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Census data show majority of Vermont farms reported net losses and a serious succession challenge
Summary
Agency presenters said 57% of farms reported net losses in the most recent census, average operator age is nearly 58, farmland values have risen and about 2,000 farms meet a $25,000-sales viability threshold.
Jake Claro, Farm to Plate director at the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, told the committee that 57% of farms reported net losses in the latest census year while 43% reported gains. “There was a time in 1997 where more farms were reporting that they had net gains than net losses. But since that point in time, the numbers have crossed over and now we have more farms, 57% in the last census year that reported that they had net losses,” Claro said.
The presentation showed farm size and sales strongly correlate with profitability: average farm size in Vermont is about 180 acres, and farms below approximately 140 acres tended to…
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