Monthly Archives for April 2025

Meeting the challenges of an aging farm workforce, in a bipartisan way

Published in RINewsToday on April 28, 2025

About 16 months ago, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Mike Braun (R-IN) released a report titled Feeding the Future, sounding the alarm about the growing challenges older farmers face and urging Congress and the Biden administration to secure the future of American agriculture. Now, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), the current chair of the Senate Aging Committee, is continuing this effort with the release of a new report addressing the same issue.

On March 31, Scott unveiled his eight-page report, America’s Aging Farm Workforce: Why Vanishing Family Farms Are a Growing Threat to U.S. Food Security and Rural Communities. The report notes that one-third of farmers and ranchers are over the age of 65, with a median age of 58—making agriculture the oldest workforce in the nation. “We’re seeing fewer young people follow in their parents’ footsteps,” Scott said, warning that this trend threatens America’s food security and the vitality of rural communities.

Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, has also raised concerns. “As many farmers and ranchers reach retirement age, they face uncertainty over the future of their farms, which in many cases have been in the family for generations,” he said, pointing to high production costs, land competition, and declining profits as ongoing threats to sustainability.

“The data is clear—our farming population is aging rapidly, and without targeted action, we risk losing family farms and, with them, the backbone of rural America and our national food supply,” said Terry Kippley, President & CEO of the Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA). Kippley pledged to work with Senator Scott to develop long-term solutions that support the next generation of farmers, reduce regulatory burdens, and ensure access to modern tools and technologies.
Troubling statistics

The Senate Aging Committee’s report outlines serious demographic challenges. Currently, aging farmers and ranchers control 40% of America’s farmland. Over the next two decades, approximately 350 million acres are expected to change hands, raising concerns about consolidation of family farms—particularly by foreign or adversarial entities.

At the same time, the number of farms is shrinking. The U.S. has lost 200,000 farms since 2007, and 40 million acres have been converted to non-agricultural use. While over 800 million acres of land are currently farmable, an annual loss of 1.9 million acres poses a significant threat to the country’s food production capacity.

Barriers like high operating costs, limited land access, and a lack of healthcare or retirement benefits discourage young people from entering the profession. Over 80% of farmers must work a second job just to stay financially stable. Buying or expanding farmland is also increasingly expensive – averaging $4,000 per acre, a 7.4% increase since 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In addition, inflation and regulatory challenges are placing further economic strain on farmers. The Senate report recommends reducing these pressures through economic reforms, promoting innovation, simplifying regulations, and encouraging fair market competition to support American agriculture.

Policy suggestions include reducing inflation and energy costs, repealing the federal estate tax, investing in agricultural R&D (particularly in areas like organic farming and agri-tourism), and leveraging artificial intelligence for production and marketing. The report also urges Congress to strengthen protections against foreign land acquisitions and to pass legislation such as the Regulatory Decimation Act and the REINS Act to limit burdensome rules.

The report emphasizes that a new Farm Bill must genuinely support farmers and view food security as part of national security. To that end, it also calls for tariffs, when necessary, to counteract foreign subsidies that harm American producers.

Bipartisan push to attract a new generation of farmers

In the early days of the 119th Congress, on April 1, 2025, a group of bipartisan House lawmakers—Representatives Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Don Davis (D-NC), Eric Sorenson (D-IL), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM)—introduced the New Producer Economic Security Act (H.R. 2536). A companion bill (S.1237) was introduced in the Senate by Senator Tina Smith (D-MN).

H.R. 2536 was referred to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit, while S.1237 was sent to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

The proposed legislation would establish a pilot program within the Farm Service Agency (FSA) aimed at helping new and beginning farmers overcome the biggest barriers to entry: access to land, capital, and markets. The goal is to strengthen the farm workforce and secure the U.S. food system.

“If we’re going to revitalize American agriculture, we must ensure young farmers have the tools to succeed,” said Rep. Budzinski. “This bill addresses the biggest challenges they face—access to land, markets, and capital.”


“In Iowa, agriculture is our backbone,” added Rep. Nunn. “Young Americans who are willing to feed and fuel our country deserve every form of support we can offer.”

“The average producer in the U.S. is 58, and in Minnesota, it’s 57,” noted Sen. Smith. “Investing in the next generation of farmers is essential to food security and the economic strength of rural America.”

Jordan Treakle, Policy and Programs Director of the National Family Farm Coalition echoed these sentiments. “This bill supports new and beginning family farmers at a time when land consolidation is increasing. Keeping farmland in the hands of those who feed our communities is critical for a resilient food system,” he said.

