmers selling out, without1801young men and women stepping in. The incentive to make a profit1802is not there. We may ask why can't they make a profit. The1803first reason is that imports are being shipped into this1804country below our production costs. If a farmer cannot make1805money, he's not able to expand his operation. lf he has the1806opportunity to sell his land to make money, then development1807comes in parking lots, residential communities, and no1808agriculture.1809    How can we help farmers make it so that we are competitive1810with our neighbors to the south and north? We have to be on the1811same level playing field.1812    Another problem farmers face is the invasion of invasive1813insects and diseases that come into our country from other1814countries.1815    For example, we have seen in Florida that citrus greening1816has devastated the citrus industry. We have gone from 2401817million boxes of oranges in production to around 40 million1818boxes today, all because of an insect that came in with1819bacteria that causes citrus greening. I think that it would1820help our industry if we had better inspections in our ports of1821entry to combat the invasive insects, and diseases that come1822into our country.1823    One of the other problems we have is that we are being1824over-regulated. Food safety is of primary concern for Alderman1825Farms. We are very careful to make sure that we have the safest1826produce coming from our farms. Presently we have several food1827safety inspections. It would be great to have one inspection1828that would serve everyone.1829    Again, farmers must make a profit. They must make money to1830continue their operation or they will take the easy way out and1831sell their property and retire. Free and equal trade between1832our neighboring countries is a must as you know labor is a1833major problem in agriculture. We are now dependent on H2A labor1834from Mexico because we cannot get enough domestic labor to1835harvest our crops. Agricultural labor reform is a must.1836    If we want to sustain agriculture in America, we need to1837smooth the path between generations which means investing in1838beginning farmer programs, expanding technical assistance, and1839offering incentives like estate planning support and make it1840easier to transfer farms without losing the land or the legacy.1841These aren't just policy tweaks, they are steps in our food1842system to prevent eroding one generation at a time.1843    I come before you today not just as a farmer, but as1844someone who cares deeply about the future of the country's food1845supply. We need strong, bipartisan action to support aging1846fa1mers invest in new generations, and keep American1847agriculture alive and well for decades to come.1848    Thank you for recognizing the urgency of this issue and1849thank you for giving farmers like me a voice.18501851                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging18521853      "The Aging Farm Workforce: America's Vanishing Family Farms"18541855                              June 4, 202518561857                      Prepared Witness Statements18581859                              Aaron Locker18601861    Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand, and Members of1862the Committee:1863    Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I1864am honored to testify on a challenge that is rapidly reshaping1865the future of American agriculture. I appreciate your time and1866your dedication to the future of the American agriculture1867industry. My name is Aaron Locker, after growing up on a small1868farm in Ohio, this is my 36th year of serving US agriculture. I1869am now a Managing Director at Kincannon & Reed, the world's1870largest executive search and leadership development firm1871identifying and recruiting leaders exclusively for1872organizations that feed the world.1873    For over 40 years, we've partnered with organizations1874across the food and agricultural value chain-from producers and1875processors to biotech startups and global food brands. Our1876mission is simple: to help organizations that feed the world1877find and develop the leadership they need to thrive. Today, I'm1878here to sound the alarm on a crisis that is unfolding quietly,1879but rapidly, across the heart of our industries, and the1880consequences for our food supply, our rural communities, and1881our national security are serious.18821883The Leadership Vacuum18841885    We are moving from a forty-year period of stable senior1886leadership in farms, agribusiness, and agricultural1887organizations into a period where the pipeline of "farm-grown"1888leadership is scarce. More and more, organizations will be1889required to look to younger leaders or outside the traditional1890talent channels. In 2025, we will reach a global record for the1891number of people turning 65. For every potential leader aged189235-50, two are preparing to retire. In agriculture, where many1893senior leaders have been in place for decades, this creates an1894acute succession challenge.1895    What is more concerning is that the next generation of1896leaders, especially those from rural and farm backgrounds, is1897significantly smaller. That is not by accident.18981899A Shrinking Talent Pool and the Legacy of the Farm Crisis19001901    The 1980s farm crisis didn't just damage balance sheets. It1902changed the outlook for talent across the agriculture industry1903and the outlook for entire communities. Many parents,1904understandably, discouraged their children from returning to1905the land or pursuing