Colin Johnson, 33, started full-time farming in Agency about a year ago. His father, who had managed the farm, passed away, and Johnson took over.

Johnson received his graduate degree in animal science from Iowa State University in 2002. Before he became a full-time farmer, Johnson worked with swine for the ISU Extension.

If he hadn’t been able to take over the family farm, Johnson said a major struggle would have been just getting a career in farming started. Johnson’s farm includes corn, soybeans, hay, oats and cattle.

For many young farmers in Iowa, the biggest struggle is the availability of land, said John Sandbothe, regional manager with the Iowa Farm Bureau in Fairfield.

“Finding land owners that want to rent to young farmers [is difficult]. We can’t always be the top bid for their land,” he said.

Foot in the door

Some young farmers are getting their foot in the door by starting with hog farming. Though the pork industry is struggling, Sandbothe said that hog farms don’t require as much land as other ag ventures. That makes it easier for young farmers to invest in the business and get started.

Tony Adrian, 32, who farms with his father near Fairfield and has a full-time job off-the-farm, has started a small cow/calf operation with his wife, Sara.

“Livestock is an opportunity for young people to get involved in farming and supplement their income. It’s ard for a young guy to go out and buy enough ground to ever make it,” Adrian said. “When a young guy proposes something like a cattle building or a hog building, that also helps the community itself and the farmer get started.”

Ryan Reed, 34, a Wapello County farmer, started his hog operation three years ago for similar reasons.

The main reason — to have more flexibility and time with his family. He said a hog operation takes up less equity than crop farming.

Along with his hog operation, Reed also produces some crops. He was able to do this because he found an established farmer in the area who was willing to form a partnership.

“As a young farmer, you’ve got to partner yourself with someone who is established in row farming, work with them, learn from them and try to grow your operation,” said Reed, who has a degree in business management

Others, Sandbothe said, are getting into specialty products like pumpkins and apple farming.