Massachusetts Farmland Held by Older Farmers

Figure 6.10 shows the amount of land in farms by age of the principal farm operator and by primary occupation for 2002. The oldest three age cohorts of farm operators accounted for nearly 82 percent of Massachusetts's farmland I 2002, while the youngest three age cohorts operate about 18 percent. Over one-quarter of Massachusetts's farmland (25.8 percent) is operated by farmers who were age 65 years and over in 2002. We are uncertain whether these operators have younger family members or partners waiting to take over the farm operations. If not, the Census data suggest Massachusetts may see a significant loss of farmland in the coming years.