Why some young American farmers want their student loans forgiven

[marmar]

(MarketWatch) Are the farmers who grow the nation’s food public servants? Not according to the government — but some advocates and bipartisan legislators are trying to change that, pushing a proposal to add farming to the list of public service fields entitled to student debt forgiveness.

The effort is an indication that the student debt crisis has fueled concerns about the future of one of the country’s oldest professions and, perhaps, even endangered the food supply.

Advocates say that debt may be keeping young Americans from starting farms, buying land, or even considering farming to begin with, perhaps meaning there won’t be enough farmers to take over when the current generation retires.

“We’re increasingly moving toward a system where the barriers to entry in farming as a young person are too high,” said Eric Hansen, a policy analyst at the National Young Farmer’s Coalition, the advocacy group behind a push to include farming in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. ................(more)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/as-student-debt-crisis-moves-to-americas-farms-some-push-legislative-help-2015-10-22?dist=lcountdown

[matt819]

1. Barriers to entry

Sadly, student loans create barriers to entry for damn near every student with a loan. They can't buy cars, they can't buy homes, there is little disposable income for recreational spending, vacations, and more. I know there are those here who will tell us that they managed to go to school debt free while working 2 jobs, etc., etc. Maybe 50 years ago. You can't get out of your average state school without paying tuition of upwards of $50,000 for four years. Factor in non-public schools, and, well, you're fucked.

This is a crisis, folks.