land. His standard of living and lifestyle will mimic nothing of
the stereotype now described by the USDA. He will enjoy a rich
family life by working, playing and learning with his family.
 Both the 1890 and 1862 Land Grant institutions have wasted
valuable hours, not to mention taxpayer dollars defining and
redefining this oddity we call a small farmer. We believe this
group of American farmers can play a viable and productive role
in the food production system in north Florida and in the region.
We further believe that they can be self-sustaining and pro-
fitable.
 At the resource level we must discourage competition with the
"big boy," while encouraging production of high yield produce
intermixed with profitable small animal and small fruit produc-
tion systems. These farms must be accessible, have good sources
of water and well drained soils.
 According to the Whatley Farm Plan developed and
demonstrated at Tuskegee Institute, the future small farm must


follow six guidelines in order to assure success:
 1. The farm must provide weekly, year-round cash flow or
 year-round family income. This reduces the need to bor-
 row from FmHA or some other institution.
 2. The components of this farm must be compatible.
 3. The farm must provide year-round full employment.
 4. The farm must be a pick-your-own operation. Two major
 complaints of small farmers are eliminated-no labor and
 no market.
 5. The farm must have a clientele membership club.
 6. The farm must produce what its clientele demands.

 It is believed that the above plan would save about 50,000
small farms in this country and about 1,700 small farms in
Florida. Minor adjustment may have to be made in terms of
acreage in production, crops to be grown, soil type, irrigation
sources and environmental conditions.


References
 1. Gabel, Medard. 1981. Empty breadbasket. Rodale Press.
 2. 1981. The coming challenge to America's food suppy and what
we can do about it. Rodale Press.
 3. Halsey, L.H. and S.R. Kostewicz. 1976. Seasonal response of vegetable
crops for selected cultivars in north Florida, II. Solanaceous crops. Veg. Crops. Res.
VC 2-76.
 4. Halsey, L.H. 1981. Time of planting trials with vegetable crops in north
Florida, III. Mustard and Turnip. Veg. Crops Res. VC 4-81.
 5. Halsey, L.H. 1981. Time of planting trials with vegetable crops in North
Florida, IV. Sweet Potato. Veg. Crops Res. Rep. VC 5-81.
 6. Lazin, M.B. and S.C. Somonds. 1981. Influence of planting method, fer-
tilizer rate, and within row plant spacing on production of two cultivars of honeydew
melons. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 94:180-182.
 7. Stall, W.M., R.D. Willian, G.W. Simone, R.A. Dunn, and F.A.Johnson.
1982. The southern pea in Florida-A small farm production guide. Fla. Coop. Ext.
Circ. 478.


 8. Tweeten, Luther G. 1982. Economic aspect of small-scale agriculture.
Research for small farms-Proceedings of the Special Symposium, USDA/ARS,
Beltsville, MD, November 15-18, 1981, pp. 37-48.
 9. Whatley, Booker T. 1982. Small farm systems for efficient horticultural pro-
duction. Research for small farms-Proceedings of the Special Symposium,
USDA/ARS, Beltsville, MD, November 15-18, 1981, pp. 134-136.
 10. 1982. The $100,000 25-acre farm plan. The Mother Earth News,
Number 79, May/June issue. pp. 16-23.
 11. 1981. The small farm. The New Yorker, December 21, 1981.
pp. 34-36.
 12. 1975. Growing specialty crops. Bulletin Y-88, National Fertilizer
Development Center, Tennessee Valley Authority, Muscle Shoals, AL 35600. pp.
77-80.
 13. William, R.D., J.M. Nehiley, L.H. Halsey, J.W. Thorne, P.F. Korsching,
and L.T. Christenberry. 1981. Communicating vegetable production information to
growers with varying education skills. HortScience 16:258-260.


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