Kohl Urges Dairy Leaders To Look Toward Future
DAVE LEFEVER
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) A major reason
good dairy managers fail to pass their farm business
on to the next generation is because they have not ac
cumulated wealth.
That was the message from Dr. David Kohl, Vir
ginia Tech professor and internationally-known ag
economist.
Kohl spoke at a recent forum called “Managing To
morrow’s Agriculture Today” sponsored by Monsanto
Dairy Business.
Younger family members on farms that have not ac
cumulated assets over the years “can’t survive manag
ing the way (the older members) do,” he said.
Kohl travels extensively, urging farmers and agribu
siness people to take a “proactive” approach in creat
ing a business environment that will attract up-and
coming generations.
“It is a big challenge to get Gen-X’ers to commit to
dairying,” Kohl said, referring to the generation of
Americans now in their 20s and 30s.
Beside the challenge of keeping young people on
farms that seem to offer too little in return for a large
commitment, young people also tend to avoid living in
economically depressed communities, including rural
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David Kohl tells dairy representatives that
young people need to see dairying as an eco
nomically viable career.
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