Conservation Generation is a new short film by the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) about four young farmers and ranchers in the arid West. The Colorado River irrigates 15 percent of the nation’s crops, making the conservation efforts of Western producers crucial to the American food system. Faced with the impacts of historic drought, climate change, and increased competition for water, the film’s farmers are each committed to their communities and to finding innovative solutions to water shortages. To read more about the four farmers in this film, visit youngfarmers.org/conservationgeneration.
Young farmers and ranchers are critical to the future of American agriculture: The average age of the American farmer is 58, and farmers over 65 outnumber farmers under 35 by a ratio of six-to-one. At the same time, young farmers are leaders in conservation. According to an NYFC report, 97 percent of young farmers surveyed considered water conservation important and 94 percent reported using some form of conservation on their farms.
Farmers appearing in the film include:
Casey Holland, Red Tractor Farm, Albuquerque, N.M.