careers in agriculture. While college1906attendance overall rose nearly seven percent between 1980 and19071990, enrollment in land grant colleges of agriculture- like1908Texas A&M, the University of Nebraska, University of Minnesota,1909and Iowa State University and others dropped by nearly 371910percent.1911    Despite the continued strength of land-grant institutions,1912the share of students in agricultural programs has remained1913small and, in some cases, has declined or stagnated over the1914past decade. That gap is now showing up in boardrooms, field1915offices, agronomy teams, management and executive benches1916across the food and agriculture sector.19171918Complexity Is Rising, But Leadership Is Lagging19191920    At the same time, the business of agriculture is growing1921more complex. Today's operations require fluency in data1922analytics, automation, sustainability metrics, and global1923trade. Precision Ag and automation are growing at over 121924percent annually, but the leadership capable of connecting new1925technologies with practical farm and business applications is1926in short supply.1927    Fewer than one-third of the agribusinesses we work with1928have a formal succession plan in place. That is not just a1929statistic-it is a systemic risk.1930    Job growth in agriculture is steady at three percent1931annually, but industries like tech and finance are growing1932three times faster and are drawing top talent away from the1933food system. We are not just competing for attention-we are1934competing for leadership.1935    No other sector blends health, nutrition, energy, and1936technology like agriculture. We have built the safest, most1937abundant food supply in the world, but that system will not1938sustain itself without the people who lead it. Food security is1939national security.19401941Profitability and Regulatory Certainty Are Essential19421943    Attracting and retaining the next generation of farmers and1944agribusiness leaders also depends on ensuring that agriculture1945remains a profitable, sustainable career path. That means1946reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, improving clarity1947across agencies, and providing a policy environment that1948rewards innovation and risk-taking. When producers and1949agribusinesses are buried under duplicative regulations or face1950constantly shifting standards, it creates uncertainty that1951discourages investment and succession. We must ensure that1952those working in agriculture see a viable economic future, one1953that supports reinvestment, transition planning, and long-term1954commitment to the land.19551956What Congress Can Do19571958    This is not a challenge that the private sector can address1959alone. It will take bold, coordinated public-private1960leadership. Congress has a vital role to play. I respectfully1961offer four recommendations:1962          1. Pass a Strong, Fully Funded Farm Bill A1963comprehensive Farm Bill is the foundation of long-term1964stability for the agriculture industry. It empowers rural1965development, research institutions, and workforce training1966programs to invest in the future with confidence.1967          2. Promote Agriculture as a Purpose-Driven, Modern1968Career Path We must reposition agriculture as a high-tech,1969mission-focused sector. Congress should support a national1970campaign to highlight agriculture as a high-tech, purpose-1971driven career path-one that welcomes diverse and forward-1972thinking talent from all backgrounds.1973          3. Invest in Agricultural Leadership Development1974Support USDA-backed scholarships, fellowships, and executive1975leadership training in partnership with land-grant1976universities, community colleges, and agricultural nonprofits.1977The next generation of Ag CEOs, researchers, sustainability1978officers, and policy experts must be equipped and empowered to1979lead.1980          4. Expand Rural Workforce Development and Urban-Rural1981Talent Pathways Congress should strengthen community college Ag1982programs, fund apprenticeships, veteran transitions, provide1983relocation and retraining support to professionals entering1984agriculture from nontraditional backgrounds. We must build1985bridges that connect talent to opportunity in rural America.19861987Conclusion19881989    The industries of food and agriculture are changing faster1990than ever, but our leadership pipeline is not keeping pace.1991This is not just a workforce issue. It is a threat to the1992resilience of the most essential system in the country-our food1993supply.1994    If we want a competitive, sustainable future for American1995agriculture, we need a serious, sustained investment in people.1996That means identifying and supporting leaders early, removing1997the barriers that discourage their entry, and creating an1998environment where they can grow and succeed.1999    Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I commend2000the Committee for its focus on this issue and welcome your2001questions.2002    Respectfully submitted, Aaron Locker Managing Director2003Kincannon & Reed20042005                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging20062007      "The Aging Farm Workforce: America's Vanishing Family Farms"20082009                              June 4, 202520102011                      Prepared Witness Statements20122013                          Chris A. Wolf, Ph.D.20142015    Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Gillibrand, and Members of2016the Committee, thank you for inviting me to be part of this2017hearing. I