especially for small-scale, part-time farmers with limited

 resources. Most of these pilot projects employ people

 from local communities who are familiar with the local

 needs. With training and supervision by the county agent,

 these paraprofessionalss" enroll small-scale farm families

 and help them on a regular schedule with management and

 other needs. The "paraprofessional" makes a one-on-one

 contact by making on-farm family visits. Each "para-

 professional" works with 25 to 35 families.

o Highlights and Special Efforts

 Results of the Extension special project approach with small-scale

 farmers have been documented as follows:

 Texas Net farm income increased an average of 48 percent from

 1970 to 1974 for small-scale farmers enrolled in the Texas program

 (in current dollars). Of equal importance was a substantial in-

 crease in the number of participants who also took advantage of

 other government and Extension programs. For example, there was a

 72 percent increase in the number of farmers contacting their

 Extension office for information; 136 percent increase in the

 number attending tours, meetings, and demonstrations; a 21 percent

 increase in the use of the Soil Conservation Service, and a 19

 percent increase in the use of the Farmers Hcme Administration.

 Texas has now expanded this program to 15 counties. The Texas

 program gives perference to farmers with gross agricultural sales

 under $5,000 per year.

 Missouri The benefit-cost ratio of the Missouri Small Farm

 Family Program was estimated at about 3.5 to 1. An evaluation

 4