In a recent Department of Agriculture report, findings show that the value of Alabama farm land has the ninth highest increased value in the country.

David Lee Bell of Bell farms said, "In the past twenty years I can name you several numbers of people that have just dropped out and quit."

And with the price of farm land on the rise, this is making it much more challenging for people entering the farming profession.

"The price we receive for the commodities actually affects you know what we can pay for the land, rent. and as far as new farmers and all it's just hard to buy land at today's value for a new farmer or young farmer to start farming if the land is not already in the family." said Bell Sr.

"If they’re family wasn’t already in it, if they’re trying to start off they usually start off make a couple years then see there is no way they can make it" said his son, David "Pee Wee" Bell.

Farming is requiring greater capitol than ever, which means the majority of Wiregrass farming, will be between fewer farmers.

"You can go to town and get a job making good money with no investment, out here you have to invest all your money, then hoping' you make good money" said Bell Jr.

So what is in store for the future of farming?

Willie Durr, of the Houston County Extension Office said, "I think we're gonna see farmers perhaps maybe instead of doing the more acres of one crop, maybe more diversity, i know that some farmers are looking at things like cattle."

"It’s going more to larger farms, locally and nationally." said Bell Sr.

Which may spell trouble for the future of small family farms, farm real estate in Southeast Alabama increased by an average of 13 percent.