Opportunities to support beginning farmers and ranchers in the 2023 Farm Bill

Abstract Beginning farmers and ranchers represent an important segment of U.S. agriculture, yet they face financial challenges relative to more established operations. This article provides overview emerging research on the performance beginning farm ranch operations, with a lens toward implications for 2023 Farm Bill. First, we use Department Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Resource Management Survey data explore descriptive statistics usage of: local food markets, Federal crop insurance, financing mechanisms. Subsequently, leverage farm‐level panel dataset from USDA Census regression analysis examine relationship between key metrics farmer success. Results show: (a) over time is associated both increases in scale productivity, as well participation agricultural programs, (b) access credit important, that being constrained lowers probability survival, growth, success (c) operations are significantly less likely insurance compared across all scales.