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Whether large-scale or small farms dominate, a county's farm structure is influenced not only by changes within farming but also by key factors such as nonfarm economic activity, geography, and population growth. Large-farm counties where agriculture dominates the economy are concentrated in the Plains, Midwest, and Mississippi Delta. Small-farm counties, with larger, more diversified economic bases, are concentrated in the Southeast. However, more than 50% of the nation's counties are unclassified, presenting local planners with special challenges in charting development either toward agriculture or to a more diversified economic base. Unclassified counties that tend to have small-farm characteristics are found mostly in New England and scattered parts of the Southeast and West. Those tending to have large-farm characteristics are usually located adjacent to large-farm counties. This report identifies which counties are dominated by smallor large-farm agriculture as well as a large group, termed unclassified, which could go either way; provides models to differentiate county types; maps and describes developing subregions; and presents implications for rural America. (Author/NEC) *****************f***************************************************** 4 Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************w************************************************* Local Farm Structure and Community Ties. Thomas A. Carlin and Bernal L. Green. Agriculture and Rural Economy Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rural Development Research Report No. 68.