Agriculture Still Key to Economic Health of the Rural Great Plains

The nonmetro population of the Great Plains has declined 16.2 percent since 1930. Job losses in agriculture and boom-bust cycles in the energy sector have contributed to this decline. Although farm numbers are declining, the Plains still produce a large portion of the Nation's agricultural products. The future ability of the nonmetro Great Plains to retain population depends on its ability to attract new industries to diversify the economic base and on the viability of its farming and energy sectors.