currently serve as the E.V. Baker Professor of2018Agricultural Economics in the Charles H. Dyson School of2019Applied Economics and Management and the College of Agriculture2020and Life Sciences at Cornell University where I have been a2021faculty member since 2019. I have a three-way split that2022includes research, extension and teaching. My research and2023extension program focuses on dairy markets and policy as well2024as dairy farm finance and business management where I provide2025information and analysis and decision-making aids for industry2026stakeholders and policymakers. I have taught Farm Business2027Management and Agricultural Finance classes for the past 252028years. I also serve as the Director of Land Grant Programs and2029Faculty Director of the NY FarmNet program.2030    My home State of New York is the fifth largest producer of2031milk is in the midst of $2.5 billion in new, private sector2032investment in dairy manufacturing. To enable this growth,2033Cornell is focused on helping ensure our family farms thrive,2034bringing the next generation back to the farm, increasing2035production in a sustainable way, and training both college2036bound and non-college bound students for dairy processing2037careers in the primarily rural areas where dairy manufacturing2038is locating. Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences2039and Cooperative Extension Service are top ranked. At Cornell,2040we are proud to be in the Ivy League but, unique among the Ivy2041League Universities, also situated in the public system2042affiliated with the State University of New York as a contract2043college.2044    It has become conventional wisdom that first, farmer age is2045increasing and second, this is a problem for the long-term2046viability of food and fiber production in the US. Not2047surprisingly, there is a great deal of nuance to the actual2048statistics and industry implications. It is undeniably correct2049that average (and median) farm operator age has been increasing2050over time. However, it is also true that relative to the U.S.2051population, U.S. farmers have become slightly younger (i.e.,2052the average/median U.S. age has increased relatively more than2053the average farmer age). There are a number of explanations for2054the increased age of U.S. farmers. One is that there are an2055increasing share of commercial farms that are multi-2056generational in nature. Rather than the kids (or grandkids)2057operating separate farms, they return to the operation to2058become owners and enable economies of size in production and2059management. In this case, the management team has a younger2060average age that is masked by considering only the primary2061operator. Another explanation is that the changing role of2062farmers from being a combination of management and labor to2063primarily managing the labor and capital enables a relatively2064older person to run a farm. Modern agricultural production2065tends to be quite capital intensive and that capital2066accumulation occurs over that manager's lifetime. The result is2067that the average farm age will be older. Finally, given that2068the USDA definition of a farm is "any place from which $1,0002069or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or2070normally would have been sold, during the year" there are a2071large percentage of farms that are operated as part time2072businesses or hobbies (and there is nothing wrong with that).2073This definition also means that if someone retires to some2074rural acreage, they will be included as a farm and increase the2075average farmer age.2076    This is not meant to imply that there are not issues with2077farm viability that are related to increasing farmer age. These2078include hurdles that limit the entry of young people to farming2079and the need to facilitate the transfer of farm assets to the2080next generation while providing the resources necessary for the2081retirement of the older generation. Family-owned farms, which2082are 96 percent of U.S. farms (2022 Ag Census, NASS), are2083closely held businesses. The farm business tends to be of the2084size that meets the management constraints and income needs of2085the family owner-operators. Because of the capital2086requirements, the farm business assets tend to be the2087retirement plan for many farmers. While many farmers hope to2088pass the business on to the next generation, they also need to2089recover the equity value to finance retirement. Three areas2090must be transferred to maintain the farm business across2091generations. First, income which can be transferred by paying a2092wage, bonuses, and profit sharing. Second, ownership which can2093be transferred by allowing the next generation to gradually2094acquire property. Business organization options such as2095corporations or LLC can facilitate transfer of farm business2096assets which can be sold or gifted. Finally, management can be2097transferred gradually through responsibilities for certain2098enterprises or management areas.2099    In contrast to the 1980's, there is currently a great deal2100of energy and opportunity in U.S. agriculture for new entrants2101in farming as well as related industries from technical service2102providers to food retailers. According to the 2022 Census of2103Agriculture (USDA-NASS, 2024), in 2022 young producers (those2104under the age of 35), accounted for 9% of the country's 3.372105million producers. Eighty-one percent of young producers2106started farming in the last 10 years, and 64% reported having a2107primary occupation other than farming. Young