Data were collected on 4,543 farmers who participated in 23 small

farm programs in the 13 Southern States and Missouri in 1977-78. 2/

A total of 178 paraprofessionalss" were working with small-scale farm

operators in 130 counties and 54 professional agents were working pri-

marily with small-scale farmers in 66 counties. Farms of the partici-

pants average 155 acres, with 50 percent having under 60 acres.

 Outcomes from working with these 4,543 small-scale farmers included:

 1. Twelve percent of the farmers have increased annual sales nore

 than $2,000 since they began in the program; an increase of

 between $1,000 and $2,000 is estimated for 29 percent; 30

 percent gained under $1,000; while 25 percent appeared to

 have no gain in sales.

 2. Sixty-five percent of farms improved production practices.

 Changes in production practices, management, and sales are

 positively affected by the extent of participation in the

 program as measured by frequency of contact, number and types

 of assistance received, and participation in meetings, tours,

 and demonstrations.


2/ See: David Orden and Patricia Kicbus Edwards, "Preliminary Evalua-
 tion of Small Farm Programs in the Southern United States," pre-
 sented at the Southern Small Farm Management Workshop, Nashville,
 Tennessee (October 25, 1978);

 David Orden and Dennis K. Smith, "Small Farm Program; Implications
 From a Study in Virginia," Research Division Bulletin 135, VPI & SU
 (October 1978);

 David Orden and Steven T. Bucoola, "An Evaluation of Southern Co-
 operative Extension Programs Aimed at Small Farmers," Presented at
 AAEA annual meeting, Pullman, Washington (July 30 August 1, 1979).