A joint statement introducing the legislation emphasized that with nearly half of U.S. farmland expected to change ownership in the coming decades, this is a timely opportunity to create policies that ensure land stays accessible and productive.

Rhode Island

According to the 2024 Census of Agriculture, Rhode Island is home to 1,938 farmers and ranchers. Of these, 34% are age 65 or older, which amounts to approximately 659 individuals. Furthermore, about 90% of Rhode Island’s senior farmers do not have a younger farm operator (under age 45) working with them, raising concerns about farm succession. This issue is highlighted in the February 2016 report “Keeping Farmers on the Land,” issued by the American Farmland Trust. These concerning statistics should serve as a call to action for Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation to address the issue by becoming cosponsors of the New Producer Economic Security Act.

Key provisions of the Bill

The House and Senate versions of the New Producer Economic Security Act would:

• Provide grants and cooperative agreements to state and tribal governments, non-profit organizations, community lenders, farmer cooperatives, and other eligible groups to improve access to land, capital, and markets.
• Offer funding for direct support services to help young farmers acquire land, pay closing costs and down payments, build infrastructure, and receive technical assistance and training.
• Prioritize projects that facilitate farmland transition from older to younger producers, include collaborative partnerships, or offer direct financial support to new producers.
• Establish a stakeholder advisory committee to help evaluate applications and ensure the program meets the real needs of farmers and ranchers.

Since becoming a permanent committee in 1977, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging has consistently worked in a bipartisan manner, regardless of which party held the majority. In light of Chairman Scott’s report urging action on the aging farm workforce, he and Ranking Member Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) should consider co-sponsoring S.2536—or working together to craft a bipartisan proposal to be introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, or the appropriate committee.

Now is the time for Democrats and Republicans to set aside political differences and come together to address the challenges posed by America’s aging farm workforce—and the serious threat this poses to our food security.

On January 15, 2025, during his opening statement at the first Senate Aging Committee hearing of the 119th Congress, Chairman Scott said: “I believe we have a significant opportunity in this Committee to work in a bipartisan manner to support and improve the lives of America’s current senior citizens and to create change that will enhance both the lifespan and health span of future generations.” This includes improving the lives of America’s older farmers and ranchers.

The New Producer Economic Security Act is endorsed by the National Young Farmers Coalition, Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, American Farmland Trust, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and Rural Coalition.

To download Chairman Scott’s report, America’s Aging Farm Workforce: Why Vanishing Family Farms Are a Growing Threat to U.S. Food Security and Rural Communities.” go to https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2025_aging_farm_workforce_report.pdf.

How religious are we? National survey results

Published in RINewsToday.com on April 21, 2025

According to an April 17 article in the National Catholic Register (NCR), outreach, Eucharistic revival, immigration—and perhaps even the Holy Spirit—are sparking spiritual renewal, not just in the United States, but also abroad.

NCR reports that France expects a surge in adult baptisms this year, estimated at more than 10,000. Meanwhile, England is witnessing a quiet Catholic revival, primarily driven by young male converts.

Closer to home, the Rhode Island Catholic, the newspaper of the Diocese of Providence, reported in its latest issue that “Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., was greeted by one of the largest crowds in years for a Chrismas Mass at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul. The church was packed with worshippers from across the diocese, and Archbishop Henning described being buoyed by the joyful spirit that began for him during his time as shepherd of the Diocese of Providence.”

What does research say about America’s Catholics?

According to a March 4, 2025 article “10 Facts About U.S. Catholics,” posted on the Pew Research Center’s (PRS) website, around 20% of U.S. adults identify as Catholic, translating to approximately 53 million Catholic adults nationwide.

Here are a few facts detailed in the article…

The share of Hispanic Catholics continues to rise. While since the year 2007, the percentage of white Catholics has dropped by 10 percentage points, the share of Hispanic Catholics has increased by 7 percentage points. In fact, 29% of U.S. Catholics are immigrants, or children of immigrants.

Demographically, Catholics tend to skew older: nearly 58% are age 50 or older. Regionally, 29% reside in the South, 26% in the Northeast, 25% in the West, and 20% in the Midwest.

In terms of education, 35% of U.S. Catholics are college graduates, while 27% have some college experience but no degree, and 38% have a high school diploma or less. Religiously, about three-in-ten Catholics attend Mass weekly or more, while 51% pray daily, and 44% say religion is very important in their lives.

Taking a look at America’s religious communities

PRS’s latest 393 page RLS report, “Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off”, released on Feb. 26, 2025, suggests that the steady decline in Christian affiliation may be stabilizing. As of 2025, 62% of U.S. adults identify as Christian—a 9-point drop since 2014 and 16 points down from 2007—but that figure has held relatively stable between 60% and 64% over the past five years.