producer operated2108farms accounted for 15% of U.S. agriculture sales and 12% of2109U.S. farmland (Census of Agriculture). Attracting the next2110generation of farm business owner/managers means making the2111profession attractive in terms of potential income and rural2112amenities including availability and proximity to childcare and2113healthcare. Some of the impediments to successful inter-2114generational farm transfer-for both the older and the younger2115generations-relate to information gaps. This is where land-2116grant extension programs like Cornell Cooperative Extension can2117be a valuable partner.2118    NY FarmNet is a program that was created in 1986 in2119response to the farm financial crisis. The program operates a2120toll-free number that responds to requests with a team of2121financial and mental health professionals to meet with farm2122families at no cost. Including mental health professionals was2123motivated by the alarming fact that farmers face higher rates2124of depression and suicide than the general population. For2125example, male farmers have a suicide rate 3.5 times higher than2126the national average (National Rural Health Association).2127Financial stress is one of the primary contributors to the2128depression and suicide rate. Additionally, mental health stigma2129and lack of access to care are major barriers.2130    NY FarmNet receives about 700 calls a year resulting in 4002131new cases being opened annually. The remaining calls are2132referred for technical, accounting, or legal assistance. The2133stressors that FarmNet consistently finds in the farm2134population are financial as well as family issues. Sources of2135financial stress include price uncertainty, labor cost and2136availability, capital costs, land access, and estate and2137succession planning. Family-related farm stressors include2138health insurance, childcare, eldercare, and drug and alcohol2139abuse. Agriculture ranks among the most dangerous industries in2140the U.S. Occupational hazards such as pesticide exposure,2141machinery accidents, and musculoskeletal injuries are common.2142Healthcare related issues relate to not just cost but also2143availability and proximity. Transportation barriers affect2144access to care, especially for older farmers and those in2145remote areas. Farmers often report delaying or avoiding2146healthcare due to cost, distance, or time constraints. Many2147farmers are underinsured or uninsured, especially those who are2148self-employed or operate small family farms. Telehealth is a2149promising development for farmers in remote areas but broadband2150access remains limited in many rural areas, hindering2151telehealth expansion. As of 2024, 22% of rural Americans still2152lacked reliable high-speed internet.2153    Farm business succession is a key source of financial and2154family-related stress on farms and FarmNet consultants work2155with client families regularly on this issue. NY FarmNet and2156Cornell Cooperative Extension offer educational workshops and2157materials on farm business succession and estate transfer. In21582024, FarmNet assisted farm businesses that represented over2159$13 million in revenue and 600 employees keeping more than2160180,000 acres actively in farming. 90% of FarmNet clients2161viewed the service as valuable and would recommend it to2162others. FarmNet experience is that farm managers who2163participate in programs aimed at estate planning and farm2164business transfer are likely to engage with attorneys and2165accountants to complete a successful inter-generational2166transfer. We believe that FarmNet is a model that would be2167useful across the country. Funding for land-grant applied2168research and extension programs can provide valuable assistance2169to help ensure successful farm business transitions and a2170healthy U.S. agricultural sector.21712172=======================================================================21732174                        Questions for the Record21752176=======================================================================21772178                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging21792180      "The Aging Farm Workforce: America's Vanishing Family Farms"21812182                              June 4, 202521832184                        Questions for the Record21852186                              Zippy Duvall21872188                           Senator Jon Husted21892190    Question:21912192    There are approximately 30 federal laws and 15 different2193federal agencies that govern food safety. What can Congress do2194to streamline and coordinate this oversight and reduce the2195number incidences of food borne pathogens in the food supply2196such as salmonella and E.coli?21972198    Response:21992200    American consumers can be confident the food they are2201consuming is safe and secure thanks to the careful practices of2202farmers and ranchers and our nation's science-based regulatory2203system. Protecting a safe and healthy food supply to meet2204public demand is critical for national security. Federal2205oversight of food safety is vast with multiple agencies and2206laws governing it.2207    While USDA should be the lead agency in the development and2208administration of food safety guidelines and should serve as2209the sole federal agency responsible for food inspection and2210safety, the current system is confusing and duplicative across2211several agencies. Until then, USDA and FDA should work more2212collaboratively with current guidelines to benefit food2213producers. For instance, growers are