Senior citizens and retirees, according to recent reports from agricultural officials, are increasingly populating New England farms and entering the region’s agricultural economy.
The trend is part of an overall graying of the farm sector. With fewer and fewer young famers entering the profession to replace retiring farmers, the overall number of farmers is shrinking and the overall age of farmers increasing (approaching 60 in some areas).
However, some seniors, particularly in places like New England (where farmers often make their living doing more than just farming), are turning to agriculture in their golden years. With pensions and Social Security benefits often not enough to make ends meet, farming offers many seniors a much needed income boost.
“The advent of farmers markets and the increased interest in local foods, I think that’s created more opportunities for supplemental retirement income,” said one New Hampshire agricultural official. “And if it’s something that they enjoy doing, how perfect is that?”
In addition to extra income, retiree-farmers are benefiting from increased physical activity (with the small size of many New England farms guaranteeing that seniors will not be overworked).
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer