NEXT GENERATION


water unless you’re in the river basin,” Peterson explains. “Our pivots pull from reservoirs we’ve built to capture runoff.”


His experience highlights the challenges of water management in this region. “These last two or three years, we haven’t had water in our ponds,” he shares. “Our pivots have been sitting still. My dad always said that we would have water to pump out of our reservoirs eight out of 10 years, but it feels like we’re living in an anomaly.”


For the Petersons, capturing runoff in reservoirs and utilizing irrigation when possible has been a yield-making difference. “We have one central pivot that pumps out of the river, and two others from our ponds,” Peterson explains. “Even just a few inches of water can make all the difference.”


Next-generation farming opportunities


For young farmers looking to enter the industry, there are numerous opportunities available through state and federal programs. The Farm Service Agency offers Young Farmer Loans, which provide critical capital to help new farmers purchase land and equipment.


Their channel educates viewers about FARMING PRACTICES but also fosters a SENSE OF COMMUNITY.


“That was the first challenge we faced as we came home from college: we can’t all three brothers come home from college and farm together unless we pick up more ground,” says Peterson. “I was the first brother home, so I kind of took that upon my shoulders. We all bought land as we came home, about a quarter of ground each, with the FSA Young Farmer Loan Program. That was part of how we expanded, and we had a couple of those opportunities come our way.”


For young farmers looking to enter the industry, Peterson says professional connections make a huge difference.


“We’ve been able to form relationships


14 Irrigation TODAY | Summer 2024


with a couple of fields where we form a relationship with the current owner, and then they become our landlord,” says Peterson. “We’ve also been able to form relationships with investors who will buy ground for us to farm and lease from them.”


Historically, others would approach a farmer to extend those relationships based on a farmer’s reputation and skill, Peterson says. “Today, in my opinion, it feels more like you can’t just sit on your laurels and wait for people to come to you. You need to go out, form relationships, and try to be in the right place at the right time.”


A labor of love


For Peterson, farming is more than a profession. It’s a lifestyle deeply rooted in family and personal values. “I love being self-employed,” he says. “I love not having to be under other people’s jurisdiction and being told what to do. I like the freedom of my schedule. I can hang out with my kids when I want to, or I can work extra hours when I want to. I’m pretty self-motivated, so it’s not hard for me to find work to do and be motivated to do it.”


Peterson says the work isn’t without its challenges, though.


“When it doesn’t rain and you have to face some of the hardships that farmers face, whether that’s breakdowns, bad markets or bad weather, it can definitely test you at times,” he says. “It’s not all fun and games.”


But farming with his family and creating outreach for the importance of the ag community with the wider world brings unique rewards, he says.


“I love working outside,” he says. “I love being outdoors and seeing the seasons come and go and hopefully raising bountiful crops. When it doesn’t rain, it definitely makes you question if it’s worth it. But it’s only been three years since 2021 and especially 2020, which were pretty successful. I remember those years, and it certainly was rewarding then. It’s fun to grow an operation and see the fruits of your labor, not just in your crops, but in the growth of your whole operation. There are certainly rewarding parts. I think it’s definitely worth it.”


Luke Reynolds is the content editor for Irrigation Today.


irrigationtoday.org


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