subject to multiple, often2214unpredictable, food safety audits throughout the year between2215state and federal government regulators and retailer/2216distributor requirements. These duplicative inspections result2217in costly inefficiencies and red tape that could be avoided by2218harmonizing these audit requirements without sacrificing our2219robust food safety standards, which are grounded in sound2220scientific risk standards. Additionally, we support having2221employees from state agencies acting as authorized agents of2222FDA to conduct federally authorized inspections mandated under2223the Food Safety Modernization Act.2224    Improvements to the food recall system are needed as well.2225Overly broad public announcements on food recalls with2226incomplete information devastates growers of specific products2227within their limited market windows. It can result in market2228distortions that needlessly shift production in certain regions2229and lead to seismic loss of markets. To mitigate against these2230effects, investments in food safety technology to improve2231accuracy and timeliness of recalls must be prioritized to avoid2232sweeping announcements that undermine confidence in the food2233system and preserve the viability of domestic growers.2234    Any legislative and regulatory efforts to streamline2235regulations and minimize redundancies for farmers and ranchers2236without sacrificing our high food safety standards is welcomed2237and appreciated. American Farm Bureau will continue to monitor2238initiatives to improve and streamline food safety to ensure2239that policies and procedures are in place that further build2240the trust and reliability in U.S. agriculture for the benefit2241of our farmers and ranchers as well as consumers. We welcome2242federal lawmakers to be productive partners in improving our2243food safety system that protects consumers and bolsters farmers2244and domestic food production.22452246=======================================================================22472248                       Statements for the Record22492250=======================================================================22512252                 U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging22532254      "The Aging Farm Workforce: America's Vanishing Family Farms"22552256                              June 4, 202522572258                       Statements for the Record22592260                           BPR Lab Statement22612262    BPR Lab, a multidisciplinary group of geriatric physicians,2263board-certified healthcare architects, and bioethicists,2264appreciate the opportunity to submit comments for the Special2265Committee's hearing on physical activity in older adults. Our2266area of expertise is the impact our built environment has on2267the mobility and physical activity of older adults.2268    It has long been known that architecture shapes the2269activities of people within a building. What is new is the2270extent to which architecture impacts the health of its2271occupants. In some cases, those effects are similar in scale2272and scope to that of medications and procedures. The study of2273these effects, Evidence-Based Design (EBD), seeks to uncover2274these relationships. Our work at BPR Lab focuses on leveraging2275EBD to increase the benefits and reduce the harms to people in2276healthcare facilities through an understanding of causes and2277effects. Fall prevention and promotion of mobility are two such2278effects with far reaching personal and financial costs.2279    Opportunities to improve these effects through architecture2280stand as an untapped vector to increase quality of life for2281older Americans and stem taxpayer costs. Falls are the leading2282cause of injury and among the leading causes of death among2283older Americans. In 2020 over 42,000 Americans died due to2284falls.\1\ Medical care related to falls of adults over 65 years2285old was estimated to be $50 billion annually (2018),\2\ of2286which approximately $29 billion and $9 billion came from2287Medicare and Medicaid funding, respectively.\3\ In 2020, that2288number had risen to $80 billion\4\ and by 2030 the cost is2289expected to exceed $100 billion annually.2290---------------------------------------------------------------------------2291    \1\ Santos-Lozada AR. Trends in Deaths From Falls Among Adults Aged229265 Years or Older in the US, 1999-2020. JAMA. 2023 May 9;329(18):1605-22931607. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.3054.2294    \2\ Florence CS, Bergen G, Atherly A, Burns E, Stevens J, Drake C.2295Medical Costs of Fatal and Nonfatal Falls in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr2296Soc. 2018 Apr;66(4):693-698. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15304. Epub 2018 Mar 7.2297PMID: 295121202298    \3\ National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (U.S). Cost2299of Older Adult Falls. Published 2020 July 9. Accessed 2025 June 22.2300https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/1227472301    \4\ Haddad YK, Miller GF, Kakara R et al. Healthcare spending for2302non-fatal falls among older adults, USA. Injury Prevention. 2023;30(4)2303https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2023-0450232304---------------------------------------------------------------------------2305    While the CDC's Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and2306Injuries campaign (STEADI) is a well-known U.S. Government2307effort to reduce falls in older adults,\5\ there are lacunas2308with which the Special Committee could help. Among the2309implemented recommendations made by Geriatric medical societies2310is the screening of home environments for elements within that2311increase the risk of falls in older adults.