The average age of a farmer in New Jersey is 62, a big concern for 65-year-old farmer Alan Habiak. Farmers and fishers play key roles in helping people put food on the table, but Habiak says that younger people aren’t convinced they can make a living by casting lines or plowing fields. “We need to show the younger generations how you can make money out of it. It is something profitable, and it’s very rewarding,” he said.
The hope is a $300,000 earmark in this year’s federal budget creating a workforce training program at Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools will help plant the seed. U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th) says it’s a great alternative for people who don’t want to attend higher education or people who want to make good money.