This latest RLS is the third major national study conducted by PRC over the past 17 years, each surveying around 36,908 randomly selected respondents. Since the U.S. Census Bureau does not collect religious data, the PRC’s work represents the largest ongoing national survey on religion and spirituality, providing insights into all 50 states, D.C., and 34 of the largest metropolitan areas.

The report, released February 26, 2025, also highlights trends in other faiths. While still in the single digits, the number of Americans identifying with non-Christian religions is growing:

  • 1.7% are Jewish
  • 1.2% are Muslim
  • 1.1% are Buddhist
  • 0.9% are Hindu

Meanwhile, 29% of Americans are religiously unaffiliated, identifying as atheists, agnostics, or “nothing in particular.” This group—often called the NONES — has grown rapidly in previous decades but appears to be plateauing.

Despite this shift, spiritual belief remains widespread:

  • 86% believe in a soul or spirit
  • 83% believe in God or a universal spirit
  • 79% believe in something spiritual beyond the natural world
  • 70% believe in an afterlife (heaven, hell, or both)
  • 92% hold at least one of these spiritual beliefs

Still, the PRC’s RLS warns that signs point to potential future declines in religious affiliation, especially among younger Americans. The study found that only 46% of adults aged 18–24 identify as Christian, compared to 80% of those aged 74 and older. Younger adults are also less likely to pray daily (27% vs. 58%), less likely to attend monthly religious services (25% vs. 49%), and more likely to be religiously unaffiliated (43% vs. 13%).

In the Pew Research study of 2015, it was found, as it hhas been for many years, that Rhode Island is far-and-away the most Catholic state in the country, with 42 percent of Rhode Islanders consider themselves Catholic. Three states are tied for second place at 34 percent: Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Mexico.

Religion and Age

Older Americans continue to form the majority of many Christian denominations:

  • 64% of mainline Protestants
  • 57% of Catholics
  • 54% of evangelicals
    are age 50 or older.

By contrast, Muslims are among the youngest religious groups in the U.S., with three-quarters under the age of 50, and one-third younger than 30.

Among the religiously unaffiliated, about 70% are under 50, compared to 44% among the religiously affiliated, says the RLS.

The median age of U.S. Christians has climbed from 46 in 2007 to 55 in 2024, a trend mirrored across nearly all Christian subgroups. In contrast, the median age of the religiously unaffiliated and those in non-Christian religions has remained relatively stable since 2007.

When respondents were asked how their personal religiousness had changed over their lifetime:

  • 44% reported no significant change,
  • 29% said they had become less religious,
  • 28% said they had become more religious.

The 2023–2024 RLS (The Religious Landscape Study) was conducted in English and Spanish from July 17, 2023, to March 4, 2024, among a nationally representative sample of 36,908 respondents. The survey has a margin of error of ±0.8 percentage points and a response rate of 20%.

This research was made possible through support from The Pew Charitable Trusts, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., Templeton Religion Trust, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

To read the full report, visit: https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/02/PR_2025.02.26_religious-landscape-study_report.pdf.

Tips on coping with the friendship recession

By Herb Weiss,

Published in RINewsToday on April 14, 2025

In the midst of the global pandemic, the May 21 American Perspective Survey (APS) revealed a significant shift in how Americans experience and maintain friendships. The findings, dubbed the “friendship recession,” showed that Americans—especially adult men—reported having fewer close friendships than in the past, talked to their friends less often, and relied less on them for personal support.

According to APS data, the percentage of U.S. adults who report having no close friends has quadrupled to 12% since 1990. Meanwhile, the number of those with ten or more close friends has dropped nearly threefold. For decades, Americans consistently spent about 6.5 hours per week with friends, but between 2014 and 2019, that number dropped to just four hours weekly.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, along an array of scientific research studies, confirmed that social isolation, loneliness, and difficulty forming or maintaining personal relationships take a toll on both mental and physical health—contributing to increased risks of depression, anxiety, heart disease, and even premature death.

Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life, as well as media outlets such as The New York Times and scores of newspapers across the nation, Fox News, PBS, and online platforms, have helped to popularize the term “friendship recession” and raise awareness about its impact on society.

More recently, author and acclaimed podcaster Mel Robbins has brought this issue further into the cultural spotlight by connecting it to the everyday emotional struggles of adults trying to build and maintain meaningful friendships.

