Serving Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers in the U.S. : A Case Study Using the Agent Based Approach (ABA) to improve access to government programs and support

As the number of farmers in the U.S. continues to dramatically decrease, it’s imperative that the system of support in place for beginning and historically underserved farmers is robust and accessible. The last several Farm Bill renewal cycles have expanded on programs that directly support this initiative, but frustration and trepidation about USDA funded programs prevails within farming communities and advocacy groups. This paper outlines an investigation using the Systems Thinking and the Agent Based Approach (ABA) is to identify gaps in the system that prevent Beginning and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers (BSDFs) from accessing government support, to locate the areas for improvement in order to eliminate the barriers farmers face, and finally, find ways to concentrate more governmental support towards empowering the next generation of farmers.