Students in the R U Ready to Farm program at Rutgers. Photo: Linnéa Eberly
An innovative program at Rutgers University aims to address an existential threat to the future of agriculture in New Jersey: The average age of farmers in the state is 60-65 years old. “There isn’t a next generation that’s prepared to take over, and that is really a big problem,” says Bill Hlubik, a professor at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and director of the beginner-farmer program R U Ready to Farm.
The training program, begun with a USDA grant in 2020, fills a gap that has developed in recent decades as the state’s farmland has been gobbled up by development, while vocational farming programs in schools have mostly disappeared. “People don’t realize how complex farming is,” Hlubik says. “If you didn’t grow up in farming, you have no idea how to get started.”
The program’s popularity reflects a growing interest in farming careers. Nearly 200 students have enrolled to date; 75 vied for 56 spots in phase 1 of this year’s program. “People have been sitting behind screens too long,” say Hlubik. “With farming, they see the fruits of their labor.”
The would-be farmers aren’t the homogeneous group of countryfolk you might imagine: 58 percent are women and minorities, and 40 percent live in urban areas, Hlubik says. Hands-on training is on weekends to accommodate those working other jobs. Student goals vary from traditional produce farming to running a wildflower or herb microfarm to urban farming or community gardening. One student is developing a business that will supply fresh produce to restaurants.
Beginner-farmer programs are not unique to New Jersey, but two aspects of the RU program make it stand out, says Hlubik. Participants get real-world business experience and build a base of future customers, and they work with successful farmers who act as mentors.
The three-phase program starts with a 15-session online course on farming basics, with weekend field trips. In phase 2, participants run a 12-week CSA (community-supported agriculture, where customers buy shares of the produce from a local farm), from planning to harvest, on the Rutgers extension farm in Cream Ridge. The program costs $500 in phase 1 and $1,200 ($2,000 for partners) in phase 2.
“Students are assigned three crops and take ownership of the crops they’re growing,” says Hlubik. “We help them figure out their markets. They research pests and disease, soil and site conditions, and then we test their knowledge.
[RELATED: Volunteer Farmers Save Leftover Crops to Feed NJ’s Food Insecure]
“We’re trying to initiate the experience of running a farm and making all the decisions,” he says. “They work as a team, with other students and experienced farmers and teachers. They can make mistakes and it’s okay, because they’re here to learn and and work on their leadership skills.”
In the final stage, students get assistance implementing their business plan, including advice around buying or leasing farmland or working with another farmer on their land. For those looking to buy, “We’ll go out with them to look at the properties and provide advice on conditions for the crop they want to grow,” says Hlubik. “We help people ask the right questions before they buy a farm, which can be millions of dollars here in New Jersey.”
[RELATED: Broadway Star Laura Bell Bundy Embraces Farm Life in New Jersey]
Those not ready or able to buy their own land can lease Rutgers farmland, if available, for up to three years, or work on the land of an established farmer.
Lauren O’Hanlan, a pediatric nurse practitioner, is completing phase 2 with her husband, Dennis, a machine operator for PSE&G. The couple, both 35, and their three children live on a 3-acre farm in Burlington County, raising poultry and miniature cattle and selling eggs and produce. Eventually, the O’Hanlans hope to move to a larger farm, supply cow and goat milk directly to consumers, and sell their products at farmers markets and at a farm stand on their property.
“This program’s really great because it focuses on small-scale vegetable production,” says O’Hanlan. “I wanted to learn from the experts. It’s very challenging here in New Jersey; the cost of land is very expensive. So we new-generation farmers have to be creative; we have to get higher yields in smaller spaces. The program’s been awesome, teaching us that.”
Despite the challenges of farming in the Garden State, Hlubik thinks the Rutgers program will continue to attract converts and is hopeful their USDA grant, soon up for renewal, will be extended. “Once people get out and start gardening, they get hooked,” he says. “And sometimes they think, Maybe I can make a living doing this. Everybody in this program is hooked on agriculture. It’s like a bad habit.”
No one knows New Jersey like we do. Sign up for one of our free newsletters here. Want a print magazine mailed to you? Purchase an issue from our online store.