Robbins is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and a world-renowned expert on mindset, motivation, and behavior change, whose work has been translated into 50 languages. With millions of books sold, seven #1 Audible titles, and billions of video views.

Robbins, known for her TEDxSF talk “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over,” and books such as The Let Them Theory, The 5 Second Rule, and The High 5 Habit, delves into the challenges of adult friendships in episode 262 of The Mel Robbins Podcast, which aired on February 10, 2025. titled Why Making Friends as an Adult Feels Impossible & What to Do About It.

The Challenge of Adult Friendships

Robbins observes that many adults feel lonely, isolated, or disconnected—frequently asking themselves, “Where did all my friends go?” She notes, “It does feel impossible to make adult friends.”

In the one-hour-and-seventeen-minute episode, Robbins introduces the concept of the “Great Scattering”—the period following college graduation when people begin pursuing different life paths, often relocating to other cities for work. Unlike childhood, where friendships are easily formed through school classrooms, on the sports field, or extracurriculars, adulthood lacks these built-in social environments.

According to Robbins, the friendship recession isn’t the result of personal shortcomings or antisocial tendencies, but rather the outcome of systemic factors. These include frequent relocations, job transitions, demanding work schedules, and prioritizing family life which can leave little time to nurture or form new friendships. As people age, increasing responsibilities further reduce the time available to build new social bonds.

Robbins also highlights a decline in church attendance, participation in social and civic clubs, and neighborhood gatherings reducing opportunities to meet potential friends. Meanwhile, she says that heavy reliance on social media and texting has further eroded face-to-face interactions, exacerbating the problem.

The Three Pillars of Friendship

Robbins outlines three key elements necessary for creating deep, lasting adult friendships:

1. Proximity: Physical closeness is essential for building bonds. Robbins cites an MIT study showing that proximity—how often you see or “bump into” someone—is the single most important factor in forming friendships. “To create great friendships, you’ve got to spend time with people,” she says.

2. Timing: Shared life stages and experiences—such as parenting, career demands, or health challenges—can support the growth of friendships. While workplace proximity might exist, friendships don’t always develop because “everybody’s all over the place and interested in different things,” Robbins explains.

3. Authenticity and Energy (the “Vibe”): Mutual energy or chemistry matters. “You either feel this thing with somebody or you don’t—and you can’t force it,” she says. “If the energy is off, it’s off.”

Building strong friendships takes time and effort, says Robbins. Research indicates that it takes about 50 hours of interaction to become casual friends, around 90 hours to become good friends, and more than 200 hours to become best friends.

She also encourages listeners to embrace her “Let Them Theory,” which promotes releasing control over others’ actions and focusing instead on your own responses. “This whole notion that you’ve got best friends for life—it’s a modern construct that actually sets us up to fail,” Robbins states. Adults, she says, must accept that people change, move on, and form new social circles. “Let them live their lives,” she advises. “Let them move, change, not invite you. Let them have a social life without you.”

Friendships may drift, and that’s okay. Robbins urges people not to take others’ actions personally and to focus instead on being the kind of friend they themselves would want.

Simple Tips for Making New Friends

“It’s on you to make time for friendships,” says Robbins. She offers several practical tips:

• Take initiative: Reach out with a simple message to reconnect or start a conversation.
• Be consistent: Regular interactions, even brief ones, help build trust and familiarity over time.
• Find common ground: Join clubs or groups aligned with your interests to meet like-minded individuals.
• Be open: Sharing personal experiences helps forge deeper bonds—but know that not every interaction will result in a lasting friendship, and that’s perfectly fine.

Robbins’ episode provides insight into why adult friendships can be difficult to maintain, along with tools to overcome these challenges. By following her strategies, individuals can counteract the effects of the friendship recession and cultivate meaningful connections.

To listen to Robbins’ podcast episode, Why Making Friends as an Adult Feels Impossible & What to Do About It, visit: https://www.melrobbins.com/podcasts/episode-262

The Mel Robbins Podcast releases two new episodes every Monday and Thursday, focusing on motivation, self-improvement, and overcoming obstacles—often grounded in Robbins’ personal experiences. To explore the full podcast library, now over 280 episodes, visit: www.melrobbins.com/podcast.

Robbins introduces The Let Them Theory, a book providing a groundbreaking approach to reclaiming your life by focusing on what you can control and releasing what you can’t. For book details and purchase info, go to  https://www.melrobbins.com/letthemtheory.

Herb Weiss, LRI ‘12, is a Pawtucket-based writer who has covered aging, healthcare, and medical issues for over 45 years. To purchase his books, including Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly and its two sequels, visit herbweiss.com.