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Abstract
For sixty years farm numbers have
declined as "larger farms" absorbed
"smaller farms." Some people were
comforted that most exiting farmers
sell to neighbors who continue the
farms. But the land resources were
used differently. Farms became more
specialized as they became larger.
Larger amounts of nonfarm inputs
were substituted for inputs provided
by farmers. Thus, "farming "-the
value added by farmers-declined.
And recent projections of biotechnology
developments suggest that the
trend may accelerate. Technology is,
in fact, the key force driving the shift
of farm activities off of the farms.
This relationship suggests that if
this country wants to maintain farming
, publicly funded research of
technologies that enhance farmers'
value-added activities must be
increased. Else the 8O-year trend
line of reduced farming activities
will continue.