In recognition of our nation’s 250th birthday, Agweek this week put a focus on veterans and military personnel in agriculture.
Some veterans have
And some are
finding ways to market their products with their status.
In the U.S., agricultural producers with military experience, either past or present, make up about 9% of total producers. While the number has declined slightly, according to the
2022 Census of Agriculture, veterans
are slightly overrepresented in agriculture, since the
Pew Research Center in 2023 said 6% of the U.S. adult population is made up of veterans.
U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed that the census counted 305,753 producers who had served or were serving in the military, a decline of 18% from the 2017 census. Additionally, about 15% of farms had a producer with military experience involved in the operation.
Producers with military experience were 93% male and were more likely to be older and more experienced than other farmers, while also working on smaller overall operations. Veteran or active military farmers and ranchers were more common in southeastern states. Cattle and dairy operations were the most common types of farms or ranches for veterans in the 2022 census.
The USDA offers a variety of programs for those with military experience who wish to work in agriculture. For more information, visit
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