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Abstract
A 1988 survey identified more than 200,000 farm operator households that had limited economic opportunities. Households were identified on the basis of operating small farms and having household income below the official poverty threshold. Among the factors limiting their economic opportunities was low human capital; operators were generally older and had less formal education than did other farm operators. Also, operators and members of their households participated less in off farm work than did members of other farm operator households. As a result, traditional farm policies that are focused on agricultural production or on rural development policies that are directed at off-farm job development are of limited help to this farm group.