income, farm resources, and educational levels relatively lower than

those of farmers served by other Extension programs. Dairy and beef

herds average less than 30 cows; hog operations less than 20 saws;

field crops per farm less than 50 acres; and vegetable farms average

6 acres in cultivation. Two ways the Extension Service supports and

conducts programs to benefit small-scale and limited resource farmers

and their families are:

 1. Contact with small-scale farmers by regular county Extension

 staff with regular funding. Depending on the nature of farm-

 ing in the various regions, it has been estimated that from

 20-to-50 percent of regular county Extension programs in

 agriculture and national resources provide same benefit to

 small-scale farmers. These small-scale farm families also

 participate in regular family living, youth, and community

 development programs.

 2. Additional staffing for direct contact with small-scale fanrers

 with two types of increased staffing:

 (a) Special staff added with special funding, such as the

 program initiated in fical year 1976 in which special

 funds totaling $2 million were appropriated for Extension

 Small Farm and Home Garden programs. ($1 million of this

 was available for programs at the 1890 institutions).

 (b) Special pilot programs which are being carried on in several

 states and especially in Missouri, Minnesota, Texas and 12

 other southern states. An estimated 5 percent ($5 million)

 of all the resources devoted to agriculture and natural

 resources programs by Extension is spent on programs designed