Mass. Farmers Aging, Searching for Next Generation
For the last 45 years, the Mong family has run Applefield Farm in Stow, about 30 miles west of Boston. The charming farm grows a variety of crops from corn and kale to scallions and pumpkins. Husband and wife Steven and Kirsten Mong first opened the farm in the 1980s, starting with just a small wooden shack. Eventually, Steven Mong’s little brother, Ray Mong, joined the business in 1986.
Managing the 25-acre farm, which also includes a farm stand and wholesale distribution, is demanding work. But the Mongs, now in their 70s, are no longer as enthusiastic about continuing it.
"It’s kind of sad that I don’t have the enthusiasm to keep going,” said Steven. "I’m 71. We’re getting too old for this. [This farm] needs… some youngsters."
But finding those youngsters is proving difficult. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Census, there are nearly five times more farmers over the age of 65 than under the age of 34 in Massachusetts. The average farmer age has risen from 51 in 1982 to nearly 60 today.
The Mongs’ four children aren’t interested or confident in taking over.
"Both of my kids when they were young wanted to work at the farm until they actually did the work, and then they realized, ‘Oh, it's hot. Picking green beans stinks, you know? You're supposed to fill the bucket up? Forget about it,’" said Ray Mong.
Erica Mong, Steven’s daughter, helps out at the farmstand but doesn’t see herself managing the entire operation.
"I know how to run the store, but I don’t know how to do the growing in the beginning of the season,” she said. "I don’t understand the science of it all, and I’m not really cut out for field work."
Ray Mong semi-retired five years ago, but only recently handed over the reins completely.
"My wife retired in January and I’m watching how much she’s enjoying her retirement and how many things there are actually to do when you don’t have a job,” he said.
He notes that while many see farming as romantic, the reality is often "a big headache."
"A lot of people think that owning a farm, running a farm, would be fun, romantic, great,” he said. "Until you really get into the nitty gritty, the nuts and bolts. It’s dirty, it’s hard. It really takes heart and soul to make a farm operation strong."
Losing Farmland
The tradition of passing down farms is fading, according to Rachel Brice, a manager at the nonprofit Land for Good, which supports New England farmers.
"If you think about the emotional implications for a farmer who’s been on a farm for five or six generations, to think about what happens next to this farm if my child doesn’t want to run, it is a big deal,” she said.
When farmers can’t find successors, their land may be developed for housing or commerce, leading to the loss of valuable farmland. New England lost about 19 acres of farmland a day—the equivalent of 14 football fields—between 2001 and 2016, according to American Farmland Trust.
The state is taking notice.
"Farms are very vulnerable if they’re not protected and if they don’t have a clear plan for a successor to carry on,” said Melissa Adams, a programs manager for farm viability and agricultural business development.