Sharply Fewer Counties Depend on Farming

摘要

Farming is a leading source of income for fewer than 700 U.S. counties today, a sharp drop from the more than 2,000 such counties 30 years ago. This decline, with an accompanying erosion of farmers' political power, nonetheless introduces economic opportunities for both farmers and their rural communities. The growth in nonfarm business gives farmers a chance to supplement their income with a job off the farm. And rural economies may become more 'recession-proof' now that they have a more balanced mix of income sources, including farming.