\6\ However, a2312variety of structural factors continue to limit the practice of2313basing long term care facility design decisions on empirical2314data. While the knowledge is highly translatable, the2315mechanisms that support and promote medical research do not2316have a parallel in the architecture and construction of2317healthcare facilities. Our work promotes a non-regulatory2318mechanism for the incorporation of EBD.2319---------------------------------------------------------------------------2320    \5\ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About STEADI.2321Published 2024 April 22. Accessed 2025 June 22. https://www.cdc.gov/2322steadi/about/index.html2323    \6\ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Check for2324Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults. Published23252017. Accessed 2025 June 22. https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/steadi-2326brochure-checkforsafety-508.pdf2327---------------------------------------------------------------------------2328    As healthcare-built environments are studied more,2329physicians and architects are understanding the relationship2330between design elements and different health outcomes better.2331While the interaction can be complex and much remains to be2332known, what we do know demonstrates the personal, ethical, and2333financial value of action, considering the frequency of falls2334in older adults and their cost to the health system and U.S.2335Government. For example, a recent study demonstrated that2336simply changing lightbulbs in a long-term care home to increase2337short-wavelength light during the day and decrease it overnight2338decreased falls by 43% compared to a control site.\7\ As2339professionals in this area, we continue to observe preventable2340harms and the missed opportunities to reduce falls in older2341adults. Whether in hospitals, long-term care facilities, or in2342home environments, evidence-based practices for fall reduction2343are inconsistently and optionally applied. We also see the2344benefits of improving environments, often with additional2345expertise from our colleagues in Physical and Occupational2346Therapy.2347---------------------------------------------------------------------------2348    \7\ Grant LK, St Hilaire MA, Heller JP, Heller RA, Lockley SW,2349Rahman SA. Impact of Upgraded Lighting on Falls in Care Home Residents.2350J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2022;23(10):1698-1704.e2. doi:10.1016/2351j.jamda.2022.06.0132352---------------------------------------------------------------------------2353    We applaud the Senate Special Committee on Aging's focus on2354fall reduction in older adults. As the US population ages, this2355topic will become increasingly germane to many Americans and2356their loved ones. The potential cost-savings to the federal2357government and for families' out-of-pocket expenses by2358implementing evidence-based practices to reduce falls in older2359adults is immense, in addition to the basic improvement in2360older adults' quality of life.23612362Recommendations23632364    We urge the following specific actions:23652366      Congress should establish an Advisory Committee to2367develop a National Falls Prevention Plan and advise CMS to2368address falls prevention through home modifications and2369mobility-focused interventions. The evidence base is sufficient2370to support the proposed pilot program for Medicare coverage of2371home modifications when recommended by a medical professional,2372to decrease the rates of falls in the home.2373      The federal government should support ongoing research2374into design-based fall reduction strategies. The federal2375government has the capacity to study relationships between2376health outcomes and design elements due to its access to large2377and inter-related datasets. The federal government should2378continue to partner with researchers in both academia and2379private industry to publicly disseminate research of high2380quality.2381      The federal government's potential investment into built2382environment modifications should support interventions2383recommended by medical and design professionals who demonstrate2384evidence to support their ability to reduce falls. As evidence2385grows, the federal government should adjust their reimbursement2386based on the recommendations of medical and professionals with2387relevant professional experience and minimal conflicts of2388interest.2389    Thank you for the opportunity to provide our views on this2390important topic. Our views do not represent those of our2391employers but are based on the authority of our respective2392professions. We look forward to working with you to reduce the2393risk of older adults' falls through evidence-based design2394interventions.23952396    Sincerely,23972398    David A. Deemer, MD, MA2399    Geriatric & Palliative Medicine Fellow2400    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai2401    New York, NY24022403    Diana C. Anderson, MD, M.Arch, FACHA2404    Geriatric Medicine Physician2405    Boston University School of Medicine2406    Boston, MA24072408    Stowe L. Teti, MA, HEC-C2409    Clinical Ethicist2410    Inova Fairfax Medical Campus2411    Woodburn, VA24122413    William J. Hercules, FAIA, FACHA, FACHE2414    CEO2415    WJH Health2416    Orlando, FL24172418                                [all]