A Letter to Young Farmers from Willie Nelson and David Senter

Dear Young Farmers,

The growing number of young farmers has been a bright spot in the agricultural landscape recently. The commitment you’re making to your families, your communities and our water, soil and climate is not an easy one—and it never has been. We want you to know that, even with the wave of uncertainty farmers are facing right now, the work you’re doing has never been more critical for our country.

Weather is always a major concern for those of us planting crops and caring for livestock, and many farmers across the country are still impacted by the extreme weather events of 2024. Disaster programs that were authorized by Congress at the end of 2024 have not been implemented and are desperately needed. Input costs remain stubbornly high and are increasing with new tariffs. Frozen USDA contracts mean you’re owed money for investments you’ve made in your farm that should have already been reimbursed by USDA, and there’s no clear information about when or if those reimbursements might be received. This makes it even more challenging to make your business plans and secure the funding you need for a successful season in 2025. USDA programs that support the creation and nurturing of crucial local markets, including food banks and schools, have been canceled, shutting down valuable markets for your products. Staffing cuts and USDA office closures cause us to worry that essential services from the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Services will be delayed or cease to exist at all. We’re concerned about our access to critical agriculture research and reports, which are important tools that help our farm operations succeed. The list of farmer worries goes on and on.