America’s Farmland Crisis: Why the Next Generation of Farmers Is Being Shut Out

Across America’s heartland—in states like Missouri, Kansas, and Wyoming—vast stretches of farmland are quietly changing hands. But instead of being passed down to young families or aspiring farmers eager to put down roots, more and more of this land is being sold off to large corporations and international buyers.

At the same time, young and beginning farmers—including veterans who have already served their country—are hitting wall after wall when trying to access farmland through the very agencies meant to support them, such as the USDA and Farm Service Agency (FSA). The result? A dangerous cycle where farmland ownership is concentrated in fewer hands, America’s farmers grow older, and the next generation is discouraged from ever pursuing agriculture.

According to the USDA, the average American farmer is nearly 60 years old. Yet, instead of paving the way for new farmers to step in, the system leaves many locked out. USDA and FSA programs are notoriously complicated, slow-moving, and often ill-suited to meet the needs of today’s beginning farmers. Those who attempt to use programs like farm ownership loans or rent-to-own options quickly learn how burdensome the process can be.

Meanwhile, foreign and corporate ownership of U.S. farmland continues to rise. Reports show that millions of acres are now held by international entities, sparking concerns not only about food security, but also about the erosion of rural communities and the American dream itself.

“This is wrong on so many levels,” said Amy Tilley, founder of the KOVH Foundation. “We have veterans who want to work the land, young farmers who are desperate for an opportunity, and communities that would thrive with more local food production. Instead, land is being sold to the highest bidder while the next generation is told they don’t qualify, can’t access financing, or simply don’t fit into the outdated models.”

For weeks, the KOVH Foundation has been searching for a starter farm in Missouri, Kansas, and Wyoming as part of its Harvest of Hope Farm Initiative—a pilot project that would address multiple issues at once:

• Veteran Employment & Training – giving veterans meaningful work and new skills.

• Hands-On Agricultural Education – preparing young farmers with the experience they need.

• Food Security – growing sustainable, local food to feed veterans and surrounding communities.

But despite countless inquiries and a clear mission, the search has been filled with roadblocks. Aging farmers who might be open to selling or transitioning their land to younger hands face few options that make sense financially. Beginning farmers are caught in a bind where traditional financing is out of reach, and government programs do little to bridge the gap.

The stakes are high. Every acre sold to outside interests is an acre lost for the next generation of American farmers. Every delay in reform is another blow to food security and another reason young people walk away from the idea of farming altogether.

“This isn’t just about land—it’s about America’s future,” Tilley emphasized. “We’re not just losing farms, we’re losing farmers. And once that knowledge, that spirit, and that connection to the land is gone, it’s nearly impossible to rebuild.”

The KOVH Foundation is calling for urgent reforms:

• Prioritize veterans and young farmers in farmland access programs.

• Close loopholes that allow unchecked foreign and corporate ownership of U.S. farmland.

• Modernize USDA and FSA programs to be accessible, transparent, and truly supportive of beginning farmers.

The Foundation’s Harvest of Hope Farm remains determined to launch, but its struggles highlight a much larger national crisis: America cannot continue to sell off its farmland while locking out the very people who should be its stewards.

The time to act is now—before the fields that once fed America are no longer ours to claim.

👉 Learn more about KOVH’s mission and support the Harvest of Hope Farm Initiative: https://kovh.betterworld.org/campaigns/harvestofhope